2574                                          LAWS OF MARYLAND                                     Ch. 500

(K) "UNDERTAKING" MEANS A PROJECT THAT INVOLVES OR MAY LEAD
TO BUILDING CONSTRUCTION, BUILDING ALTERATION, OR LAND
DISTURBANCE.

181B.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS THAT:

(1)  HISTORIC PROPERTIES SIGNIFICANT TO THE STATE'S
HERITAGE ARE BEING LOST OR SUBSTANTIALLY ALTERED, OFTEN
INADVERTENTLY, WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY;

(2)  ONCE HISTORIC PROPERTIES ARE LOST OR DESTROYED, A
VITAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY LIFE AND DEVELOPMENT CANNOT BE
REPLACED;

(3)  PRESERVATION OF THE STATE'S HERITAGE IS IN THE
PUBLIC INTEREST SO THAT PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS MAY BE
ENRICHED BY THE CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, INSPIRATIONAL, SOCIAL, AND
ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF THE PAST; AND

(4)  INCREASED KNOWLEDGE OF OUR HISTORIC RESOURCES,
ESTABLISHMENT OF BETTER MEANS OF IDENTIFYING AND ADMINISTERING
THEM, AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF THEIR PRESERVATION WILL ASSIST THE
ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL GROWTH OF THIS STATE . ; AND

(5) THE STATE'S HERITAGE HAS BEEN ENRICHED BY PAST
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE STATE'S PRIVATE

PRESERVATION ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR CONTINUING ACTIVITIES ARE IN
THE PUBLIC INTEREST.

[181A.] 181C.

The Maryland Historical Trust is hereby created as an
instrumentality of the State of Maryland as part of the
Department of Economic and Community Development for the purpose
of preserving [and maintaining historical, aesthetic and cultural
properties, buildings, fixtures, furnishings, and appurtenances
pertaining in any way to the province and State of Maryland from
earliest times], PROTECTING, AND ENHANCING DISTRICTS, SITES,
BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES, AND OBJECTS SIGNIFICANT IN THE PREHISTORY,
HISTORY, UPLAND AND UNDERWATER ARCHEOLOGY, ARCHITECTURE,
ENGINEERING, AND CULTURE OF THE STATE, to encourage others to do
so and to promote interest in and study of such matters. [As
used in this subtitle, the words "property" and "properties"
include scenic, architectural, or facade easements on buildings
or structures.]

[181B.] 181D.

The purpose of the Maryland Historical Trust is declared to
be of general benefit to the citizens of the State of Maryland
and charitable in nature. The Trust shall be a body corporate
and shall have perpetual existence, subject to modification by
the General Assembly of the State of Maryland if the same is