Ash Mountain Historic District: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, National Park Service
Brown F and Schaible D. 2010. Ash Mountain Historic District: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, National Park Service. Cultural Landscapes Inventory Report. 725360. NPS Pacific West Regional Office. Pacific West Regional Office/CLI Database
The Ash Mountain Historic District is located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, just beyond the Generals Highway Entrance to Sequoia National Park. The Ash Mountain Historic District is roughly 122 acres, comprised of three discrete developed areas which are linked by the Generals Highway: Ash Mountain proper, Sycamore, and Buckeye. The Ash Mountain area was targeted as an ideal location for a park headquarters in 1923 due to its accessible location near the park entrance and its low elevation. At roughly 1400 feet in elevation, this area is the lowest point within the park, it receives less snow and allows the area to be open to the public year round. Shortly after establishment of the park headquarters, the adjacent Sycamore developed area and Buckeye residential area were developed as Civil Woks Administration (CWA) and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps during the New Deal. During the Mission 66 era, additional buildings and structures were constructed in the Ash Mountain proper and Buckeye. The district still retains buildings that date to the New Deal and Mission 66 eras, although contemporary structures have been added over time. These developed areas have been in continuous use since the historic period as a park headquarters with maintenance, office, and residential facilities. The Ash Mountain Historic District is locally significant under Criterion A for its association with National Park Service master planning, New Deal relief programs, and its Mission 66 development. In addition, it is locally significant under Criterion C for its assemblage of buildings and landscape design exemplifying the park rustic and Mission 66 periods in park development. The period of significance for the district is 1924 to 1967. This period begins with the year of construction of Residence #5 (the oldest extant building at Ash Mountain) and ends with the completion of the Mission 66 era construction in 1967. Much of the infrastructure and buildings from the rustic and Mission 66 development periods still remain and retain a high degree of integrity to the historic period. Features that are representative of the rustic period include the Generals Highway, the Sycamore Recreation Hall and the abundant schist retaining walls, curbing and stairways that adorn Ash Mountain. Features that are representative of the Mission 66 period include the Administrative Building and the majority of the residences in the Buckeye residential area. The landscape characteristics that help to convey historic character include natural systems and features, spatial organization, buildings and structures, circulation, small scale features, and vegetation.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Brown, Frederick; Schaible, Daniel
- Date of Issue
- 2010-09-02
- Publisher
- NPS Pacific West Regional Office
- Units
- PWR , SEKI
- Keywords
- Administrative Office, Alder Creek Administration Area, Architecture, Ash Mountain Administrative Area, Buckeye Residential Area, Civilian Conservation Corps, Community Planning and Development, Conservation of Natural resources, domestic, Edison Village, Generals Highway, Government Office, guardhouse, Landscape architecture, Mission 66, Modern Style, Playground, Recreation, residential, Rustic style, Spanish Eclectic Style, Sycamore CCC Camp, Sycamore Developed Area, Sycamore Recreation Hall, Tennis Court, The 1930s: Era of Public Works, The New Deal, Visitor Center, Warehouse
- Subjects
- CRIS-CL: 725360: Ash Mountain Historic District