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National Register of Historic Places Historic Preservation Activities
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National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places records the story of a nation. It is a roll call of the tangible reminders of the history of the United States. It is a list of distinction identifying for the people those properties worthy of preservation for their historic value. The Historic Sites Act of 1935 placed the National Park Service squarely in the field of historic preservation. This act gave extensive responsibilities to the Secretary of the Interior through the National Park Service to effectuate a national policy of historic preservation. The Historic Preservation Act of 1966 expanded the Department's responsibilities, authorizing a program for the preservation of additional historic properties through the Nation. An expanded National Register was authorized as a major instrument in this program. The 1966 Historic Preservation Act said: The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to expand and maintain a national register of districts, sites, buildings, structures, archeology and culture, hereinafter referred to as the National Register.... All historical areas in the National Park System, together with those properties eligible for designation as National Historic landmarks, are of national significance and thus qualify automatically for the National Register. Properties of State or local significance may be nominated by the States and will be placed in the Register on approval of the National Park Service. Catoctin Mountain Park began as a Recreational Demonstration Aea built by the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935. Two of the original group camp facilities are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The hisotric resources at Camp Misty Mount and Camp Greentop represent the economic-improvement and conservation efforts of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal programs of the mid-1930's, within the context of state and local significance. These organized cabin camps were among the first projects completed at the Catoctin Recreational Demonstration Area, established in 1935 by the Resettlement Administraiton and the National Park Service. They are physically significant for rustic architectural and landscape architectural styling, as well as their role in the development of conservation and outdoor recreation. Built from 1936-38, the camps near Thurmont in Frederick County, Maryland, retain their historic integrity and represent the sole RDA facility established in the state. Camp Greentop (Recreation) Camp Round Meadow (Recreation) National Register of Historic Places (one way link)
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