Cultural Landscape Report: Rehabilitate the Clara Barton National Historic Landmark

Heritage Landscapes, LLC

The purpose of this Cultural Landscape Report (CLR) is to provide park professionals a resource for making informed decisions in managing and interpreting the landscape of the Clara Barton National Historic Site (Clara Barton NHS), a National Historic Landmark. The principal purpose of the Clara Barton NHS, as stated in the Park’s Foundation Document (2014), “is to tell the story of Clara Barton and the early years of the organization she founded, the American Red Cross, through the preservation and interpretation of her historic home and associated artifacts.” Clara Barton (1821-1912), a self-taught nurse who founded the American Red Cross, dedicated her life to helping others during natural disasters and warfare in the United States and overseas. Although the focus of the Clara Barton NHS Rehabilitation project is focused on the building, the planning scope of the CLR covers the entire site. This CLR is a practical and aspirational planning document to guide site interventions and management on this nationally significant property that are aligned to the overall Clara Barton NHS Rehabilitation project. Following the format and content standardized in the NPS document, A Guide to Cultural Landscape Reports: Contents, Process, and Techniques, this CLR is composed of two parts. In Part 1, this CLR covers the site history, existing conditions, and analysis and evaluation of the landscape historic integrity and significance. Part 1 builds upon previous documentation and represents thorough but not exhaustive research. The purpose of this CLR Part 1 is to provide park professionals with an understanding of the physical character, features, materials, and other attributes of the Clara Barton NHS landscape during the Barton-era. Prior cultural resource documents supply contextual historical information. The CLR Part 1 will help park professionals make informed decisions such as those regarding site management and interpretation. In Part 2, this CLR proposes a preservation strategy, management objectives and specific treatments for the cultural landscape that are based on research conducted for Part 1. The landscape stewardship recommendations, compatible with the landscape character developed by Clara Barton during her 1897 to 1912 residency in Glen Echo. The CLR Part 2 coincides with the Pre-Design and Schematic Design (SD) phases of the overall Clara Barton NHS Rehabilitation project. Proposed preservation treatments were determined in tandem with the development of design projects to rehabilitate the Clara Barton House: the SD alternatives and CLR were developed responsive to each other. Recommendations for implementing the CLR treatment plan include phasing that is aligned with the overall Clara Barton NHS Rehabilitation project. Management and maintenance guidance provided in Part 2 address the current condition of the Clara Barton NHS landscape, which reflects an accretion of features after the Barton-era and the maturation of vegetation that currently obscures the character of the property during the period of significance.

Cultural Landscape Report: Rehabilitate the Clara Barton National Historic Landmark

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