Chalmette Battlefield and Chalmette National Cemetery: Cultural Landscape Report, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, National Park Service
Risk K. 1999. Chalmette Battlefield and Chalmette National Cemetery: Cultural Landscape Report, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, National Park Service. Cultural Landscape Report. NPS Southeast Regional Office. Southeast Regional Office
The overall goal of the historical research is to understand how various land parcels evolved (and were acquired) independently over time to compose the contemporary park. Significant periods of change in the landscape are documented, including limited investigation of the site’s pre-battlefield landscape, the battlefield scene, Chalmette’s post-battle history of subdivision and private ownership, and the battlefield’s long history of private and public commemoration. The research findings are used to draw comparison to the site’s existing landscape conditions in order to assess what resources remain from the battle-era landscape and from latter cultural overlays. Based on this analysis, treatment recommendations are proposed to suggest how the battlefield’s landscape resources can most effectively be treated and interpreted in the future. Because the National Cemetery differs in origin and purpose from the commemorative battlefield, the cemetery is addressed separately in the site history and analysis sections of the report, and separate treatment recommendations are provided. The park’s Historic Resource Study (1985) served as the essential starting point for understanding Chalmette’s complex history. A number of secondary sources provided additional background information on early settlement patterns, regional geography, culture, and local history. Other park documents reviewed include the Master Plan (1969), the Amendment to the General Management Plan/Development Concept Plan (1990), the Interpretive Prospectus (1983), historical maps and drawings, archival photographs, archeological reports, and various early park documents, including “Quartermaster General’s Reports” for Chalmette National Cemetery and “Superintendent’s Reports” for Chalmette National Historical Park. Research techniques included site visits during September 1997 and January 1998, and staff interviews. Historical investigation was limited primarily to the review of preexisting park research and documentation, supplemented by interviews and telephone conversations with persons having specific site history or resource information.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Risk, Kevin
- Date of Issue
- 1999-08
- Publisher
- NPS Southeast Regional Office
- Units
- GULN , HIST , JELA , SER
- Keywords
- african american community, Andrew Jackson, artillery batteries, Battle of New Orleans, Battlefield, British, cemetery, Chalmette, Civil War, commemorative, ehistory, History, interment, JELA, Louisiana purchase, marble gravemarkers, monuments, National, oak trees, plantations, post and panel brick walls, ramparts, sycamore trees, War of 1812
- Subjects
- CRIS-CL: 550111: Chalmette Battlefield , CRIS-CL: 550203: Chalmette National Cemetery