NetworkT^ *W" NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARKS ^M VOLUME I, No. 2 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARKS PROGRAM FALL-WINTER, 1998 National Historic Landmark Stewards Association Formed by Bill Bolger and Christeen Taniguchi ational Historic Landmarks Nare among the nation's most significant cultural resources. They include a rich variety of sites and structures— homes, skyscrapers, bridges, ships, archeological sites—and represent all aspects of American history. These properties are owned and managed by an equally Uverse cross section of the .American public—from religious organizations to major corpora­ tions, homeowners to housing authorities, universities to govern­ ment agencies. The November, 1997 West Point Congress of National Historic Landmark Stewards developed a Robert Stanton, Director of the National Park Service, dedicates the National Historic number of ideas and recommenda­ Landmark plaque for the Robert Russa Moton High School in Farmville, Virginia. NPS Photo. tions for future development of the National Historic Landmarks (NHL) program. While this was an Midwest Support Office Civil Rights Era School assembly of NHL stewards located Sponsors NHL Owners' Achieves National in the National Park Service's Northeast Region (Maine to Conference Historic Landmark Virginia), it was intended as a by Bill Nelligan Status forum to explore the needs and interests of all National Historic by Lisa Kolakowsky Smith wners and managers of Landmark stewards. Participating National Historic Land­ stewards split into four affinity O e will never know exactly groups, including interpreted marks from throughout the Wwhat Barbara Johns was museum properties, institutional Midwest traveled to Midland, thinking on her way to school and commercial properties, pri­ Michigan, on August 21-23, on April 23, 1951. One thing is vate residential properties, and 1998, to attend the region's certain—on that day, she was full historic districts (see NHL first National Historic Land­ of courage and was keenly aware Network, Spring 1998, page 1). marks Owners' Conference. that life was not fair for her and SEE ASSOCIATION, PAGE 13, COLUMN 1 SEE CONFERENCE, PAGE 14, COLUMN 1 SEE MOTON, PAGE 14, COLUMN 2 Thirty-one new NHLs designated or recommended. Stories begin on page 16. AN INVITATION To preserve for public use historic sites, buildings and objects of national significance, for the inspiration and benefit of the people of the United States. National Historic An Invitation to Landmarks Network Published by the National Park Service All Stewards of National Historic Landmarks Robert Stanton s co-chairs of the newly formed National Historic Director ALandmark Stewards Association, we would like to share with Katherine H. Stevenson you our enthusiasm for this new organization! We feel great things will Associate Director, Cultural Resource come of this and hope that you can join us in our efforts for this impor­ Stewardship and Partnerships tant cause. Ronald M. Greenberg Last September, in historic downtown Philadelphia, we began the task Manager, National Center for Cultural of forming an association of the people who own or take care of National Resources Stewardship Historic Landmarks, the 2,266 properties on the National Register and Partnership Programs deemed the most significant in our nation's history. Like the Continental de Teel Patterson Tiller Congress, our enthusiasm ran high to organize and give voice to a great Chief, Heritage Preservation Services constituency. Frank J.J. Miele. Editor Even at our small gathering of volunteers, the breadth and scope of Senior Historian, Southeast these National Historic Landmark properties was a revelation. Stewards Regional Office came from privately-owned houses, churches, battlefields, historic Sharon C. Park. FAIA districts, governmental buildings, a fort, and a medical institution. As Chief, Technical Preservation Services individuals, we came from all walks of life, but as stewards, we shared a Susan Escherich devotion to our respective Landmarks, a desire to educate the larger Coordinator, National Historic community about the importance of NHLs in our nation's history, and a Landmarks Assistance Initiative willingness to advocate on their behalf. Jerry Buckbinder In November we reassembled in Carpenter's Hall. Philadelphia, just Production Manager one floor above the site of the Continental Congress. Here we agreed upon a guiding message for the National Historic Landmark Stewards National Historic Landmarks Network is published biannually and is free of charpe. Association from an inspiring passage in the 1935 Historic Sites Act Letters and articles may be submitted to Frank J..I. (see title above). We also rolled up our sleeves and divided up the first Miele, Editor. NHL Network. NPS Southeast Regional Office. Atlanta Federal Center. 1924 tasks of our organization. Some agreed to work on a strategy for reach­ Building. 100 Alabama Street. SW. Atlanta. ing out to stewards of all the NHL properties, others on outreach to the (ieargia 30303. Phone 404-562-3173. public, and still others on setting up our organization as a not-for-profit K-mail: Frank_Miele"nps.gov corporation. Mission of the National Park Service The immediate camaraderie among stewards—from large institutions The National Park Service is dedicated to to small family operations, all taking time away from their historic conserving unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System treasures—was the promise of things to come. After the gathering, we for the enjoyment, education and inspiration were amazed that we had struggled in isolation for so long. of this and future generations. The Service is also responsible for managing a great variety Our thanks to the National Park Service, especially the Northeast (if national and international programs Region and the Philadelphia Support Office, for their devotion to National designed to help extend the benefits of natural Historic Landmarks and their hard work in support of our efforts. We and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world. encourage you to please contact us if you would like further information about the National Historic Landmark Stewards Association! HPS Yours sincerely, Heritage Robert E. Darrie Preservation Christ Church, IIS North Washington Street. Alexandria, VA 22314; 703/549-1450 Services Mary Leach Davidgc Hall, University of Maryland, 520 West Lombard Street, East Hall, 1st Floor. U.S. Department of the Interior Baltimore, MD 21201; tel: 410/706-7002; fax: 410/706-0500; National Park Service e-mail: <mleach(<>itmaryland.edu>. Cultural Resources 2 STEWARDSHIP NEWS settlements, which date from pre- Dena'ina settlement at Kijik. They ALASKA European contact to the abandon­ also recovered historic glazed ment of Kijik village in 1910. Also ceramics, glass trade beads, and Ranger- Historian found within the NHL are the metal objects while collecting the remains of a Russian Orthodox charcoal for dating. Preserves and Protects cemetery and church. Since 1966. A large part of the credit for the Alaskan National when archeologists began excava­ accomplishments at Kijik goes to Historic Landmark tions at Kijik. several parties of John Branson, ranger-historian at anthropologists have revisited the Lake Clark National Park and by Dale Vinson area for mapping and research Preserve. He has played a pivotal purposes. The most recent visit role in site stewardship over the ijik National Historic was made in June, 1998 by a crew years, discovering new sites and K Landmark, within the of NPS archeologists who collected making great efforts to protect the Lake Clark National Park and radiocarbon samples from a num­ area from vandalism. Through his Preserve, is comprised of several ber of house floors in order to interest in Kijik and through his­ extensive Dena'ina Athabaskan establish a chronology for toric research. Branson has National Parks Promote National Historic Landmarks to Visitors The Alaska Support Office prepared this brochure with participation from the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, Bearing Land Bridge National Preserve, and Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. Second in a series, this brochure con­ tributes to the commemoration of the Gold Rush Centennial Decade 1994-2004, and is dedicated to the individuals who risked their lives in search for a fortune in gold. The cover is adapted from a 19th century German book on the goldrush. This brochure series was conceived to assist stewards in developing a tourism base for their resources. For more informa­ tion about this joint initiative, or to obtain copies of this and other brochures, please contact Linda Cook, 907/257-2658. 3 STEWARDSHIP NEWS brought together the interests of to survey many of the settlements with the State Historic NPS archeologists and local in the Kijik National Historic Preservation Offices to jointly Dena'ina Athapaskan people Landmark. develop high-quality nominations whose ancestors lived at Kijik Branson began working as an for cultural properties in the prior to 1902. NPS ranger in 1992. In the mid- American Caribbean. Branson's interest in Kijik began 1990s, Ranger Branson received Before this joint effort, only while he worked as caretaker on training in Archeological three NHLs were designated in the homestead of Alaska's former Resources Protection Act (ARPA) the area. Now there are eight Governor Jay Hammond in 1974. compliance, and he understands NHLs, with another