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Contents

Preface
Letter

Historical and Archeological Sites

The growing demand for a more comprehensive program to preserve important buildings and sites connected with our national past is largely the result of a new appreciation on the part of the American people of the value of their historical heritage.

The significant cultural and social values of the physical remains relating to our past history are becoming increasingly apparent as various public and private agencies accept the responsibility for their controlled development, preservation, and educational use. Thus, by working with such areas, as well as by surveying and studying other historical sites and remains in every part of the Nation, the controlling agencies have been able to develop much information relating to the preservation and use of the physical elements of history.

Among these agencies the National Park Service, through its developing program and through the American historic buildings and the historic sites surveys, has contributed much information relating to the problem and may be expected to contribute more. Not the least in the results of these varied activities has been their value in arousing public concern for the preservation of the national historical heritage.

Among the further evidences of this growing national interest in a broadly based preservation policy is the growing appreciation of America's own past, as seen in the individual site. We are becoming increasingly aware, for example, that the log cabins of Boonesborough, the Emerson, Longfellow, and Whittier homes in Massachusetts, the Hermitage in Nashville, the frontier settlements along inland waterways and forts along the Oregon and Santa Fe Trails, are American counterparts to historic remains in Europe. These American buildings and sites are coming to mean to our own people what the ruins of Rome mean to the Italian people, Stratford-on-Avon to the English, or the baronial castles along the Rhine to the Germans. But even though much interest has been aroused and much knowledge accumulated through experience in administering historic sites, as well as in surveying problems not yet properly controlled, it is likely that as a nation we have only begun to appreciate the tremendous possibilities which may be realized through the wise utilization of important sites. To teach the broad cultural significance of these resources, and to see that some agency, whether Federal, State, or local, preserves the most important of them, is a matter of public responsibility.

Among the almost innumerable examples which might be cited, one notes important Indian mounds in the Tennessee, Ohio, and Mississippi Valleys gradually eroding from the effects of weather and the plow, as well as archeological remains undergoing other forms of destruction. Often these remains are handled so improperly that their true significance is lost sight of in bizarre methods of public exploitation.

PHOTO 1.—Whitley's Mill, Mecklenburg County, N. C.

PHOTO 2.—The Shamrock (Porterfield residence), Vicksburg, Miss. This fine old home with its high basement story and unpedimented two-story portico is typical of a class of houses fast disappearing from the deep South.

Moreover, numerous fine examples of the early architecture of this country have been abandoned to the ravages of time. Only in rare instances are efforts being made by worthy individuals and societies to preserve these evidences of our cultural growth. Among important buildings suffering from neglect we find such examples as The Shirley-Eustis House, Roxbury, Mass.; Santee near Corbin, Va.; and Belle Grove at White Castle, La.

Earthworks from the Revolutionary and Civil War periods in many States have been destroyed by erosion, or are in a state of ruin and neglect, as those at Harrison's Landing in Virginia, at Kenesaw Mountain in Georgia, and at Corinth in Mississippi.

In Washington, D. C., many houses rich in history and interest have not been preserved. The reconstruction of the capital city has been responsible for many historical casualties, such as the National Hotel, the old Harvey House, the home of John Quincy Adams and numerous ancient boarding houses with which were associated famous names in American history.

One aim of the Federal survey of historic sites now under way is to gather careful data and provide recommendations concerning legislation for general conservation of historical remains, as well as for the care of specific sites. The valuable, though sporadic, efforts of individuals, private groups, and even some of the States are not enough to prevent an irreparable historic and artistic loss to America. The Federal Government must assume its share of the responsibility in this problem, both in education and, where necessary, in control.

In regard to possibilities for a broad preservation program not necessarily involving direct Federal control, it may be pointed out that the most important general and basic legislation regarding historic and archeological sites in the United States is the act for the preservation of American antiquities, 1906, confirmed in purpose by the National Park Act of 1916. These acts provide only the barest legislative protection for areas already a part of the public domain and, with regard to those areas not at present public property, provide practically no protection at all.

In this connection, it may be observed that data from other countries regarding this general problem are growing, and are being made available through the International Commission on Historic Monuments.

The present status of legislation in other countries, for example in France, is indicated by the fact that, though a historic or artistic building may remain in private hands, the owner in many cases is not allowed to change or destroy it without permission from the National Government. Legislation of similar import obtains in other countries, including England and Mexico. In this regard, attention may be drawn to the conclusions of an international conference held at Athens regarding the development of the plan for the International Commission on Historic Monuments. The following is quoted from the conference report:

It unanimously approved the general tendency which, in this connection, recognizes a certain right of the community in regard to private ownership.

It is noted that the differences existing between these legislative measures, were due to the difficulty of reconciling public law with the rights of individuals.

Consequently, while approving the general tendency of these measures the conference is of the opinion that they should be in keeping with local circumstances and with the trend of public opinion so that the least possible opposition may be encountered, due to allowance being made for the sacrifice which the owners of property may be called upon to make in the general interest.

It recommends that the public authorities in each country be empowered to take conservatory measures in cases of emergency.

It earnestly hopes that the international museums office will publish a repertory and a comparative table of the legislative measures in force in the different countries and that this information will be kept up to date.¹

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¹ Institut International de Cooperation Intellectuelle, La Conservation des Monuments d'Art et d'Historie, Société des Nations; Les Dossiers de l'Office International des Musées. Geneva, 1931. pp. 18—19.

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The statements of this conference, similar data available through this and other international commissions, and the conclusions of other studies and surveys now going forward under the auspices of the National Park Service are providing the basis upon which it is expected that general recommendations for legislation to preserve historic sites will be made.

PHOTO 3.—Memorial mansion and grounds at George Washington's birthplace, Westmoreland County, Va.

PHOTO 4.—Earthworks at Battery No, 5, Petersburg National Military Park, Va.

From similar origins has grown a considerable body of principles and techniques relating to problems of preservation and restoration of historic remains. In the course of its experience in developing historic sites under the various emergency programs, the Federal Government has brought to bear upon its problems the special knowledge of experts in various fields. These include, among others, special engineering, architectural, landscape, and even forestry techniques applied particularly in the development of the historic sites and remains now in the possession of the Federal Government, such as Gettysburg, Yorktown, and Vicksburg. There is an ever-increasing skill in the application of these techniques in the field of history.

In another way, a growing appreciation of this developing method and technical skill in the preservation of historical remains and of the significance of these historical remains for the scholarly world has resulted in the growth of a closer liaison between the Historical Division of the National Park Service and the joint committee on materials for research of the American Council of Learned Societies and the Social Science Research Council. This joint committee, which was originally developed to conserve the interests of scholars in research materials, and in methods and techniques relating to them, is working in close cooperation with the National Park Service on these problems as applied to historical remains.

The various elements in this developing program come naturally together at this point. The activities of the Federal Government in conducting surveys of historic buildings and sites, its extensive experience with the historical values involved in specific sites already under Federal control, and its developing contact, through the International Commission on Historic Monuments, with the historic sites problem as viewed in other countries have laid the basis for an enlarged national program, including comprehensive legislation for the preservation of historic sites in America. Although the ultimate plans and policies which may finally be developed are not as yet ready for formulation in this report, certain principles applicable to problems of national planning are already clearly evident.

Last Modified: Fri, Sep. 5, 2003 10:32:22 am PDT
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