Foundation Document

Park Purpose

The purpose statement identifies the specific reason(s) for establishment of a particular park. The purpose statement for Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site was drafted through a careful analysis of its enabling legislation and the legislative history that influenced its development. The park was established when the enabling legislation adopted by Congress was signed into law on October 17, 1968 (see appendix A for enabling legislation and subsequent amendments). The purpose statement lays the foundation for understanding what is most important about the park.

Significance

Significance statements express why a park’s resources and values are important enough to merit designation as a unit of the national park system. These statements are linked to the purpose of Carl Sandburg National Historic Site, and are supported by data, research, and consensus. Statements of significance describe the distinctive nature of the park and why an area is important within a global, national, regional, and systemwide context. They focus on the most important resources and values that will assist in park planning and management. The following significance statements have been identified for Carl Sandburg National Historic Site. (Please note that the sequence of the statements do not reflect the level of significance.):

1. Connemara is where one of America’s most versatile and recognized writers completed a literary career that captured and recorded America’s traditions, struggles, and dreams in his poetry, journalism, biographies, novels, and collection of folk songs.

2. Known as a “poet of the people,” Carl Sandburg advocated for social justice through his writings, which reflect a deep respect for people as individuals.

3. Designated as a national historic landmark because of its association with Carl Sandburg, the farm is also significant for its layout and landscape features, many of which were modified by Mrs. Sandburg for her prize-winning goats.

4. The Sandburgs’ personal belongings, furnishings, farm equipment, library, and papers provide one of the most complete personal collections of any site in the national park system. This collection at Connemara offers a unique and rare perspective of this American author’s lifestyle, philosophy, and intellectual pursuits more vividly than any other place he lived.

 

Fundamental Resources and Values

Fundamental resources and values (FRVs) are those features, systems, processes, experiences, stories, scenes, sounds, smells, or other attributes determined to warrant primary consideration during planning and management processes because they are essential to achieving the purpose of the park and maintaining its significance.

Fundamental resources and values are closely related to a park’s legislative purpose and are more specific than significance statements. Fundamental resources and values help focus planning and management efforts on what is truly significant about the park. One of the most important responsibilities of NPS managers is to ensure the conservation and public enjoyment of those qualities that are essential (fundamental) to achieving the purpose of the park and maintaining its significance. If fundamental resources and values are allowed to deteriorate, the park purpose and/or significance could be jeopardized.

The following fundamental resources and values have been identified for Carl Sandburg National Historic Site:

• Museum Collection and Archive
• Historic Buildings
• Cultural Landscape
• Goat Herd

Interpretive Themes

Interpretive themes are often described as the key stories or concepts that visitors should understand after visiting a park—they define the most important ideas or concepts communicated to visitors about a park unit. Themes are derived from, and should reflect, park purpose, significance, resources, and values. The set of interpretive themes is complete when it provides the structure necessary for park staff to develop opportunities for visitors to explore and relate to all park significance statements and fundamental and other important resources and values.

Interpretive themes are an organizational tool that reveal and clarify meaning, concepts, contexts, and values represented by park resources. Sound themes are accurate and reflect current scholarship and science. They encourage exploration of the context in which events or natural processes occurred and the effects of those events and processes. Interpretive themes go beyond a mere description of the event or process to foster multiple opportunities to experience and consider the park and its resources. These themes help explain why a park story is relevant to people who may otherwise be unaware of connections they have to an event, time, or place associated with the park.

The following interpretive themes have been identified for Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site:

• Life.
  • Carl Sandburg captured the American people’s struggles, dreams, and voice through the lecture platform, poetry, newspaper columns, novel, collection of folk music, children’s stories, and biography of Abraham Lincoln.
• Family.
  • Mrs. Sandburg and each Sandburg family member played an integral role in the life of Carl Sandburg by providing a supportive environment.
• Being an American.
  • Being a first-generation American had a profound effect on Carl Sandburg and he spent a lifetime defining what it meant to be an American through his writing.
• Social Activism.
  • Carl Sandburg’s social activism, through his writings and letters, encouraged critical and independent thinking for the common good and betterment of humankind.
• Place.
  • Connemara—the home, associated buildings, artifacts, farm, livestock, wooded hills, water, sounds of nature, dark night skies, and gardens—offered to each member of the family an opportunity to live life fully.
• National Park Service.
  • Carl Sandburg Home NationalHistoric Site was authorized by Congress as a unit of the National Park Service because of Carl Sandburg’s significant contributions to American history and literature.

 

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