Historic and Prehistoric Structures Handbook

Kuehn, Daniel

This Historic and Prehistoric Structures Handbook defines the various categories of structures in the Service's care, and the types of activity which follow the decision to preserve, and it provides the policy bases and describes the procedural machinery for decision-making on any proposed activity. This Handbook combines in a single document information relating to historic and prehistoric structures. The two types of structures have in common their man-made origin and their value to the nation. Any building activities involving the two types of structures have significant similarities, and the procedures for regulating them are parallel. The inclusion of prehistoric structures will be an aid in systemizing their stabilization. The Handbook replaces the "Inventory....for Historic Buildings...with Guidelines" first distributed November 21, i960. And it includes some of the material on Ruins Stabilization previously issued as Volume 23 of the old Administrative Manual. Volume 23 has now been completely superseded. In addition it incorporates new material on the activities which follow the decision to preserve prehistoric and historic structures, prepared by Washington, Regional, and Design Office staff members. The earlier versions provided bases for broad review within the Service, defined terms and provided workable guides to contraction activity. In the case of historic structures, the "Guidelines" prevented promiscuous restoration. The distinction between some of the terms to be defined are sometimes ambiguous. By pointing out these areas of ambiguity and by applying the definitions to sample strictures, the Handbook seeks to reduce or avoid misunderstanding. The grouping of various types of historic structures in the Inventory has been simplified from the arrangement followed in the Inventory accompanying the "Guidelines."

Historic and Prehistoric Structures Handbook

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