STACH pllc

10/22/2026

We were thrilled to be in Yorktown for one of the town’s most anticipated annual celebrations—Yorktown Day!

This year was especially memorable as it marked the 245th anniversary of the pivotal 1781 Victory at Yorktown! The celebration included a commemorative ceremony at the Yorktown Victory Monument followed by a parade along Historic Main Street featuring the Fifes & Drums of York Town. Patriotic pride was certainly on display!

No better way to commemorate the victory that helped turn the tide of the American Revolution and paved the way for securing American independence, thanks to the crucial support of our French allies!

As they say in Yorktown… freedom was forged here!



Reel Credits: STACH pllc
Reel: Yorktown Day festivities with Chuck Laudner, Pete Peterson and Christine Grubbs.

10/20/2026

We’re loving the scenic route a little extra this time of year! The leaves are changing, and we’re taking our time enjoying the view.

One route that’s worth your time is the Colonial Parkway, stretching twenty-three miles of historic scenic roadway maintained by the National Park Service. It’s just one of the many parkways in Virginia where you can go to enjoy the natural and cultural beauty of the state.

Hop on the parkway to soak up the leaves and views, and be sure to take a side stop at Yorktown Battlefield or Historic Jamestown at either end.

*Please note: The parkway is in its final phase of rehabilitation, and some closures and detours may still be in place. For current project updates and the timeline, check out the NPS website.

Photo: Colonial Parkway, Yorktown, VA
Photo Credit: STACH pllc

09/18/2026

Have you seen this plaque while strolling down the street and wondered, “What makes this place worthy of recognition?” Well, we can help answer that!

In 1966, the National Historic Preservation Act established the National Register of Historic Places. This national program recognizes buildings, structures, and districts worthy of preservation due to their significance in American history, architecture, archaeology and/or culture.

To be eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, a property must meet at least one of the following criteria:

-Make a contribution to the pattern of American history (e.g., be associated with a significant historical event);

- Be associated with a significant person or persons in American history;

-Have “great artistic” or architectural value featuring distinctive historical characteristics;

- Have or hold promise of yielding information that is important to history

The National Historic Preservation Act helps ensure that significant historic properties are considered when federal projects or actions may affect them. While National Register listing alone does not prevent a property from being altered or demolished, it provides important recognition and establishes a framework when planning undertakings.

Without the National Historic Preservation Act, many significant buildings and cultural landscapes could have been lost or significantly altered. This would be detrimental to our understanding of the past and to our ability to steward historic places and their defining features.

Next time you see a National Register plaque, take a moment to look at the place it recognizes, acknowledge the history it holds and those who continue to advocate on behalf of these places.

09/07/2026

Today, we recognize those who have labored to steward the places we love and frequent. We honor the skill, craftsmanship, creativity, and dedication of those whose work preserves and cares for the places and landscapes that endure. The places we inherit did not come to us by accident. They are the result of hands that built them and the continued care of those who have tended them over time.

May we recognize the value of that labor and continue the work of thoughtful stewardship- caring well for what has been entrusted to us so that these places may endure for generations to come.



Photo Credit: STACH pllc
Photos: Culpeper Battlefield State Park (1),
Yorktown Battlefield Split Rail Installation(2),STACH pllc Sketch Designs (3), Brandy Station Fieldwork (4), Yorktown Battlefield (5), Brandy Station (6)

07/22/2026

UNPRECEDENTED THREAT TO DESIGNED AND HISTORIC LANDSCAPES NATIONWIDE

Recent no, obliterations, to the irreplicable design legacy of our nation’s capital came fast and with a wanton disregard for established policy and protections. This past Friday, the same reckless playbook now threatens ALL historic properties and cultural landscapes nationwide.

On July 17th the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) proposed gutting Section 106 protections for historic places.

Meaningful consultation? Gone.
Avoidance and mitigation requirements? Eliminated. Cultural Landscape protections? Stripped away.

In fact, any property that does not include a historic building won’t even be considered!!! This move betrays Congressional intent, Tribal sovereignty, and eliminates the protections of natural and cultural landscapes alike. The Council votes this Friday, July 24.

We recognize that Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act could be improved through reasonable efficiencies, and our office has facilitated these consultations with our clients, federal agencies and stakeholders beginning in 2016. This is NOT the way to improve policy, and the sweeping changes proposed will in clearest terms “cut the baby in half.”

Please add your voice to the Federal Register comment period (30-Day period). Follow the link to Cultural Heritage Partners, a small-business with a big mission to support the protections of our treasured places, find out more about the proposed changes, and stay informed regarding comment submission to the Federal Register.

Cultural Heritage Partners is a private law firm committed to the principle that cultural heritage is a human right.

07/08/2026

And that’s a wrap! What a fun-filled Fourth of July weekend celebrating America’s 250th!!

We were honored to take part in helping our community in Buncombe County further celebrate this milestone moment in our nation’s history through organizing the distribution of America 250 NC materials to be enjoyed thanks to the grant received by Buncombe 250. A big thank you to the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) for bringing their patriotic spirit in period attire at the Tourists baseball game. We also appreciate their help along with the Presbyterian Heritage Center and the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) for helping pass out the America 250 NC parade materials at the Montreat and Beech Community Independence Day Parades. We are grateful to have witnessed the American spirit demonstrated across generations.

The commemorative period doesn’t stop here, and we look forward to recognizing our nation’s founding throughout the rest of the year.

Photo Credit: STACH pllc and the DAR Ruth Davidson Chapter

07/04/2026

The day we have long anticipated has arrived—the 250th anniversary of America’s founding!

Today, we celebrate a historic milestone and reflect on the journey that has shaped our nation, from an idea led by spirited patriots to the country we are today. We are reminded that history is not only found in books—it lives in the places that have witnessed our nation’s journey.

As America commemorates its 250th anniversary, we encourage you to visit one of the many historic landscapes that connect us to our past and inspire our future. By preserving these places, we honor the people, events, and stories that have shaped our nation and bring our shared history to life.

Happy Independence Day!!!

Photo: Fireworks and colonial era soldiers located at Colonial Williamsburg
Photo Credit: STACH pllc

06/30/2026

The nation’s last privately-held, founding-era presidential estate, Oak Hill, to become a state park!

It is official... this landmark property, home to former U.S. President James Monroe, is now to be the Commonwealth's next state park!!! Thank you Governor Spanberger and the Virginia General Assembly! Virginia State Parks should rightly be home to its most valued treasures. Many stories yet to be told behind the long Allee of boxwoods here! A debt of gratitude to the DeLashmutt family's long stewardship, to The Conservation Fund for the vision and advocacy required to see this through, and to The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, State Parks as you capably steward this cultural landscape! A semiquincentennial moment to be remembered!!!

I am appreciative of the tremendous efforts exhibited by our team in authoring the 2025 Feasibility Study, and applaud the work of the Stratus team, JKOA Architects, William and Mary Center for Archeaological Research, and subject matter experts Brian Martin (Perspective+Planning+Performance), Carlyn Swaim (Swaim Consulting), and Stefanie Mathew (Stefanie Mathew Strategies)!

https://www.loudountimes.com/news/continuing_coverage/landmark-moment-for-oak-hill-and-virginia-general-assembly-approves-new-state-park-in-loudoun/article_95c52c63-d776-4a62-8799-5b943d4be017.html

Photos: The historic estate grounds and interior of President James Monroe's former residence, Oak Hill.
Photo Credit: STACH pllc

05/25/2026

On this Memorial Day we honor the fallen soldiers who persevered for their country. If not for their sacrifice, the United States of America would not be preparing to celebrate 250 years of freedom.

The national monuments and memorials throughout the United States stand as reflections of their sacrifice, and we pause in gratitude for all that it took to fight for our nation. As George Washington stated, “we cannot admire too much the incomparable patience and fidelity of the soldiery.”

Freedom carries a cost, and we remember those who paid the ultimate price to secure our 250 years of liberty.

Photo: National Memorial Arch located in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Photo Credit: Library of Congress

05/14/2026

Every landscape has a story to tell, and we believe those stories are worth not only telling, but preserving. The places where history happened teach us about our past and help shape our future.

This Preservation Month, we reflect on the places that have endured throughout the 250 years of our nation’s history. The places that echo the evolution of time, yet still give insight to what was and now is.

The places that make us who we are deserve to be observed — and protected. We’re honored to steward these spaces here at STACH pllc and to play a role in preserving the stories they continue to tell.

Happy Preservation Month!