Historic Road Infrastructure of Texas, 1866-1965
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NPS Form 10-900-b United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form Multiple Property Documentation Form This form is used for documenting multiple property groups relating to one or several historic contexts. See instructions in How to Complete the Multiple Property Documentation Form (National Register Bulletin 16B). Complete each item by entering the requested information. For additional space, use continuation sheets (Form 10- 900-a) . Use a typewriter, word processor, or computer to complete all items. New Submission Amended Submission A. Name of Multiple Property Listing Historic Road Infrastructure of Texas, 1866-1965 B. Associated Historic Contexts Development of Texas Road Networks, 1866-1965 Historic Bridges of Texas, 1866-1965 C. Form Prepared bv NAME/TITLE: Bruce Jensen, Historical Studies Supervisor Texas Department of Transportation, Environmental Affairs Division 1 STREET & NUMBER: 125 East 11 h Street TELEPHONE: (512) 416-2628 CITY/TOWN: Austin STATE: Texas ZIP CODE: 78757 D. Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify that this documentation form meets the National Register documentation standards and sets forth requirements for the listing of related properties consistent with the National Register criteria. This submission meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60 and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation. (_ See continuation sheet for additional comments .) · {SHPO, Texas Historical Commission) ate I hereby certify that this multiple property documentation form has been approved by the National Register as a basis for evaluating related properties for listing in the National Register. United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places REGISTRATION FORM NPS Form 10-900-b OMB No. 1024-0018 Historic Road Infrastructure of Texas, 1866-1965 MPS Statewide, Texas Table of Contents for Written Narrative E. Statement of Historic Contexts (Document historic contexts on one or more continuation sheets. If more than one historic context is documented, present them in sequential order.) See Continuation Sheets 3 through 192 Introduction: Page 3 Development of Texas Road Networks: Pages 4 through 86 Historic Bridges of Texas: Pages 87 through 192 F. Associated Property Types (Provide description, significance, and registration requirements on one or more continuation sheets.) See Continuation Sheets 193 through 264 G. Geographical Data The geographic boundaries for this nomination are the State of Texas. H. Summary of Identification and Evaluation Methods (Discuss the methods used in developing the multiple property listing on one or more continuation sheets..) See Continuation Sheets 265 through 269 I. Major Bibliographical References (List major written works and primary location of additional documentation: State Historic Preservation Office, other State agency, Federal agency, local government, university, or other, specifying repository.) See Continuation Sheets 270 through 299 Additional Items See Figures, pages 300 through 341 Page 2 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places REGISTRATION FORM NPS Form 10-900-b OMB No. 1024-0018 Historic Road Infrastructure of Texas, 1866-1965 MPS Statewide, Texas Section E: Statement of Historic Contexts Introductory Note Produced under the auspices of the Historical Studies Branch of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), this document is intended primarily to facilitate compliance by the agency with Section 110 regulations of the National Historic Preservation Act. As a result, the document focuses on historic elements found in roadway rights-of-way throughout the state. It is intended as a management tool to facilitate evaluation of the historic infrastructure elements most commonly impacted by roadway projects: roads, bridges, culverts, roadside parks and other landscaping installations. It is not intended as the exclusive mechanism for evaluation, documentation and nomination standards of transportation infrastructure elements, as many paths to the justification of significance may be found that were not anticipated by this study. It also is not intended as the mechanism appropriate to consideration of traditional roadside service elements such as gas stations, motels and eateries associated with the development of historic road corridors. Finally, it is not intended as a static document, in anticipation that supplemental documentation of additional property types and eras of construction may be amended to it upon completion of subsequent investigations. Substantial portions of Section E are adapted from previous TxDOT bridge inventories and studies, including: the Historic Bridges of Texas Multiple Property Documentation Form prepared in conjunction with TxDOT’s metal truss inventory (NRHP 1996; authored by planner Barbara Stocklin and historian Regina Lauderdale); the Depression Era inventory (1999; prepared by planner Daniel Harris, planner Rick Mitchell, historian John Murphey and historian Diane Gray); the non-truss inventory (2001; prepared by historian John Murphey, historian Amy Arnold and planner Daniel Harris); the roadside park context (2005; prepared for TxDOT by consulting historians Hardy-Heck-Moore, Inc.); and the inventory of post-1945 bridges (2009; prepared for TxDOT by consulting historians Mead & Hunt, Inc.). Please also note that the previous inventories provided varying levels of source documentation and reference citations. When available, these citations are included as footnotes; however, in many cases the sources were not independently examined or analyzed during the preparation of this document. The team responsible for this document served under the direction of Bruce Jensen, historian and manager of TxDOT’s Historical Studies Branch. Engineering historian Dr. Mark Brown served as the project manager for the effort and provided much of the new content regarding the evaluation of engineering significance for metal truss bridges. Historian Renée Benn conducted the fieldwork and developed evaluation methods for historic roads as outlined in this document. Historian Rebekah Dobrasko developed historic bridge evaluation methods for Criterion A associations, based on research conducted by consulting architectural historian Lila Knight. Planner Rick Mitchell with consulting historians Mead & Hunt led the team responsible for the truss-related field assessments, development of the contextual framework for this document and its final compilation. Insightful commentary and guidance were provided by historians Gregory Smith and Linda Henderson of the Texas Historical Commission (THC), historian Paul Loether of the National Park Service (NPS)’s NRHP staff and architectural historian Kate Holliday of the University of Texas at Arlington. Section E (Introduction) - Page 3 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places REGISTRATION FORM NPS Form 10-900-b OMB No. 1024-0018 Historic Road Infrastructure of Texas, 1866-1965 MPS Statewide, Texas Development of Texas Road Networks Through 1965 The history of Texas’ road development is characterized by settlement patterns, ethnic history, economic development, and the interaction between county, state, and federal funding and jurisdiction over roads. Early American Indian trails and Spanish colonial routes, while primitive, linked Mexico with San Antonio, Goliad, and East Texas, allowing Spanish missionaries access to the developing line of presidios and missions in the region. As the Anglo-American settlement of Texas began in 1821, following Mexico’s independence from Spain, new routes through the region were established, although primarily consisting of simple trails and wagon ruts. With Texas gaining independence from Mexico in 1836, the Republic of Texas approved a Central National Road through the state and called for the establishment of roads between county seats. However, road improvement during the Republic’s nine-year history was minimal. Although Texas gained statehood in 1845, linking Texas to the United States via road and railroad took time. It was not until 1873 that Texas was connected to the national railroad. Nineteenth century roads through Texas most often consisted of unimproved earthen trails and were under the jurisdiction of the counties. It was not until the turn of the century (and the advent of the automobile) that citizen involvement to “get the farmer out of the mud” provided statewide and national impetus to improve roadway networks. Booster groups across the country and in Texas developed, constructed, maintained, and promoted transcontinental and regional named highways, including the Meridian Highway, Old Spanish Trail, and Dixie Overland Highway. In compliance with the Federal Aid Road Act of 1916, the Texas Highway Department (THD) was formed in 1917 to designate a system of state highways and grant financial aid to counties for highway construction and maintenance. By the mid-1920s, the THD had assumed responsibility for maintaining and constructing state highways. Contemporaneously, the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) adopted a national system of uniformly designated highways (US Highways) in an effort to tame the proliferation of named