Respect the Past, Live the Present, Dream the Future: Preservation Planning in the Cowboy State - Wyoming's 1995 Statewide Comprehensive Historic Preservation Plan

Wagner, Rose

From the Introduction - Purpose: "Wyoming's Statewide Comprehensive Historic Preservation Plan is formed to set out goals and strategies that give Wyoming residents more control over what happens to our historic and archaeological resources. These goals and strategies address the concerns residents expressed in answering a public survey and the issues raised in questionnaires completed by local, state, and federal entities that have some relationship to or responsibility for cultural resources in Wyoming. The plan is meant to be an action document, one which delineates steps we can take together to see concrete progress in historic preservation in Wyoming. It is meant to be a plan that is responsive, that can adapt to changing circumstances, that can accommodate new needs and incorporate new strategies as old ones are either achieved or are proven to be impractical. The plan is also written to meet the requirements of the National Park Service (NPS). Although in response to federal mandates the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) prepared a preservation plan in 1990, changing philosophies and directions at the federal level necessitated SHPO's revising this earlier document. Previously, federal requirements concentrated on government responsibilities for preservation, the role of preservation professionals and the development of historic contexts. The new federal direction focuses on actions and strategies that can be taken not only by government agencies, but also by every citizens in Wyoming, so that we can promote preservation together. In addition, current NPS philosophy centers on states preparing plans that meet their own, unique needs, rather than on forming plans generated to fit into standard, national mandates. Aside from the present federal focus, SHPO believes a sound preservation effort - one which truly benefits the residents of our state - must be one that encompasses the needs and visions of the people of Wyoming. In order to prepare this kind of preservation plan and ensure the plan is successful, the cooperation of everyone concerned about our historic and pre-historic assets is essential. For Wyoming's preservation plan to be a viable document, a blueprint we can use to make preservation in our state what we want it to be, we must work with each other. Banding together in a positive, common effort is the only way to clearly identify and fully achieve our preservation goals. In addition to setting out a preservation blueprint and to meeting federal requirements, Wyoming's plan is an informational document. We've included sections that list and briefly summarize the relationships and responsibilities of state and federal agencies to preservation in Wyoming and mechanisms available for funding preservation projects/programs. These sections will, hopefully, provide a brief overview of the many entities involved in one way or another in preservation and serve as a starting place for individuals seeking more information about certain aspects of preservation. The favorite cultural resources of respondents are also included in the plan to demonstrate the variety of resources in Wyoming and the appreciation Wyoming residents have for these many resources. Finally, achieving and assisting others in achieving the goals of the plan will be SHPO's focus in the coming five years. Staff time and available funds will be used to accomplish strategies discussed in the plan. In this way, the purpose of the plan is also to establish budget and time priorities for SHPO...." Project funding was provided in part by a Historic Preservation Fund grant to the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office, Wyoming State Parks & Cultural Resources, administered by the State, Tribal, Local Plans and Grants division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Respect the Past, Live the Present, Dream the Future: Preservation Planning in the Cowboy State - Wyoming's 1995 Statewide Comprehensive Historic Preservation Plan

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