Lions & Tigers & Plants, Oh My! Historic Elmira, Inc. Announces Start of 5th Annual Amazing Elmira Treasure Hunt

Month-long Contest Celebrates National Preservation Month in May

Historic Elmira, Inc. is celebrating its 5th Annual Amazing Elmira Treasure Hunt throughout the month of May in honor of National Preservation Month. From family homes to businesses to civic buildings, the treasure hunt offers a fun way to tour the area's extensive assortment of architectural styles. The theme for this year's Treasure Hunt is 'Lions & Tigers & Plants, Oh MY!' with specific focus on the Flora & Fauna (plants and animals) featured in architecture. The purpose of the treasure hunt is to raise awareness about the many historic buildings and sites in the greater Elmira area. The winner will receive $150.

The treasure hunt is set up similar to a scavenger hunt where participants are encouraged to identify as many of the 20 pictured clues throughout Elmira as possible. Participants should search for the landmarks throughout Elmira, including downtown, Southside, and West Elmira. If more than one participant successfully identifies all 20 of the locations pictured, they will be placed into a random drawing from which the winner of the $150 cash prize will be selected. The winner of the of Amazing Elmira Treasure Hunt will be announced by Historic Elmira on Monday, June 8. Participants must be at least 18 years of age to win the cash prize, but individuals, families & teams of all ages are encouraged to participate. The answer key will be posted on www.HistoricElmira.org at the end of the contest.

New to the 'Hunt' this year is Diven Elementary School on 1115 Hall Street, Elmira. Each child will be taking an entry form home so families can work together to help the school identify all the buildings depicted. The school will then combine all the entry forms for all participating students onto one. If the school submits a correct entry form, they will be included in the random grand prize drawing, and Historic Elmira will also present them with a framed certificate acknowledging their participation.

"This is our fifth year for the Amazing Elmira Treasure Hunt and our theme, Lions and Tigers and Plants, Oh My! is sure to make it fun for participants. It is a playful interpretation of the many ornamental and fanciful plants and animals (Flora and Fauna) that adorn Elmira's architecture," said Kaye Newbury, Historic Elmira president. "We're happy that this year's treasure hunt has been adopted by Diven Elementary School as a way to engage families in learning more about our community's architectural treasures and the beauty historic preservation adds to our community."

Entry forms can be printed from www.HistoricElmira.org, or picked up from the following locations: Antique Revival, Chemung County Chamber of Commerce, Chemung County Office for the Aging, Chemung County Historical Society/Chemung Valley History Museum, Chemung County Library District: The Central Library and the West Elmira Branch, Chemung Canal Trust Company: Water Street, Pennsylvania Ave., and Church Street locations, Elmira Downtown Development, Elmira Savings Bank: Water Street, Church Street and Pennsylvania Ave. locations, Historic Elmira, Inc., Near Westside Neighborhood Association, and The Happy Hippo at the Arnot Mall.

Completed entry forms need to be mailed to Historic Elmira, Inc., PO Box 252, Elmira, NY 14902, or dropped off to Historic Elmira, 311 E. Water Street, Elmira, NY 14901 no later than Sunday, May 31, 2015. For further questions about the 5th Annual Amazing Elmira Treasure Hunt or Historic Elmira, Inc. please contact Historic Elmira at (607) 398-6071 or visit www.historicelmira.org.

The mission of Historic Elmira, Inc. is to champion historic preservation in the Elmira region by providing education, advocacy, collaboration, and facilitation in activities supporting preservation and enhancements of buildings and sites of historic significance.