The History of Historic Preservation
The French Revolution - 1789
Prosper Merimee (1803-1870) First full-time, paid preservationist 1834 Inspector General of Historic Monuments Photo ca. 1844
Eugene Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc The Scraper (1814-1879)
Viollet and Notre Dame
Carcassone
French Milestones 1913 Minister of Education empowered to protect buildings and moveable parts of buildings either in perpetuity or just put under review. If preserved in perpetuity, then everything within 100m is reviewed. Eventually expanded to 500m. In 1962, allowed for further expansion at Minister of Education s discretion. 1962 Historic District concept formally introduced. French program still less comprehensive in scope than National Register. Fewer listed resources. Less appreciation for modern accomplishments.
James Wyatt (1746-1813) The English Scraper Salisbury Cathedral Restoration 1787-1792
John Ruskin The Anti-Scraper graceful irregularity (1818-1900)
William Morris (1834-1896) Reformed Scraper When in doubt, do nothing.
English Milestones 1882 Ancient Monuments Protection Act 1895 National Trust for Places of Historic Interest and Beauty formed. 1913 Ancient Monument Consolidation and Amendment Act 1944 Town & Country Planning Act Grade X?
French vs. English French advantages: well funded by government; centrally adminstered. English advantages: broad inventory; public part of process. French disadvantages: limited objectives, little grass roots activity. English disadvantages: never enough resources to cover immense number of eligible resources; lack of central administration
In the United States Early Preservation Successes
Ann Pamela Cunningham (1816-1875) The Mount Vernon Ladies Association of the Union
Ann Pamela Cunningham s charge: Ladies, the home of Washington is in your charge see to it that you keep it the home of Washington. Let no irreverent hand change it; no vandal hands desecrate it with the fingers of progress. Those who go to the home in which he lived and died wish to see in what he lived and died. Let one spot in this grand country of ours be saved from change. Upon you rests this duty.
Mount Vernon today
Washington Association, 1875
1889 Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities Oldest statewide preservation organization in US Today maintain 34 properties Including Jamestown Jamestown Church Tower
1903 Indian King Tavern Haddonfield, NJ
1906 Antiquities Act Created list of significant sites Didn t create any administrative or planning apparatus Encouraged Americans to view our heritage not as a commercial asset, but a public treasure
The Paul Revere House Boston, MA Before Now
Trenton, 1918 1920s
Williamsburg
Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin (1869-1939) 1902 Became Rector of Bruton Parish Church 1905 Restoration begins
John D. Rockefeller, Jr. (1874-1960)
What did their money buy? Within 1 sq. mile, 173 acres 600 demolished, 18 moved, 88 restored 500 reconstructed Archaeological evidence Dr. Carter s Brick House Reconstructed House
The Williamsburg Legacy Brought together scholars, generated information Educational device shows pre-industrial processes Ripple effect Sturbridge Village (1930s) Plimouth Plantation (c1935) Old Deerfield Village (1930s)
National Park Service Created 1916 Largely for the protection of natural resources Tied to Romanticism Yosemite
Charleston, S.C. 1920s Susan Pringle Frost (1873-1960) 1931 first zoning law to protect areas of historic interest, subject to architectural review board followed by New Orleans, Alexandria & others 1947 Historic Charleston established
1930s a critical decade Williamsburg and spin-off endeavors Charleston pioneers first ordinance 1933 Morristown est. as first National Historic Park and FDR the centralizer
1935 Historic Sites Act Establishes public benefit of historic properties Established National Historic Landmark program Established HABS/HAER recordation programs Adds 20 sites But doesn t allow NPS to buy sites No maintenance money for those NPS already has.
HABS/HAER/HALS Demarest House New Bridge Landing
Jefferson National Expansion Memorial
The Athens Charter for the Restoration of Historic Monuments 1931 1. International organizations for Restoration on operational and advisory levels are to be established. 2. Proposed Restoration projects are to be subjected to knowledgeable criticism to prevent mistakes which will cause loss of character and historical values to the structures. 3. Problems of preservation of historic sites are to be solved by legislation at national level for all countries. 4. Excavated sites which are not subject to immediate restoration should be reburied for protection. 5. Modern techniques and materials may be used in restoration work. 6. Historical sites are to be given strict custodial protection. 7. Attention should be given to the protection of areas surrounding historic sites.
UNESCO Following WWII ICCROM International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, 1959 The Venice Charter INTERNATIONAL CHARTER FOR THE CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION OF MONUMENTS AND SITES, 1964 ICOMOS The International Council on Monuments and Sites, 1964
National Trust for Historic Preservation Created by act of Congress, 1949 Founded to provide leadership, education and advocacy to save America s diverse historic places and revitalize our communities.
Urban Renewal
1950s and 1960s
Penn Station Opened September 4, 1910
Lost Demolition begun October 28, 1963 completed 1966
With Heritage So Rich, 1966 Recommendations articulate a national policy establish Advisory Council create National Register create federal $ assistance program more $ to acquire buildings
National Historic Preservation Act, 1966 Section 110 creates National Register, made survey $ available to states Section 106 regulatory Section 201 establishes Advisory Council
New Jersey Tercentenary, 1964
Additional Federal Legislation 1966 Transportation Act 1966 Model Cities Act 1969 National Environmental Policy Act 1971 Executive Order 11953 1974 Housing & Community Development Act 1976 Tax Reform Act (revised 1982, 1987) 1980 NHPA reauthorized (again 1987) created CLG program
The End See you next week!