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Interior designates Grand Canyon airplane crash site as historic landmark
Mid-air collision over the Grand Canyon in 1956 spurred an effort to modernize and increase airway safety

WASHINGTON - Federal officials named the site of the 1956 Grand Canyon TWA-United Airlines crash as a historic landmark.

On June 30, 1956, a Trans World Airlines Super Constellation L-1049 and a United Airlines DC-7 collided in uncongested airspace 21,000 feet over the Grand Canyon, killing all 128 people onboard the two flights. The tragedy spurred an unprecedented effort to modernize and increase safety in America's postwar airways, culminating in the establishment of the modern Federal Aviation Administration. Other improvements that resulted from the crash included nationwide radar coverage, a common military/civilian navigation system, and the development of technologies such as collision avoidance systems and flight data recorders.

On April 23, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and National Park Service (NPS) Director Jonathan B. Jarvis announced the designation, along with three other new national historic landmarks. The new sites join 2,540 other sites across the country recognized as places that possess exceptional value and quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States.

The announcement was made as part of National Park Week, an annual event honoring the natural beauty and cultural heritage in America's national parks. The National Historic Landmarks Program is one of more than a dozen programs administered by the National Park Service that provide states and local communities technical assistance, recognition, and funding to help preserve our nation's shared history and create close-to-home recreation opportunities.

"As the National Park Service approaches its centennial observance in 2016, we are seeking ways to highlight and share the breadth of the American experience," Jarvis said. "These new national historic landmarks showcase the rich, diverse, and complex history of our nation's story, as well as drive tourism and boost local economies."

Other national historic landmarks announced include:

The Adlai E. Stevenson II Farm in Mettawa, Ill., the Detroit Industry Murals at the Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, Mich. and the George Nakashima Woodworker Complex in Bucks County, Penn.

The National Historic Landmarks Program, established in 1935, is administered by NPS on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior. The agency works with preservation officials, private property owners and other partners interested in nominating properties for National Historic Landmark designation. The National Park System Advisory Board reviews the nominations and makes recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior. If selected, property ownership remains intact but each site receives a designation letter and technical preservation advice.

Additional information on the designations can be found at www.nps.gov/nhl/news/intro.htm.


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