ARCH 5325 Conservation Policies Chapter 2 The Preservation Movement in the United States

Preservation or the maintenance of buildings has been around for a long time Concerted efforts began in the 1500s in Western Europe

Also Fortidsminneforeningen (Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments--1844)

Private Efforts 19th C: Americans began to save homes of patriots and other places where historic events took place— Independence Hall, Philadelphia

Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association first preservation group—1853

1924: San Antonio Conservation Society

Federal Efforts 1872: Establishment of Yellowstone National Park Antiquities Act of 1906: Only for federally owned properties—Mesa Verde, battlefields, and other sites— penalties for destruction Also gave power to the President to declare historic landmarks

Yellowstone National Park Mesa Verde

1916—National Park Service Created Placed under the Secretary of the Interior

Building Collections: Corpus Christi Heritage Park Dallas Heritage Center National Ranching Heritage Center— 1976 Muleshoe Heritage Center

Colonial Williamsburg—1926 Greenfield Village—1929

1934 Historic American Building Survey (HABS)—depression era project for sites of national significance

1969 Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) 2000 Historic American Landscape Survey (HALS)

Mid-20th C. Other buildings became more important Criteria began to include: connections with the quality of a building the architect more modest buildings age

National Trust for Historic Preservation 1949

Housing Act of 1949 and the Urban Renewal Act of 1954 Led to the destruction of many historic structures and neighborhoods—Harlem, New York City’s Pennsylvania Station Led to the destruction of many historic structures and neighborhoods—Harlem, New York City’s Pennsylvania Station Jane Jacobs— The Death and Life of Great American Cities Jane Jacobs— The Death and Life of Great American Cities National Trust’s With Heritage So Rich, 1966 National Trust’s With Heritage So Rich, 1966

New York City’s Pennsylvania Station

1966 National Historic Preservation Act: encourages local historic districts— context of individual buildings enabling legislation to fund preservation activities encouraged owners of private properties to preserve while not interfering with ownership rights

1966 National Historic Preservation Act Created: The National Register of Historic Places State Historic Preservation Officers Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

1966 Preservation Act also led to: The creation of Local Historic Preservation Officers Certified Local Government—grants Urban Design Commissions and local organizations

National Register of Historic Places Identifies historic sites, buildings, structures, objects, and districts Identifies historic sites, buildings, structures, objects, and districts Encourages preservation of historic properties through documentation Encourages preservation of historic properties through documentation Provides for review of federally funded, licensed, or sponsored projects Provides for review of federally funded, licensed, or sponsored projects Enables owners to apply for grants Enables owners to apply for grants

Responsible for surveys of historic sites and properties throughout the state Processes nominations to the NRHP Administers grants (when available) State Historic Preservation Officer—Texas Historical Commission

SHPO—Texas Historical Commission Advises and assists local efforts Provides consultation on Section 106 Review Reviews applications for federal investment tax credits (or state) when available

Section 106 Review Documentation of sites on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places Documentation of sites on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places Determination of one of the following: No effect No adverse effect Adverse effect Determination of one of the following: No effect No adverse effect Adverse effect

Certified Local Governments Must have established a historic preservation commission with powers of review Must tie its system of surveying historic properties to the SHPOs procedures Must be willing to enforce state and local preservation ordinances Must have a designated local historic preservation officer