During the same years, the Branch of Historic Sites and
Buildings, in consultation with the Advisory Board, developed tentative
definitions and objectives for various types of historical and
archeological areas in the National Park System. [97]
This was done to simplify the administration and provide for uniform standards of
development and operation of the numerous historical and archeological
areas that were transferred to the Park Service as a result of the
reorganization of 1933 as well as the many new areas which were proposed
as units of the National Park System after passage of the Historic Sites
Act. The following definitions and objectives were discussed and adopted
as preliminary guidelines for the nomenclature designations of
historical and archeological areas by the Advisory Board in March
1937:
(a) National historical and archeological
monuments are those areas which have been set aside because they
contain the remains of some historic or pre-historic structure whose
age, beauty, or historical or archeological significance makes them
worthy of national recognition and preservation. . . .
The objectives of national historical and archeological
monuments are to preserve, and protect against deterioration the
physical remains of historic and pre-historic structures which are of
outstanding historical or archeological significance, to restore those
remains where it appears feasible or advisable to do so, and to
interpret them to the American public in a way that will make their
importance readily understood.
(b) National historical parks are those areas
which have been set aside because they were the scene of some event, or
events, of transcendent importance in American history, and because they
afford the opportunity of using a park area to graphically illustrate
some of the major themes of American history, of a military, political,
social and economic nature.
The objectives of national historical parks are to
preserve against change and deterioration areas on which were enacted
events of outstanding importance, and to portray and interpret by means
of field museums and restoration, as well as ordinary museum exhibits,
the mode of life of earlier generations of Americans.
(c) National military parks are those areas
which have been set aside because they were the scene of some military
action which was of crucial importance in the history of the
country.
The objectives of a national military park are to
preserve the terrain on which the action took place, to mark the
important sites and lines of battle, and to interpret to the visitor the
story of the area, including not only the battle but its historic
background, and the history of the whole region.
(d) National battlefield sites are those areas
which have been set aside because they were the scene of some military
action of outstanding importance, in our history, though their
significance is not as great as that of the national military parks. . .
.
The objectives of national battlefield sites are the
same as those of national military parks.
(e) National cemeteries are those areas which
have been set aside as resting-places for members of the fighting
services of the United States.
The function of national cemeteries is to serve as
suitable and dignified burial-grounds for the men and women who have
been interred in them.
Miscellaneous memorials are erected from time to
time to commemorate some individual or event of outstanding importance
in our history.
The function of these memorials is to commemorate
great men and events, serving as a constant reminder of the ideals
efforts, and accomplishments of previous generations of Americans. [98]
Thereafter, there were various efforts to redesignate
the historical areas of the National Park System to coordinate and
simplify the nomenclature of these areas according to National Park
Service standards. One of the chief attempts to accomplish this goal was
the proposal in the legislative program submitted to the Interior
Department Solicitor on August 31, 1938, to combine all national
military parks with the national cemeteries and designate them as
national historical parks. Three national battlefield sites were to be
transferred to the national historical park designation while the
remaining national battlefield sites were recommended for the memorial
category. While this reclassification was designed to streamline the
administration of areas in the National Park System, it was also
proposed in part to "eliminate much of the public criticism of the
National Park System as presenting numerous inconsistencies and
illogicalities in the similar designation of areas that are not, in
fact, comparable in character." The proposal was defeated, but the issue
of reclassification has continued to be discussed periodically to the
present day. [99]