Historic Preservation

Local and federal efforts to save historic properties, landscapes, and landmarks from demolition or dramatic alterations have become pervasive throughout contemporary American society. This historic preservation movement has coincided with a renewed interest in national and local heritage, perceived as threatened by fast-paced development since the 1960s. From initial interests in creating house museums during the 19th century, the realm of preservation now includes the conservation of entire neighborhoods[Page 210] and commercial districts, contrived outdoor museums, national historic landscapes, and festival marketplaces where derelict industrial structures are converted into venues for middle-class consumption. The consequential impacts of preservation practices on our human landscapes, economy, and society have attracted the attention of academics representing the disciplines of human geography, sociology, anthropology, history, architecture, urban design, and so on. Human geographers often must consider the preservation process in their understanding of tourism landscapes, downtown redevelopment, neighborhood gentrification, postmodern consumption, and economic globalization and localization.

Early federal involvement in preservation was manifested in the Antiquities Act of 1906 and in the creation of the National Park Service in 1916. The former allowed for the creation of national monuments to prevent the wholesale destruction of prehistoric remains in the American Southwest and elsewhere, whereas the latter added a newfound significance to preservation efforts in the West and Southwest and recognized the importance of environmental conservation. After intense pressure to do so, Congress in 1949 ultimately chartered the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the only national organization developed and sustained by the preservation movement. Subsequently, Congress passed the Historic Preservation Act of 1966, which provided for the creation of the National Register of Historic Places and encouraged the establishment of state historic preservation offices (SHPOs). In 2000, the National Register included some 70,000 listings, many of them historic districts, totaling more than 1 million individual properties.

SHPOs are responsible for conducting surveys of historic properties within their states. They also process nominations to the National Register and assist local communities and individuals with the nomination process. SHPOs further administer grants to projects and serve as a funding conduit from the federal level to the local level. Within municipalities, state-enabling legislation allows communities to establish local historic preservation ordinances, or zoning overlays, which can provide a variety of guidelines and restrictions on property alterations within the designated districts.

Local debate surrounding historic preservation initiatives is rooted in the American cultural value of maintaining private property rights, individualism, and the free market economy that assumes little government involvement. Preservation efforts typically are perceived as restrictive to individual ownership rights and economic growth. Conversely, preservation proponents highlight a consistent pattern of increased property values and capitalist investment within and around designated historic districts, indicating that preservation efforts can actually encourage economic redevelopment. The preservation movement is only increasing in strength as communities desire to remain in touch with their material heritage following decades of modern aversion to studying or appreciating the past.