Cultural Landscape Report: Frijoles Canyon Lodge, Courtyards and Patios

Cowley, Jill

The purpose of this CLR is to provide the park with information on contributing landscape characteristics within the study area, to provide overall treatment guidance, and to provide specific treatment guidance in response to management concerns of existing park staff, treatment issues raised within the Historic Structures Report (landscapes section), and planning direction outlined in the 2001 Business Plan and the 1995 draft Development Concept Plan for Frijoles Canyon and Tsankawi. This CLR provides the necessary information to determine effects of future park projects on cultural landscape resources (NHPA Section 106). An adverse effect is one that could result in a significant reduction in landscape integrity. Because the study area is located within a NHL District, and since the integrity standard for NHL resources is high, an adverse effect within this study area is one that could result in a reduction of integrity from “high” to “medium.” As defined in the Guide to Cultural Landscape Reports (Page et al. 1998), the three levels of investigation for research, documentation, analysis and evaluation of cultural landscapes are “exhaustive”, “thorough” and “limited.” While the significance and integrity of this historic designed landscape warrants an “exhaustive” approach, time and funding limitations required the level of investigation for this project to be limited/thorough. A substantial amount of previous work exists from which this CLR draws (e.g. HSR, Frijoles Canyon CLI, DCP, NHL nomination, Archeological survey). Section 4.0 below outlines questions for future more detailed research. This project used NPS base salary funds, and park funds for specific research and copying needs. This CLR uses primarily a limited level of investigation, with some areas of thorough investigation. Readily available primary and secondary sources were used, and research consisted of a combination of using existing relevant documents, going through park and central office files and archives, and completing additional limited interviews. Materials used include park photograph files, park Triple X compliance files, interview tapes from the park’s collections, park maintenance drawing files, Laura Souilliere’s Historic Structures Report file, the park’s Oral Histories file, the Mrs. Frey Collection, Bandelier files in the Santa Fe NPS Office, and the photograph archives of the Los Alamos Historical Society. Primary sources examined for completion of the Historic Structures Report (e.g. CCC Superintendents Reports) were not accessed again. Interviews were conducted primarily with existing and former park or Lodge staff, and other NPS personnel. In the absence of definitive written documents or as-built drawings, the photographic record (i.e. CCC and other photos) was used to determine contributing landscape elements. Overall, the CCC developments are well documented -- primarily through the extensive series of as-built photos taken just after completion of the CCC work. Conditions during the 1950s-70s are less well documented.

Cultural Landscape Report: Frijoles Canyon Lodge, Courtyards and Patios

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