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SECTION I
SECTION II
History
Needs
Geography
Historic Sites
Competitors
Economic Aspects
SECTION III
Federal Lands
State and Interstate
Local
SECTION IV
Division of Responsibility
Local
State
Federal
Circulation
SECTION V
Recreational Use of Land in the United States
SECTION IV
PROGRAM FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATION'S RECREATIONAL RESOURCES
4. FEDERAL COMPONENTS
Conclusions
1. Inspirational and economic values support the view that primeval areas constitute a national resource deserving of protection and promotion.
2. The type of recreation furnished by natural unmodified areas provides physical and mental refreshment of an exceptionally virile and stimulating type.
3. The United States Forest Service, because of the size of areas administered, and the National Park Service, because of its basic laws and lack of commercial pressure as regards administration, are in a particularly favorable position to provide truly primeval areas suitable for the highest scientific use and such recreation as may be consistent with preservation of the primeval.
4. A vanishing resource of unique and irreplaceable value, primeval areas should be protected in a great national system, regardless of Bureau jurisdiction.
A National Program for Historic Sites.—In a broad conception of the national program, the ideal is the possession by the Federal Government of sites which are the finest and most representative of their kind for each successive phase of American development. From this point of view the ideal Federal system would contain, for example, the finest archeological remains of all known periods of prehistoric human habitation upon the continent, the most significant colonial survivals, the sites of the most critical events of the American Revolution, and so on. Typifying the different stages in the development of America, the national historic sites would provide resources of high cultural and educational significance.
Toward the realization of such a conception the National Park Service is now moving. Representative of the prehistoric phase of American development the Federal Government already possesses invaluable archeological survivals including pueblos, cliff dwellings, and mounds such as Yucca House, Mesa Verde, and Mound City. Though much is still to be done, a broad basis has been laid for protecting these areas and developing them for the public benefit.
Within the last 5 years, three important sites representative of American colonial life have been acquired by the Federal Government. These include, first, Colonial National Monument area, comprising the archeological remains of the earliest settlement at Jamestown, the battlefield of Yorktown which brought an end to the colonial period, and portions of colonial Williamsburg; second, the birthplace of George Washington, typical of the second frontier stage in Virginia life; and finally, Morristown, located on the economic and social frontier of the colonies struggling against England, but strategically central for military operations and protected and endowed naturally to support the main camps of the American Army during 2 years of the Revolutionary War. These areas are among the finest historical possessions of the American people.
Representative of the revolutionary origins of our Government, and commemorating the struggle which brought American independence, are several critical battlefields of the Revolution, such as Yorktown, already mentioned, King's Mountain, Cowpens, and Guilford Courthouse; and within the last 3 years has come the development of Morristown, to which reference has been made, and which is probably entitled to be called the military, political, and economic capital of America during a considerable period of the Revolution.
The period of sectional and national development is at present represented by relatively few areas under the Federal Government, considering the general extent of physical survivals from this epoch over the country as a whole. The westward movement is recalled in the story surrounding the Shenandoah and the Great Smoky Mountains National Parks, as well as the proposed Pioneer National Monument in Kentucky, and Scotts Bluff along the Oregon Trail in Nebraska. The story of the second war with Great Britain is told at Fort McHenry, the New Orleans battlefield (Chalmette), and the proposed Perry Victory Memorial National Monument on Lake Erie. Fortunately, too, private societies, municipalities, and States have preserved extensive physical survivals of this period. It is anticipated that some areas now under another form of control will eventually, because of their national importance, come under the Federal Government.
From the era of the Civil War, the Federal Government possesses the great battlefields from Antietam to Appomattox, as well as several survival forts such as Fort Pulaski and Castle Pinckney. These areas, distributed over the East and South, and historically related to much that happened before and after the major struggle, provide bases from which to interpret broad phases of American life. The development of these areas, greatly furthered by the emergency programs, is moving in the direction of this broadly interpretative use.
The recent period of American development is of general interest to all Americans, though not much has yet been done by the Federal Government in preservation and interpretation of sites associated with the history of our generation. An exception is the site where the first successful airplane flight took place at Kitty Hawk, N. C.
Sites commemorative of the Spanish-American and World Wars have been proposed. In addition, almost endless possibilities present themselves out of the multitude of economic, social, and political developments of our day. While representative sites from these significant phases of our national development will undoubtedly be included in the national system, it is perhaps as well that we do not move too rapidly in acquiring national areas in connection with recent history.
A list of archeological and historical sites now under the administration of the National Park Service, classified according to the principles enumerated above, is shown in appendix, page 273.
In building up the ideal program for places of national historical interest, it is of utmost importance to consider areas in every part of to the country and to evaluate them in terms of their availability for national use. Much material relative to this problem has already been brought together in surveys conducted by various Federal agencies in the past. Moreover, private individuals, as well as various State historical and archeological societies, have done much work in collecting information and evaluating it.
It is admitted that the full results of these surveys and other similar undertakings now in progress have not yet been completely assembled and analyzed, but certain principles applicable to problems of national planning are already clearly evident.
Statement of Principles.—The Government of the United States should interest itself directly in preserving under its own jurisdiction a relatively limited number of sites of historic nature. The majority of historic sites, like the majority of scenic and scientific areas, should be preserved through the various State and local governments, as well as through private and semi-public organizations. In this connection, more comprehensive legislation, both State and Federal, looking toward a better working program of conservation, is needed.
The determining factor in the preservation of a historic site by the Federal Government, as in the case of any areas of great scenic or scientific qualities, is that it possesses certain matchless or unique qualities which entitle it to a position of first rank among historic sites.
The quality of uniqueness exists—
(a) In such sites as are naturally the points or bases from which the broad aspects of prehistoric and historic American life can best be presented, and from which the student of the history of the United States can sketch the large patterns of the American story; which areas are significant because of their relationship to other areas, each contributing its part of the complete story of American history;
(b) In such sites as are associated with the life of some great American and which may not necessarily have any outstanding qualities other than that association; and
(c) In such sites as are associated with some sudden or dramatic incident in American history, which though possessing no great intrinsic qualities are unique and are symbolic of some great idea or ideal.
Survey of Historic Sites.—1. The Government of the United States should assume the fundamental responsibility of inventorying historic and archeological sites. This involves two purposes: first, the acquisition of invaluable data regarding irreplaceable historical and archeological remains; and, second, the use of such data to determine under the tests already suggested the qualities and possible rank of such areas and materials as well as proper legislation for their conservation. The importance of this work is indicated by the recommendation of the International Conference on the Conservation of Artistic and Historic Monuments, that "each country or the institutions created or recognized competent for this purpose publish an inventory of ancient monuments, with photographs and explanatory notes."
2. In order to know what resources of this type remain and in order that a better plan may be developed, it is believed that the Secretary of the Interior should provide that a survey be made by the regularly constituted historical agencies with the Department of the Interior; the results of the survey should be compiled and the sites classified as "Potential National" and "Nonpotential National" sites.
3. Following this survey and subsequent recommendations it is suggested that the Secretary of the Interior recommend to the Congress the passing of such legislation concerning historic and archeological sites as he may think appropriate in the national program.
Archeological Resources.—The Indians, real breakers of the new world wilderness, originated ways of life, means of travel, and systems of agriculture which, adopted by the first white settlers, have exercised potent influence upon our whole national career. The Indians wrote the first chapters of American history, but only by study of their archeological remains can we hope to read and to understand them. Ruins, mounds, and village sites thus constitute precious historical and archeological resources. Their preservation from idle destruction and their scientific study are obligations which the United States owes not only to its own intellectual and educational development, but also—in the sense that the past of any human race is the joint heritage of all mankind—to the world. Prehistoric Indian sites of outstanding archeological or historic importance should, therefore, if on private land, be acquired by public agencies. Those already on Government land should be protected by greatly improved enforcement of existing laws. Certain significant and carefully selected sites should be held inviolate for considerable periods of years to await investigation in the light of the more highly perfected research methods of the future, and study should be made of means employed in other countries for conservation and utilization of antiquities for the common good. Finally, attention should be given to the problem of possible adoption of the principle established by law in Sweden, Italy, Mexico, and elsewhere, that all archeological materials are the property of the Nation.
In accordance with the principles above stated, there follows a list of what are considered to be the most important of the known archeological sites in the United States, the preservation and, where necessary, the acquisition of which are recommended. These sites have been designated A, B, and C in accordance with their apparent scientific and historic importance.
The A sites have been selected because of their preeminent significance and the imminent destruction of some of them through unqualified excavation.
| State | A | A (s.d.) | B | B (s.d.) | C | C (s.d) | Unclassified | Total | |||||
| Alabama | 10 | 1 | 2 | -- | 3 | -- | -- | 16 | |||||
| Alaska | 16 | 8 | 8 | -- | 7 | -- | -- | 39 | |||||
| Arizona | 31 | 54 | 19 | -- | 5 | -- | -- | -- | 109 | ||||
| Arkansas | 4 | -- | -- | 1 | -- | -- | -- | 5 | |||||
| California | 10 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 3 | -- | 3 | 33 | |||||
| Colorado | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2 | |||||
| Florida | 6 | 4 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 13 | |||||
| Georgia | 9 | -- | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | -- | 21 | |||||
| Illinois | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 3 | |||||
| Indiana | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 3 | |||||
| Iowa | 6 | -- | 6 | -- | 2 | -- | -- | 14 | |||||
| Kentucky | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2 | |||||
| Louisiana | 9 | 1 | 1 | -- | 1 | -- | -- | 12 | |||||
| Maine | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | |||||
| Massachusetts | -- | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | |||||
| Michigan | 1 | 5 | -- | 2 | -- | 2 | -- | 10 | |||||
| Mississippi | 17 | 2 | 8 | -- | 5 | -- | -- | 32 | |||||
| Missouri | 1 | -- | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2 | |||||
| Nebraska | 9 | 3 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -- | 32 | |||||
| Nevada | 1 | 1 | -- | 4 | -- | -- | -- | 6 | |||||
| New Mexico | 6 | 17 | 6 | -- | 3 | -- | -- | 32 | |||||
| New York | 7 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 2 | -- | 25 | |||||
| North Carolina | 3 | -- | 1 | -- | 2 | -- | -- | 6 | |||||
| North Dakota | 12 | -- | 6 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 18 | |||||
| Ohio | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | -- | -- | 17 | |||||
| Oklahoma | 5 | -- | 2 | -- | 2 | -- | -- | 9 | |||||
| Oregon | 1 | -- | 2 | 1 | -- | 4 | -- | 8 | |||||
| Pennsylvania | -- | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | |||||
| South Carolina | 9 | -- | 3 | -- | 21 | -- | -- | 33 | |||||
| South Dakota | 10 | -- | 1 | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | 13 | |||||
| Tennessee | 5 | -- | -- | -- | 2 | -- | 1 | 8 | |||||
| Texas | 12 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 8 | -- | -- | 32 | |||||
| Utah | 5 | 2 | 3 | -- | 1 | -- | -- | 11 | |||||
| Washington | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | |||||
| Wisconsin | 5 | -- | 4 | 1 | 3 | -- | -- | 13 | |||||
| Wyoming | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2 | -- | -- | 2 | |||||
| Total | 226 | 108 | 123 | 223 | 89 | 12 | 4 | 585 |
PHOTO 12.—Kinbiniyoli ruin (whirlwind Pueblo) is a well-preserved
ruin belonging to the Chaco Canyon culture. Near here the remains of
extensive irrigation works were discovered.
In connection with the above it is recommended—
That scientifically valuable archeological sites on Federal lands not at present within a national park or monument be designated as national monuments, and that Federal protection be given the sites so designated; that scientifically valuable archeological sites on other lands be acquired and added to the monuments; that all archeological sites which are administered by the Federal Government be classified and treated according to the system of archeological categories developed in table XXXI, namely, A, A (s. d.), B, B (s. d), C, C (s. d.); that all federally administered archeological sites which are reserved for excavation and study should not be publicly advertised or made accessible to the public, except at the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior and the Smithsonian Institution.
These sites specially designated (s. d.) are recommended for semipermanent preservation for two reasons:
1. Under present research conditions they would presumably yield only duplicate information, and
2. Because of the steady advance of archeological technique, they are almost certain to yield far more historical and scientific data in the future than they could at the present time. Experience in the past has amply demonstrated this fact, as witness many of the sites in the Southwest which were completely excavated prior to the recent discovery of the importance of tree rings in dating. Archeological sites already included on lands under Federal jurisdiction where so designated should be regarded as within the above classification.
The particular period at which any of these specially designated sites are to be excavated should be determined by the Smithsonian Institution.
The committee of the Recreation Division is profoundly impressed by the importance of preserving all of these sites because of their rapid destruction at the present time through undirected interests or mercenary exploitation.10 11 Nevertheless, it is firmly believed that unless adequate laws and, even more important, adequate enforcement of these laws, be provided, the mere setting aside of the above-mentioned archeological sites can have but little value. Experience with the National Antiquities Act of 1906 has shown that its potentialities are too limited. It has not been and apparently cannot be enforced. For this reason, it is urged that the National Resources Board, its successor, or any other duly authorized agency of Government, appoint and finance a committee consisting of one member of the Smithsonian Institution, one member of the National Research Council, one member of the Carnegie Institution, and one member each to be designated by the Departments of Justice, Interior, Agriculture, and War. It is recommended that this committee make a careful study of the existing antiquities laws of the various countries of the world in which such laws have proved effective in preserving the common archeological heritage of the people for the countries concerned.
10 Present Status of Archeology in the United States; by Neil M. Judd; American Anthropologist, vol. 31, No. 3, 1929. (See appendix, p. 589.)
11 Report on Illegal Excavations in Southwestern Ruins, by Neil M. Judd; American Anthropologist, vol. 26, no. 3, 1924. (See appendix, p. 590.)
In the light of this information and the experiences with the present Antiquities Law of 1906, the above-named committee should be authorized to draw up an antiquities act more comprehensive in its scope and actually capable of enforcement.
Method of Archeological Survey.—The Archeological Committee prepared a questionnaire indicating the data desired for each important archeological site. These questionnaires were sent to more than a hundred archeologists throughout the United States. Replies were received from about 95 of these collaborating archeologists, and about 550 data sheets were received, giving data regarding that number of sites. Photographs and diagrams were furnished when they were immediately available.
The Archeological Committee then assembled these data sheets by States and prepared maps showing the location of the sites reported upon in each State. The sites were classified by the committee and designated as A, B, and C, to indicate the relative importance of the sites. Sites, in each of these groups, that are recommended to be protected and not to be excavated for a period of years, were classed as specially designated sites, and were marked, for example, A (s. d.).
PHOTO 13.—Cliff Palace—Prehistoric communal dwelling
containing over 200 rooms for family living and 23 kivas or sacred
ceremonial rooms.—Mesa Verde National Park, Colo.
An example of the valuable data that were secured by the Archeological Committee is shown herewith:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY 1934—DESIGNATED_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A
Report submitted by (name) David L. DeJarnette, Curator, Alabama Museum of Natural History.
1. Name of site (if known). Mound Park.
2. Location (as accurate as possible). One mile north of Moundville, Ala.
3. Ownership (Federal, State, or private), State, in the care of the Alabama Museum. (If private, name and address of owner). Alabama Museum maintains full-time caretaker permanently.
4. if public ownership, is additional protection needed?
5. Area covered by site, 140 acres, _ _ _ _ _ square miles.
6. Nature of site. A group of 40 mounds with adjoining village site.
7. Surface indications. Mounds (40) and artificial lakes built by the aborigines.
8. Your reasons for recommending preservation of site. This site is one of the largest of its kind in the United States, and exceedingly interesting from an archaeological standpoint. Consequently, it attracts many visitors from outside the borders of the State.
9. Remarks: While there are hundreds of mounds scattered over the continent, the group at Moundville is certainly the finest in the South, and perhaps second only to the famous Cahokia group in Illinois (photos attached).
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