Landscape Lines 16: Historic Roads
Davis T. Landscape Lines 16: Historic Roads. Cultural Landscape Guidance Documents. Landscape Lines 16. NPS Park Cultural Landscapes Program. Washington, D.C.
A guide to Historic Roads; part of the Landscape Lines series from the Park Cultural Landscapes Program. Roads have played a prominent role in shaping the national park experience. In addition to providing access to natural and cultural resources, park roads themselves are often compelling cultural landscapes. Their thoughtful layout, impressive views, rustic guardrails, and picturesque bridges make them attractive passages, particularly when considered in the context of the park and when compared to many standard highways and roads. Many times, the distinctive characteristics of historic park roads serve as defining elements of the national park system, establishing a sense of continuity across parks and evoking memories of excursions through America’s treasured landscapes. These characteristics play a role in the classic “natural” parks and parkways, as well as in national military parks, historical parks, and more recently-created parks. Throughout the system, roadways exemplify changing patterns and principles of park design and resource management. Historic road character is not accidental, and its continued maintenance is not guaranteed. Historic roads reflect collective efforts of landscape architects, engineers, and park administrators. Many of these roads are threatened by factors such as natural disaster, age-related deterioration, pressures of growing visitation, and complex legal and financial concerns. Developing policies for the evaluation and management of historic roads is one of the most significant stewardship challenges facing park administrators today. This guidance document assists in the identification, inventory, evaluation, and treatment of historic park road resources. Its primary purpose is to serve as a guide for the preparation of Cultural Landscape Reports (CLRs). The guide contains a brief account of park road history; an overview of park road terminology; a guide to research, documentation, and evaluation methods; a summary of pertinent policies and guidelines; and a survey of potential treatment considerations. There are many road types in the national park system; this document focuses on the primary arteries and tour roads that were developed by the National Park Service during major periods of park development.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Davis, Timothy
- Publisher
- NPS Park Cultural Landscapes Program
- Units
- CRPS
- Keywords
- alignment, Army Corps of Engineers, bridge, CCC, Civilian Conservation Corps, CRSS, Culvert, Drainage, Entrance Station, Federal Highway Administration, highway, landscape architect, Masonry, Mission 66, New Deal, Park Design, park development, Park Road History, parkway, Planned Vistas, Recreation, Resource Management, retaining wall, Road Construction, Road Stewardship, Road Terminology, Route, Signage, Tour Road, Traffic, view