[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8615]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


   RECOGNIZING THE DELAWARE & LEHIGH NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR AS A 
                         SMITHSONIAN AFFILIATE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CHARLES W. DENT

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 30, 2017

  Mr. DENT. Mr. Speaker, today I have the privilege of recognizing the 
Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor as it becomes an Affiliate 
of the Smithsonian Institution.
  Earlier this year, the heritage corridor completed a five year merger 
process with the National Canal Museum. As a result of this merger, the 
Canal Museum's Smithsonian Affiliate status will transfer to the 
Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.
  The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, also known as the 
D&L Corridor, is part of our nation's National Heritage Area system. 
The corridor spans 165 miles from the mountains of northeast 
Pennsylvania through the Lehigh Valley, and it preserves and showcases 
the cultural resources that are an integral part of this region's 
history. As part of its efforts, the D&L Corridor has developed a 
curriculum offered to 4th and 5th grade students in the area, titled 
``Tales of the Towpath,'' which provides them with the opportunity to 
explore mid-19th Century life along the Lehigh and Delaware canals. By 
merging with the National Canal Museum, the D&L Corridor is able to 
utilize the museum's artifacts and exhibits--including Pennsylvania's 
only mule-drawn canal boat--to bring its curriculum to life.
  In addition to the National Canal Museum, the D&L Corridor also 
includes other important sites such as the National Museum of 
Industrial History, Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites, Mercer Museum 
and Fonthill Castle, and numerous other National Historic Landmarks. 
For these reasons, the D&L Corridor has achieved a Smithsonian-National 
Heritage Area Partnership, which is the first of its kind in the United 
States.
  The D&L Corridor has worked tirelessly to preserve and promote the 
rich history and culture of our beloved region in Pennsylvania, and I 
am proud that it now has even greater resources to share with those who 
visit. I wish them the utmost success as they pursue this endeavor.

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