Ardgowan National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan
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Ardgowan national historic site of canada Management Plan m ay 2 0 0 5 Ardgowan national historic site o f c a na d a Management Plan ii ©Her Majesty the Queen in right of Library and Archives Canada Canada, represented by the Chief Cataloguing in Publication Executive Officer of Parks Canada, 2005. Parks Canada. Atlantic Service Centre Cette publication est aussi disponible Ardgowan National Historic Site of en français. Canada : Management Plan For more information about the Site Issued also in French under title: Management Plan or about Ardgowan Lieu historique national du Canada National Historic Site of Canada: Ardgowan : plan directeur Ardgowan National Historic ISBN 0-662-38622-1 Site of Canada CAT. NO. R64-303/2004E 2 Palmers Lane Charlottetown, PE 1. Ardgowan National Historic Site C1A 5V6 (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) – Management. 2. National parks and reserves – Prince Tel: (902) 566-7050 Edward Island – Management. Fax: (902) 566-7226 3. National parks – [email protected] Canada – Management. www.pc.gc.ca 4. Historic sites – Canada – Management. I. Title. 2614.A73 2004 333.78’097175 C2004-980335-2 Front Cover Image Credits LEFT: Parks Canada, 2001; CENTRE: Parks Canada; RIGHT: National Archives of Canada BACKGROUND: National Archives of Canada Ardgowan iii National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan Foreword Canada’s national historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas represent the soul of our country. They are a cen- tral part of who we are and what we are. They are places of beauty and wonder and heritage. Each tells its own story. Together, they con- nect Canadians to our roots, to our future and to each other. We see a future in which each of the national historic sites of Canada, whether federally owned or not, enjoys sound commemora- tive health, and in which our system of sites evolves as our country evolves. Our national historic sites will be places for all Canadians to experience and learn from. They will help our communities to be vibrant and creative, and contribute to our efforts to revitalize Canada’s cities. Together, we will hold these places in trust for this and future generations, while ensuring they contribute to Canada’s sustainable economy and environmental health. Our vision is also for each of Canada’s unique terrestrial and marine regions to be represented by at least one national park or national marine conservation area, for all national parks to be in sound ecological health, for all NMCAs to promote the ecologically sustainable use of our marine resources in a way that harmonizes conservation practices with human activities, and for both national parks and NMCAs to be places for all Canadians to experience and enjoy. These principles form the foundation of the new management plan for Ardgowan National Historic Site of Canada. May I offer my appreciation to the vast range of thoughtful Canadians who helped develop this plan. I am especially grateful to our very dedicated team from Parks Canada and to all those local organizations and individu- als who have demonstrated such good will, hard work, spirit of co- operation and extraordinary sense of stewardship. In that same spirit of partnership and responsibility, I am pleased to approve the Ardgowan National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan. Stéphane Dion Minister of the Environment iv Ardgowan v National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan Recommendations Recommended by: Alan Latourelle Chief Executive Officer Parks Canada David Lipton Field Unit Superintendent Prince Edward Island Field Unit, Parks Canada vi Ardgowan vii National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan Executive Summary Ardgowan, the home of William Henry Pope from 1854 to 1873, was designated a national historic site in 1966 as the symbolic home of a Father of Confederation in Prince Edward Island. Ardgowan, located in the City of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, is one of twelve homes of Fathers of Confederation that have been commemorated as national historic sites in the Maritimes, Ontario and Quebec. Despite tangible links to the story of Confederation, Ardgowan National Historic Site of Canada (nhsc) is not well recognized among sites and attractions promoting the Ardgowan was the home of a Prince Edward Island Father of “Birthplace of Confederation” theme that Confederation W.H. Pope. Parks Canada has been widely adopted in Charlottetown and on the Island. Ardgowan nhsc has long change in the offer, enhanced heritage pres- served as the centre for Parks Canada admin- entation at the site will be explored, such as istrative and information services on Prince development of a self-guided tour, renewed Edward Island, housing staff offices. The non-personal programming and personal exterior of the house and the mid-Victorian- programming or special events offered in era rehabilitated grounds are open to the conjunction with third parties. Efforts will be public. made to encourage visitation by those who This first management plan for the site have a clear understanding of the modest strives to provide strategic direction to site site offer yet have an interest in the historic managers on how to ensure the commemora- significance of the site and its gardens. A tive integrity of Ardgowan nhsc through the Landscape Management Plan will be prepared protection of the valued heritage qualities to provide more detailed direction on long- and the provision of an appropriate level of term maintenance and rejuvenation of the heritage presentation, as well as how to pro- grounds and comprehensive consideration of vide other visitor services while continuing how to most effectively use the grounds for to serve as the administrative centre for Parks heritage presentation and visitor orientation. Canada on the Island. The management plan Site managers will strive to improve links was developed by a multi-disciplinary plan- between the site and other heritage attrac- ning team with public input. tions and organizations in Charlottetown, In general, Ardgowan nhsc is well pro- particularly on the theme of “Birthplace of tected and well maintained, known by local Confederation.” Off-site audiences will learn residents for its beautiful gardens and rec- more about Ardgowan nhsc through curricu- ognized as the administrative heart of Parks lum material developed in collaboration with Canada on the Island. However, the site educators and through an enhanced Web site. possesses a weak heritage presentation and The implementation of the proposed visitor service offer that merits reconsidera- actions in this management plan is contingent tion and rejuvenation. Although the low level upon the availability of resources or the avail- of visitation makes it hard to justify much ability of third-party collaboration. Broad viii Executive Summary implementation priorities are indicated in • work in collaboration with others to com- the management plan, and the public will be municate key messages about Ardgowan advised of progress in realizing the manage- at thematically related sites and attrac- ment plan. tions, and cooperatively develop heritage presentation tools • work with educators on the preparation HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MANAGEMENT DIRECTION: of appropriate curriculum materials to improve school-aged children’s under- Heritage Resource Protection standing of Ardgowan nhsc • continue to maintain and protect the cultural resources of national historic External Relations and Visitor Services significance, both the exterior of the house • encourage visitation at Ardgowan nhsc and the original interior elements, as well to an appropriate level, through use of as other cultural resources of the site promotional tools that shape realistic • review and update the Conservation expectations of the site and are targeted and Maintenance Manual, and develop to visitors with an interest in the historic a Maintenance Management Plan for the significance and the unique grounds of cultural resources and the built heritage the site of Ardgowan nhsc • work to ensure that promotional efforts • maintain an awareness of development of of Parks Canada or of other agencies or changes of use on adjacent properties and organizations pertaining to the and work with owners and appropri- “Birthplace of Confederation” theme ate authorities to try to ensure that use include Ardgowan nhsc and development are compatible with • explore the possibility of providing acces- and sensitive to the heritage character of sible public washroom facilities that do Ardgowan nhsc not impair the built heritage or rehabili- tated landscape Heritage Presentation • evaluate and, depending on the avail- Operations and Administration ability of funds, revise or recapitalize • continue to position Ardgowan nhsc as as required the on-site non-personal the headquarters for administration and media to ensure that key messages and information services for Parks Canada on other heritage values associated with Prince Edward Island Ardgowan nhsc are communicated; • ensure that future interventions at the develop a self-guiding tour brochure for site, including any improvements for the site workplace needs and visitor comfort, will • approach other groups and agencies to be designed to avoid impairment to the explore the possibility of offering per- commemorative integrity of the site sonal programming and special events at Ardgowan nhsc • develop and improve the Web site educa- tional content Ardgowan ix National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan Table of Contents Foreword .........................................................................................................................