Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Cultural Landscape Report / May 2010
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National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Cultural Landscape Report / May 2010 CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT JEFFERSON NATIONAL EXPANSION MEMORIAL ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI MAY 2010 Prepared for National ParK SerVice MidWest REGionAL Office OmaHA, NEBrasKA ACKnoWledGments The 2010 update of this Cultural Landscape Report was prepared by AECOM, Charlottesville, Virginia. The initial 1996 edition of this Cultural Landscape Report was prepared by Historical Landscape Architect Regina M. Bellavia, Midwest Field Area, National Park Service. The Saarinen/ Kiley design collaboration history was prepared in 1996 by Landscape Architect Consultant Gregg Bleam, Charlottesville, Virginia. AECOM, Inc. Robert McGinnis, RLA, ASLA, Project Director Adriane Fowler, RLA, LEED AP, Project Manager Laura Bandara, ASLA, Project Designer Eric Wright, Planner Jennifer O’Brien, Graphic Designer National Park Service Midwest Regional Office Bill Harlow, Chief, Historic Architecture and Landscapes Marla McEnaney, Historical Landscape Architect Sändra Washington, Chief, Planning and Compliance Ian Shanklin, Landscape Architect Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Tom Bradley, Superintendent Frank Mares, Deputy Superintendent Bob Moore, Park Historian Jim Jacobs, Gardener Supervisor Ann Honious, Chief, Museum Services and Interpretation Kathryn Thomas, Museum Curator iv J E F F E R S O N N AT I O N A L E XPANSION ME M ORIAL CULTURAL L ANDS C A P E R E P O R T Preface to 2010 Update This Cultural Landscape Report for Jefferson National Expansion Memorial represents an effort undertaken in 2010 to update a Cultural Landscape Report that was originally produced in 1996. The update was completed by AECOM under contract with the National Park Service. The project team worked in close coordination with National Park Service Midwest Region and Memorial personnel to prepare this update. In 2010, the original Cultural Landscape Report was nearly 15 years old and had provided years of valuable guidance for the Memorial landscape. However, it was determined to be in need of an update to address changes in the current conditions and management issues at the Memorial and thus continue to provide effective guidance. This update builds on the 1996 report’s research, documentation, evaluations, findings, and recommendations, and provides additional material such as an expanded discussion of significance and descriptions of features. A major milestone for the Memorial occurred with the completion of a General Management Plan (GMP) in 2009. The updated Cultural Landscape Report provides a framework for evaluating future design proposals that may occur as part of the implementation of the GMP’s Preferred Alternative, as well as specific recommendations for implementing the Preferred Alternative with minimal impact on the cultural landscape of the Memorial grounds. The Cultural Landscape Report update: • Clarifies, enhances, and refines the 1996 edition, including its finding that design intent is a critical factor in evaluating the historical significance of the Memorial’s landscape; • Clarifies the rationale for significance based on design intent, and identifies contributing features; • Expands the discussion of significance, design intent, and character utilizing information and frameworks based on post-1996 advances in cultural landscape research, documentation, analysis, and treatment approaches relating to mid-twentieth-century Modern design; • Provides a benchmark for compatibility for any future rehabilitation actions or additions/ changes to the landscape; • Includes treatment recommendations using rehabilitation standards to provide a framework for how the landscape should be managed in the future; and • Provides background information to assist in the appropriate implementation of the 2009 General Management Plan Preferred Alternative in a manner that is consistent with the standards for rehabilitation and clearly defines compatibility, character, and other cultural landscape concepts for the Memorial landscape for the use of site managers and designers. JEFFERSON NATIONAL EXPANSION MEMORIAL CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT v THIS PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK J E F F E R S O N N AT I O N A L E XPANSION ME M ORIAL CULTURAL L ANDS C A P E R E P O R T TABle of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction Summary of Findings ........................................................................................................... 1-4 Administrative Context ........................................................................................................ 1-6 Organization of Report ......................................................................................................... 1-8 Chapter 2: Site Physical History Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 2-1 Physical History of the Landscape ................................................................................... 2-54 Chapter 3: Existing Conditions Environmental Context ........................................................................................................ 3-1 Landscape Setting ................................................................................................................. 3-2 Spatial Organization ............................................................................................................. 3-3 Topography ........................................................................................................................... 3-5 Views and Vistas ................................................................................................................... 3-7 Buildings and Structures ...................................................................................................... 3-8 Vegetation ............................................................................................................................. 3-12 Circulation ............................................................................................................................ 3-14 Constructed Water Features .............................................................................................. 3-18 Small-Scale Features .......................................................................................................... 3-18 Other Management Concerns .......................................................................................... 3-22 Chapter 4: Analysis and Evaluation Significance Evaluation ........................................................................................................ 4-1 Comparative Analysis of Historic and Existing Landscape Conditions by Characteristic ........................................................................... 4-6 Assessment of Integrity ...................................................................................................... 4-43 Chapter 5: Treatment Recommendations Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 5-1 Treatment Approaches for the Cultural Landscape ......................................................... 5-3 Treatment Concept for the Memorial ................................................................................. 5-5 Guidelines for Rehabilitation ............................................................................................ 5-10 General Recommendations ............................................................................................... 5-11 Recommendations for Landscape Treatment by Characteristic ................................... 5-13 Chapter 6: Implementation Projects Identification and Description of Treatment Projects ...................................................... 6-1 Deficiencies and Project Descriptions ................................................................................ 6-3 Phasing Chart of Projects ................................................................................................... 6-20 Selected Bibliography ............................................................................................................. Bib-1 Appendices Appendix A: List of Landscape Contracts & Contractors .............................................. A-1 Appendix B: Sample Inventory and Condition Assessment Forms ..............................B-1 Appendix C: List of Repositories and People Consulted ............................................... C-1 Appendix D: Copy of National Register Nomination Form ......................................... D-1 JEFFERSON NATIONAL EXPANSION MEMORIAL CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT vii List of FIGures Chapter 1 Figure 1.1 Location map showing the regional context of the Memorial. ..................... 1-2 Figure 1.2 Map showing the vicinity and urban context of the Memorial. ................... 1-3 Chapter 2 Figure 2.1. 1796 map of St. Louis .......................................................................................... 2-1 Figure 2.2. St. Louis Riverfront, 1852. .................................................................................. 2-2 Figure 2.3. National Park Service “Plan 8009,” 1937. ......................................................... 2-3 Figure 2.4. Elevated railroad tracks along the levee in St. Louis, c. 1935 ........................ 2-4 Figure 2.5. Restored Old Rock House, c. 1943 ...................................................................