Historic Structure Report: Prince William Forest Park Camp #4 Recreation/Theater Building

MTFA Architecture, PLLC; McMullan Consulting Engineers; 2RW Consultants Inc.; Jensen Hughes

This Historic Structure Report was produced for Prince William Forest Park and the National Capital Regional Office to deepen the park’s understanding of the history of the building, and to develop preliminary approaches to reusing the structure as a Theater. Maintaining the building in active use is preferred according to National Park Service policies, Cultural Resource Management Guideline (NPS-28), and Executive Order 130006: Locating Federal Facilities on Historic Properties. This HSR will guide further treatment and use of the building. A Historic Structure Report is the National Park Service’s primary guide to the treatment and use of a historic building as is required by Cultural Resource Management Guideline (NPS-28). It is prepared to identify and minimize the loss of character-defining features and materials and provides a basis upon which to address anticipated management objectives. This HSR provides current understanding of the Prince William Recreation/Theater Building and meets the following goals: providing a historical background for the building; supplying a current physical description and timeline for changes to the building; identifying character-defining features for the building; document the condition of the building; and providing treatment recommendations for the reuse of the building as a theater in good condition. The history, building chronology and technical evaluations provide an understanding of the integrity of the Recreation/Theater Building. This information is valuable for guiding the sustainable use of the Theater by offering research and insight to park management. The contents are used by the park when scoping new projects that complement resource protection and preservation goals. This HSR informs management and directs planning and construction alternatives. The New Deal Chopawamsic Recreation Demonstration Area (later renamed Prince William Forest Park), a federal park with several self-contained camps as well as hiking and other recreational opportunities began construction in 1936. As a part of that effort, in the final months of 1938, the Prince William Theater was built, providing the only sizable interior assembly space in the park. In 1943, during World War II, the federal government reassigned the park to the Office of Strategic Services, and the Theater came to serve the training and recreation needs of this new group. Following the war, the park and the Theater returned to their intended recreational use.

Historic Structure Report: Prince William Forest Park Camp #4 Recreation/Theater Building

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