PRESS RELEASE

April 5, 2011

MEDIA CONTACT: Stephanie Lowe, (513) 287-7054 office, (513) 373-3242 mobile, slowe@cincymuseum.org

National Park Service chief visits Cincinnati
Stephen Morris to give a free lecture April 7, 7:30 p.m. at Cincinnati Museum Center 

CINCINNATI- Stephen Morris, chief of the National Park Service’s Office of International Affairs and liaison to UNESCO's World Heritage Program, will visit Cincinnati Museum Center on April 7 to discuss the United States’ role in preserving world heritage and global conservation.

Morris’ lecture, Conserving World Treasures: History and Future of World Heritage from a U.S. Perspective, is part of Museum Center’s Insights Lecture Series, featuring monthly lectures on a variety of topics, all free and open to the public.

Morris will discuss the ongoing relationship between the National Park Service and the UNESCO World Heritage Program. Morris will also highlight the process of designating world heritage sites and the increasing challenges in conserving our natural and cultural treasures in a time of growing environmental and population challenges. 

This program is made possible by a Middfest International grant from The Ohio Humanities Council, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. This program is the first in a series of events in southwest Ohio as Middfest International highlights the country of Peru. 2011 marks the l00th anniversary of the discovery of Machu Picchu, and Morris’ lecture will also include a discussion of the problems and conservation efforts of the ancient site.

In the last 22 years, Morris has held a variety of positions with the National Park Service. He joined as a World Heritage Program officer in 2002 and was named chief in 2004. Born in Bolivia, Morris spent his childhood in various Latin American and European countries. He received his bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Oberlin College, and later his master’s degree in urban planning with a specialization in historical preservation from George Washington University.

This free lecture will be held in Reakirt Auditorium on April 7 at 7:30 p.m. Visit www.cincymuseum.org to learn about upcoming Insights lectures, including Neil Shubin’s public lecture on May 19 and our Cleopatra lecture series.

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About Cincinnati Museum Center
Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal is a nationally recognized institution dedicated to sparking community dialogue, insight and inspiration. As one of the top cultural attractions in the Midwest, Cincinnati Museum Center has served as an educational, research and entertainment resource to millions of visitors from around the world. Organizations within Museum Center include the Cincinnati History Museum, Duke Energy Children's Museum, the Museum of Natural History & Science, the Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX® Theater, and the Cincinnati Historical Society Library. These organizations combine to serve more than one million visitors annually, reaching out to nearly 400,000 young people through hands-on exhibits and programs. Originally built in 1933 as a train station, Union Terminal stands as one of the last remaining grand-scale Art Deco style railroad terminals. The building is a National Historic Landmark and was renovated and reopened as Cincinnati Museum Center in 1990. For information, call 1-800-733-2077 or visit www.cincymuseum.org.