2016 Spirit of America nominee: Carla Jordan

NOMINATING ORGANIZATION: Cape Girardeau County Historical Society/Debra Baughn

NOMINEE'S CHARITABLE AND SOCIAL MEMBERSHIPS: Perry County Lutheran Historical Society; Cape Girardeau County Historical Society; Uptown Jackson Revitalization Organization; WESTRAY Foundation; Arthur Mattingly Award for Outstanding Achievement in Historic Preservation (2011); Lifetime Membership Award; Cat Ranch Art Guild (2010) Lifetime Membership Award; Baxter Springs (Kansas) Historical Society (2005); Lifetime Membership Award, Historic Kansas Route 66 Association (2009)

WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THIS NOMINEE DEMONSTRATES THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA?

Carla Taylor Jordan is a champion for local and regional history. Since graduating from Southeast Missouri State University with a degree in historic preservation, she has been involved with the development of museums and historic sites in Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma and Kansas. Her career has included grant writing, consulting, mentoring, writing nominations for the National Register of Historic Places, designing exhibits, and serving as executive director for two local institutions.

She is the director of both the Lutheran Heritage Center and Museum in Altenburg (since 2005) and the Cape Girardeau County History Center in Jackson (since 2014). Although she has been instrumental in the success of both venues, her approach is to avoid becoming the center of attention. Instead, she assembles a team of volunteers, mentors them, and lets them shine. She also tries to expand the traditional role of a "museum" to include more than just exhibits and archives, but to serve as a community gathering place with art shows, musical performances, and hands-on workshops. A key part of her work is to help people tell the stories of their communities. Years ago, when Congress passed the National Historic Preservation Act, it was stated that "the spirit and direction of the Nation are founded upon and reflected in its historic heritage." Carla Jordan has worked passionately to preserve history, a pursuit that embodies the spirit of America.