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Why Every State Historic Preservation Office Needs a Twitter Account

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 11:38:00 +0000

All across the country in every state there are dedicated professionals serving as an intermediary between folks with the National Park Service in Washington that administers the Federal historic preservation program and people doing work in preservation at the state and local level. Most people have never even heard of the State Historic Preservation Office for their state and the important work that they do. Needless to say they are a key ingredient in the Federal-State-Local partnership to help facilitate historic preservation activity. They are involved in administering tax credit programs, helping to get properties put on the National Register of Historic Places, and an important point of contact for any projects involving Federal agencies that might have an impact on historic resources.

In 2015 you'd think that SHPO's would use every tool available to get their word out about the important work that they're doing. Instead what we find is only a few are star communicators. The Ohio History Connection, Minnesota Historical Society, and Kansas Historical Society come to mind for the sheer quantity of Tweets they've put out (see the chart below). All have Twitter accounts and make regular posts. This serves a powerful function in helping to connect a grassroots constituency with their work. For more than half of the states, however, there is no SHPO presence on Twitter.

The reasons for this are probably many. Perhaps social media use is restricted by the state agency or department in which they are located. Staffing is a perennial concern. This social media stuff takes time, and time is very much the enemy when you have a huge workload and too few people to do it. There's the potential too for social media to go terribly wrong if not properly managed. Even major brands have struggled to get their social media messaging and strategy right.

While the reasons for not having an account are many, what non-participating SHPO's are missing out on is even greater.

Twitter provides a low cost way to communicate with a large number of people.
There are few better ways to get crisp images and your message in front of a large number of people for less cost than paper publications that can run thousands of dollars to print and only have a limited distribution.
When news breaks you want to be the first to hear it, first to comment, and first to share the news with your network. When you're breaking the news as an agency Twitter is also a handy tool to get your message out.
There are tools such as "Lists" that helped to organize followers under different categories. This is an excellent way to network with other preservationists and preservation organizations out there, and to also identify where your supporters are at the grassroots level. We've made a list for SHPO's to demonstrate the networking opportunities. The Maryland Historical Trust has also done a great job segmenting their Twitter followers in to lists - by Planning, Preservation, and a few other categories.
Following other Twitter feeds gives you a good real-time update of what other states, public officials, and local leaders are working on.
Twitter can be an excellent way to keep in touch with elected officials and let them know the excellent work you're doing. By you following them and them following you, it's a great way to build and strengthen those very important relationships. This applies to officials at every level of government from the local level to the State level and your members of Congress too.

One last benefit relates to agglomeraters. These are automated tools that gather together media such as links, photos, and videos, and the then agglomerate these and publish something. Paper.li is perhaps one of the best examples. The free version takes up to 25 Twitter feeds then from these publishes a daily or weekly "paper" with the "articles" or "headlines" taken from links and media posted in those feeds. We publish 51 papers for every state and the District of Columbia. We just started another paper just for SHPO's highlighting active Twitter feeds for each state. Not only do these provide news to people in a timely manner - Paper.li also helps to gauge the level and quality of content being put out by over 1,000 of the top Twitter users in every area of the country.

Given that SHPO's have such an important role directing historic preservation activities in each state, it seems long overdue for every SHPO to have a Twitter account. If you represent a SHPO and have an opportunity to get a Twitter account started, here are some helpful tips and tools for you to consider.

1. Determine where the SHPO fits in with state government and what agency needs to approve setting up the account. Some states will be more restrictive than others. It might make more sense, as is the case in Arizona, Missouri, and Tennessee to have the parent agency that houses the SHPO be the one to make posts. While it is nice to have an official voice for the agency, such as the Arizona State Parks, what is lost are opportunities to have more direct and consistent content as it relates to operations of the SHPO. Also, no one will care more about the work of your Historic Preservation Office than you, so it's important to have your own dedicated Twitter account if possible. You'll need to make that case before doing anything else.

2. Pick your Twitter handle. In picking your Twitter handle some states have used their postal code abbreviation followed by "SHPO." See: @calshpo, @KYSHPO, @MISHPO, @OKSHPO, @WYOSHPO. Georgia is a variation on the rule. Since their state name is shorter, they could write their full name out and not be limited by the number of letters: @GeorgiaSHPO. Even if you're not sure about getting started with Twitter right away it might be advisable to claim your Twitter handle before someone else does. By the way, sorry North Carolina - the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers has yours.

3. Pick your Twitter name. There are character restrictions here too. Ideally you want your state name somewhere in your Twitter name to grab folks attention. You may be able to write your full state name followed by the letters SHPO. If this doesn't work some like California just repeat their Twitter handle as their name "Calshpo." For folks who know what a SHPO is that's great. For those who don't know what a SHPO is, however, a name with abbreviations is easy to overlook. One way other states have dealt with this challenge is by putting "Preserve" or "History" before their state name. "Preserve Georgia" and "History Colorado" are two examples. These are related to official brand development activities that we won't get in to depth on. Needless to say, the picking of a name is very important because this is what will pop up in Twitter feeds later on.

4. Select a catchy profile picture. Check if you are required to use a state seal. There may be a photo of an iconic landmark that everyone knows. One of our favorites in the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program that does a spoof of the "I Love New York" campaign with the letters I and a heart on the top row and the letters "AR" on the bottom row.

5. Write a description for your account. This is the place to fully spell out that you're the State Historic Preservation Office. Then quickly summarize and distill your mission. Georgia probably does this best.

Preserve Georgia @GeorgiaSHPOWe are Georgia's State Historic Preservation Office. Our mission is to promote the preservation and use of historic places for a better Georgia.
Georgia · georgiashpo.org

Now that you have an account set up, you can start using Twitter. Here are a few tips to get you started quickly.

1. Start "Following" some people. Your statewide preservation non-profit might be a good first Twitter account to follow. Other prospects are local preservationists, National Park units in your state, any State parks that have an historic component, and of course your elected officials as we already mentioned. Try not to get carried away with this. Twitter allows you to follow a maximum of 2,000 people until those who follow you back grows beyond that number. This allows for "Followers" to grow organically and to limit a situation where everyone follows everyone else on Twitter. The more selective you are at "curating" those you are "Following" allows for a higher quality content in your feed. Also, be careful to only follow those who are relevant to your mission. Just as you are judged as a person by whom you choose to associate with, people will look at your followers on Twitter and form opinions about your SHPO.

2. Make your first Tweet. Find something relevant to share. Maybe it's a building rehab project recently completed with photos of the ribbon cutting published in a local paper. Or perhaps your agency held a workshop and you'd like to share a picture that one of your staff members took of all the happy participants. Always remember that you're in "The Good New Business." Only put forward Tweets that cast your agency and your state in the most positive and favorable light. Leave your personal views and political views to the side.

3. Find folks to collaborate with. Once you've gotten an account set up, there may be community groups that will provide you links, photos, and videos to post. Great! Work to gather and collect those. They will love the extra recognition at the state level and the boost it gives to views and likes of their organization. There may also be opportunities to work with other members of the SHPO staff to highlight their work. Too often archaeology gets overlooked or left out. Perhaps you could feature a story on archaeology every couple of weeks.

4. Favorite items other people post that you like. As you see things you like click the star to make it a "Favorite." People will be able to see all of your favorite posts from your page. This is an excellent way to create a chronological list of all the great work happening in preservation for your state.

5. Schedule your social media posts in advance. There are tools that allow you to prepare posts and schedule them to post at a future date and time. TweetDeck is one example. Hootsuite is another. The benefit of this, of course, is by not being in real time you he have an opportunity to edit and think about posts before they are made public. This might be a good fallback if folks in your agency want a chance to review messages before they go out.

6. Share your success with us. We'd love for you to send a Tweet @PlacePromo or a message on our website at PlacePromo.com. We'll follow you and add your name to our List of SHPOs.

To close, with the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act fast upon us in October 2016, how great would it be if every SHPO in the country had a Twitter feed by then to celebrate? This was the act that created the SHPO's, after all. That way we could celebrate the accomplishments made over the past 50 years, while also embracing modern-day tools to tell our story and advance our important preservation cause for the next 50 years.

SHPO Usage by State (by date accounts are created)
Here are the Twitter feeds we could find for the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Is your SHPO not on this list or do we have the wrong Twitter handle? Send us a note at PlacePromo.com.

State		Twitter Account	Since	Tweets as of 7/24/2015	Following 7/24/2015	Followers 7/24/2015	Favorites
Ohio	Ohio History Connection	@OhioHistory	Mar-08	6049	1325	11700	742
Minnesota	Minnesota Historical Society	@mnhs	Aug-08	5672	1015	13700
Arizona	Arizona State Parks	@AZStateParks	Sep-08	964	650	14,400	118
Indiana	Indiana Department of Natural Resources	@INdnrnews	Feb-09	2905	287	11100
Kansas	Kansas Historical Society	@kansashistory	Feb-09	4073	227	5558
Michigan	Michigan State Historic Preservation Office	@MISHPO	Feb-09	1559	235	2018
Wyoming	Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office	@WYOSHPO	Sep-09	238	523	663	11
Oklahoma	Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office	@OKSHPO	Oct-09	205	9	205
Colorado	History Colorado	@HistoryColorado	May-10	2613	739	2966	763
California	California Office of Historic Preservation	@calshpo	Sep-10	566	406	907
Maryland	Maryland Historical Trust	@MdHistTrust	Nov-10	247	214	1205	5
Georgia	Georgia's State Historic Preservation Office	@GeorgiaSHPO	Dec-10	244	89	812
Missouri	Missouri Department of Natural Resources	@MoDNR	Feb-11	2053	56	3370
Tennessee	Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation	@TNEnvironment	May-11	1380	230	1067	47
DC	DC Office of Planning	@OPinDC	Jun-11	4092	283	5600	3
Montana	Montana Historical Society	@MTHist	Feb-12	2176	179	1404
Kentucky	Kentucky Heritage Council	@KYSHPO	May-12	839	1699	1149	358
Texas	Texas Historical Commission	@TxHistComm	Aug-12	3911	187	2755
Illinois	Illinois Historic Preservation Agency	@ILhistory	Oct-12	2613	205	761	18
Arkansas	Arkansas Historic Preservation Program	@SavingARPlaces	Nov-12	1674	445	482	77
Alabama	Alabama Historical Commission	@PreserveALA	Dec-13	341	981	932	40

NHPAat50: The Great Push for Historic Preservation

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 02 Aug 2013 19:27:00 +0000

Lady Bird Johnson and staff answering mail
LBJ Library photo by Cecil Stoughton

With historic preservation now firmly ensconced as a priority in Johnson’s broader Great Society program, and Lady Bird Johnson’s efforts to beautify the nation’s capital well underway, the task of formulating and securing passage of the National Historic Preservation Act commenced. The tactics used to build support for historic preservation by President Johnson’s Administration were similar and reminiscent of President Kennedy’s support for conservation years prior.

Support for historic preservation in the Johnson Administration demonstrated how rapidly interest in preservation had grown from a hobby of elite collectors, to a national movement worthy of encouragement and support by the President. Just as President Kennedy gave a special address to Congress in 1961 on conservation, President Johnson gave a similar message on February 23, 1966. In it he recognized the need for enhanced support from the Federal government: “To help preserve buildings and sites of historic significance I will recommend a program of matching grants to States and to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.”[i]

Just as President Kennedy wrote the foreword to Stewart Udall’s book The Quiet Crisis in 1963, First Lady Johnson wrote the preface for the influential book With Heritage So Rich in 1966. This contained within it a legislative agenda for historic preservation and was meant to influence members of Congress and the American public at large. Lady Bird Johnson was particular in her support for preservation:

Preservation does not mean merely setting aside of thousands of buildings as museum pieces. It means retaining the culturally valuable structures as useful objects: a home in which human beings live, a building in the service of some commercial or community purpose. Such preservation insures structural integrity, relates the preserved object to the life of the people around it, and, not least, it makes preservation a source of positive financial gain rather than another expense.[ii]

In her Preface the First Lady related the work with historic preservation with her greater project for beautification. What the two movements held in common was a desire to “carry on our activities within the sturdy American tradition which seeks the beautiful which is also useful.” [iii]

The recommendations from With Heritage So Rich largely copied those from the earlier Report of the Task Force on Natural Beauty. These recommendations then formulated the core of what was included in the National Historic Preservation Act. A notable omission was tax incentives for historic preservation. These would have to wait for later Congressional action in a more favorable budgetary environment.

After winding its way through Congress, the National Historic Preservation Act made its way to the desk of the President. A signing ceremony was held in the White House on October 15, 1966. In attendance was the Bill’s sponsor, Senator Henry Jackson, a Democrat from Washington state. Several other pieces of legislation were signed into law during the same ceremony including the Endangered Species Preservation Act, and bills to establish several new national parks and recreation areas including the Pictured Rocks National Lake Shore in Michigan, Guadalupe Mountain National Park in Texas, Big Horn Canyon National Recreation Area in Montana, the Wolf Trap Farm Park in Virginia, and an increase in the Point Reyes National Seashore in northern California.

In his prepared remarks at the signing ceremony, President Johnson said:

We have come here this morning to give part of our country back to its people. Our pioneer fathers made this beautiful land a great nation. But when the wave of settlement reached the Pacific, it turned back upon itself. America began to exploit the land. We chopped down its forests. We abused its soil. We built upon its beaches. The bills that I will now sign help enrich the spirit of America. These Acts of Congress help assure that this land of ours – this gift that is outright from God – shall be the most precious legacy that we leave.[iv]

In our next installment of "NHPAat50" next Friday, we will discuss the aftermath of the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act.

[i] Johnson, Lyndon B. Address to Congress. February 23, 1966. Credit: LBJ Library.

[ii] National Trust for Historic Preservation. With Heritage So Rich. 1966. p.17.

[iii] National Trust for Historic Preservation. With Heritage So Rich. 1966. p.17.

[iv] Signing Ceremony, October 15, 1966.

NHPAat50: A White House Diary and the preservation ethic of Lady Bird Johnson

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 11:12:00 +0000

Lady Bird Johnson portrait on White House grounds
LBJ Library photo by Robert Knudsen

Having looked at the role of a few key figures in the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, we will now break away for a quick moment to review A White House Diary and, in particular, what this says about the historic preservation ethic of Lady Bird Johnson.

This exceptional document provides a vivid, beautifully written, day-by-day account of life in the White House in the Johnson Administration. Very early on in the Preface of this over eight hundred page document, Lady Bird asks the question of her time in the White House and of writing the diary, "Why did I record it?" And one of the many answers she provided was this:

I realized shortly after November 22, that - amazed and timorously - I stood in a unique position, as wife of the President of the United States. Nobody else would live through the next months in quite the way that I would and see the events unroll from this vantage point. And this certain portion of time I wanted to preserve as it happened. I wanted to remember it, and I wanted my children and grandchildren to see it through my eyes.

Happily for readers today, Lady Bird took some of the most intimate, private, and homely experiences of her everyday life, and by recording these in such detail, created a collective experience for all with an interest in these times to be part of. Perhaps the greatest value and impact of her diary writing work was to provide valuable insights into the people, personalities, and politics that so defined this tumultuous time in our nation's history.

This need to record and mark important moments was not felt by Lady Bird Johnson alone, but also acknowledged by President Lyndon Johnson too. In a Message to Congress delivered December 1963, the President said our new challenge as a nation was "not to hesitate, not to pause, not to turn about and linger over this evil moment but to continue on our course so that we may fulfill the destiny that history has set for us." This sense of history being made in the present was a strongly held belief by many in the Johnson White House. When Lady Bird reflected on her role, she recounted "I feel like I am suddenly onstage for a part I never rehearsed" (p.16).

One gains valuable insights into the close connections between key figures. To Lady Bird, Stewart Udall was simply referred to as "Stew." The role of other key figures becomes clear. Two of these, Mary Lasker and Laurance Rockefeller figured prominently in preservation and beautification efforts. In fact in the waning hours of the Johnson Administration, Johnson made citations giving each of the the Medal of Freedom. Lady Bird added, "I was glad he was doing it" (p.776).

During her time as First Lady, Johnson took a remarkable interest in Washington, D.C. itself. A Committee on Beautification was formed and had their initial meeting in the Blue Room of the White House on February 11, 1965. At the second meeting of her Beautification Committee in March 1965, a presentation was given on various plans for the National Mall. Ever eager to set ideas into action, immediately following a presentation on the history of planning for the National Mall at the White House, Johnson and her coterie headed out to plant some pansies and dogwood trees (p. 248-249). On another day in January 1966, Lady Bird was found with Brooke Astor, Mary Lasker, Walter Washington, and Nash Castro working on beautification - this time looking at Washington's schools and talking about playgrounds and community parks (p.351).

One feature of the Lady Bird Johnson's routine was what she called the Women Do-er's Luncheon. Lady Bird described the composition and purpose of the group, "The guests for the Women Do-ers Luncheons come from among my own friends and include women known for their interests and achievements in whatever we are going to discuss. Suggestions are occasionally made by a Congressman or a staff member" (p. 238). At one such meeting, Mary Lasker served as the speaker and shared her vision for "Masses of flowers where the masses pass" (p. 238). At another Jane Jacobs, author of The Life and Death of Great American Cities was invited to speak.

One of her most direct references to preservation related to the "great cross-country highway system" as she called it. The federal government at the time paid 90 percent of the cost with the remaining 10 percent assumed by state governments. In reference to this program, Lady Bird Johnson asked a hypothetical question:

One of the big problems has been that when you draw a straight line across the country - which is the way a cost-conscious engineer would do it - what do you do about a National Park or a Wildlife Preserve, and a historic shrine like the Frank Lloyd Wright house? If you go around them, you may spend millions of dollars. If you go through them, you may grossly sacrifice a national treasure. (p. 166)

Lady Bird did not share her opinion on this particular matter, and, in general, avoided taking controversial positions - perhaps knowing that some day anyone and everyone could be reading what she was writing at the moment. What is clear from her actions across many years in the White House, is she had a deeply felt belief in the importance of beauty, history, and culture. This was expressed by the sustained advocacy and support that she provided for preservation and beautification. In Lady Bird Johnson preservation advocates were beneficiaries of the rarest of gifts - a well placed person in the White House able to influence policy at high levels. And, that she did.

In our next installment of "NHPAat50" next Friday, we will discuss the great push for historic preservation.

NHPAat50: The Growing Partnership between Stewart Udall and Lady Bird Johnson

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 21:52:00 +0000

Lady Bird Johnson and Stewart Udall during visit to Grand Teton National Park, August 16, 1964.
LBJ Library Photo by Robert Knudsen.

While the Task Force was finalizing their recommendations, Stewart Udall and Lady Bird Johnson began to form a personal alliance in support of conservation that included historic preservation as a major goal. During a trip to the Grand Teton National Park in August 16, 1964, Udall spoke extensively about their shared interest in conservation and natural beauty. Liz Carpenter who served as Press Secretary to the First Lady recounted Udall’s connection with Lady Bird as such: “He loved the scenic beauty; they were his parts; and he began to see that he had a very responsive first lady to the wonders of nature.”[i] Lady Bird Johnson spoke with her connection to nature in equally reverent terms. For her it was her East Texas roots and the beauty of Caddo Lake with its gnarled roots that left an early impression and inspired Mrs. Johnson all of her life. In an address at the Grand Tetons on September 7, 1965, she addressed this influence and said: “Each of (our) actions sprang from what nurtures us, and what nurtured me was walking through the piney woods in my own deep East Texas.”[ii]

This thirst for beauty and appreciation of nature did not stop with wide open spaces alone. Both Udall and Lady Bird recognized the importance of more beautiful places where people lived too. Udall at times referred to the “American environment” linking the built environment and natural environment together. In nearly the same breath he asked “what kind of cities do we want to be building” while considering “clearing up the countryside, and cleaning up air and water.”[iii] Likewise, when Lady Bird Johnson hosted Jane Jacobs at the White House for a “Woman Doer Luncheon” on June 16, 1964, she recounted the event in A White House Diary afterwards:

I said I felt the questions we all want answered when it comes to urban life are how to keep size from smothering the individual, crowding him into an impersonal and uncomfortable mold, and how to make a city beautiful. These are questions which writer, planner, and citizen must answer, and one of the front runners with the possible answers was Jane Jacobs, who was all three.[iv]

Lady Bird Johnson and Stewart Udall clearly had shared values. How they transformed this into a movement to encourage conservation and historic preservation is a story of great interest. During a visit to the LBJ Ranch in December 1964, Udall and other Cabinet officials conferred with the President about what they hoped to see included in the 1965 State of the Union Message. Johnson sought to put together “a really virile program that would lift this country to something better than it had ever known, whether it was environmental improvement, improvement of the economy, the ghettos having hope, whatever it was.”[v] As Udall laid out his ideas he found Lady Bird Johnson to be very attentive and knowledgeable when discussing conservation issues. The First Lady asked Udall to contact Liz Carpenter once they all returned to Washington, and to mention the conversation they had in Texas.

Udall followed the First Lady’s instructions and a meeting was planned at the White House. The Queen’s Room was selected for the meeting and the two sat beneath a portrait of Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt. Interestingly, it had not been since the Theodore Roosevelt Administration that “beauty” had been used in the vocabulary of national leaders. That made their selection of location particularly fitting. During the meeting Udall laid out how he thought it would be excellent for the First Lady to serve as a champion of beautification of the nation’s capital. As he conceived it, restoration of the Potomac River would be the President’s personal Washington project while beautification of the city would be Mrs. Johnson’s.[vi]

As a direct outgrowth of this meeting a Committee for a More Beautiful Capital and then a Society for a More Beautiful Capital were formed. The philanthropist Mrs. Albert D. Lasker was selected as President. Appeals followed and contributions were collected for beautification efforts throughout the capital. In one such letter Lady Bird wrote: “As I work with the Committee for a More Beautiful Capital, it is helpful for me to know of your interest in this nationwide endeavor to enhance the beauty of our cities and countryside. It is my hope that future generations of Americans will be even more proud of our Nation than we are today.”[vii]

Soon the contributions began pouring in. Lady Bird Johnson took an active interest in the work herself, often driving to visit schools and other sites in Washington D.C. to supervise the work firsthand. She recounted many of these visits in A White House Diary.[viii] This work that the First Lady was engaged in generated a flood of outside interest from garden clubs, town planning boards and citizens with an interested in beautifying their own communities. The interest was so great that an office was established within the White House and a staff member designated whose exclusive role was to handle this ample correspondence. The goal was to serve as a sort of clearing house for ideas and information, and to help one community learn from the successes and accomplishments of another.

In our next installment of "NHPAat50" next Friday, we will review A White House Diary and the preservation ethic of Lady Bird Johnson.

[i] Frantz, Joe B. Interview with Liz Carpenter. April 4, 1969. Credit: LBJ Library.

[ii] Frantz, Joe B. Interview with Liz Carpenter. April 4, 1969. p. 4-5. Credit: LBJ Library.

[iii] Frantz, Joe B. Interview with Stuart Udall. May 19, 1969. Credit: LBJ Library.

[iv] Johnson, Lady Bird. A White House Diary. 2007. p. 169-70.

[v] Frantz, Joe B. Interview with Liz Carpenter. April 4, 1969. p. 6. Credit: LBJ Library.

[vi] Frantz, Joe B. Interview with Liz Carpenter. April 4, 1969. p. 7. Credit: LBJ Library.

[vii] Letter from Mrs. Johnson to Mrs. W.S. Jennings dated September 21, 1965.

[viii] Johnson, Lady Bird. A White House Diary. 2007.

NHPAat50: Shifting Notions of Preservation and the Task Force on Natural Beauty

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 05 Jul 2013 21:47:00 +0000

After signing the Highway Beautification Act on October 22, 1965, President Johnson hands the bill signing pen to Lady Bird in the East Room of the White House. Photo: LBJ Library Photo by Frank Wolfe.

The field of historic preservation experienced a seismic shift in public perception and relevance between the Kennedy and the Johnson Administrations. Through the time of the Kennedy Administration, preservation was perceived as a hobby of rich ladies with a proclivity for collecting things. This was perhaps no better exemplified than by the heroic efforts of Jacqueline Kennedy to restore the very seat of Presidential power – the White House. She might have very well seen this project through to its completion were it not for the tragic assassination of President Kennedy on November 22, 1963. The Johnson Administration stated as their objective to maintain continuity with earlier Kennedy era initiatives. The task of completing restoration of the White House fell primarily on Lady Bird Johnson.

Ordinarily one would not associate a native of East Texas such as Lady Bird Johnson as someone with a taste for Grecian urns, rarified paintings, and curtain and carpet patterns. Upon further exploration of her roots, however, Lady Bird Johnson spent her childhood in the stately Andrews-Taylor House in Karnack, Texas. The design could be described as Neo-Georgian with a handsome two-story portico on the front. Upon driving along the country roads of Karnack, one could easily imagine how an inhabitant of this handsome house might one day reside in the White House as Lady Bird Johnson did. For Lady Bird Johnson, however, the restoration of the White House would merely serve as a jumping off point for a much bigger project to follow – the promotion of historic preservation as an important national priority. Through her leadership preservation expanded to impact nearly every person in every community throughout the whole U.S.

Around this same time that Lady Bird was working on completing restoration of the White House, a Task Force on the Preservation of Natural Beauty was formed. The Task Force included such luminaries and national leaders as Charles M. Haar of Harvard, Jane Jacobs, Loren Eiseley, Laurance S. Rockefeller, John Kenneth Galbraith, and William H. Whyte among others. The Task Force met with President Johnson at the White House on July 31, 1964. At that meeting Johnson asked members “to paint me a picture… of how we can preserve a beautiful America.” He further gave the Task Force the charge to not worry how their recommendations would fare in Congress. Johnson told the committee he would send to Capitol Hill “what I think is fitting.” James Reston, Jr., who was present for the meeting representing Secretary Udall, later recounted about Johnson: “He was power, embodied in a man – the kind of power that God could never (have) intended for a mortal man to wield. And yet he was talking about human things – about a ranch, and about trees and rocks.”[i] Of the later part about a ranch, trees and rocks, this most certainly was referring to the LBJ Ranch outside of Johnson City, Texas, where this and many other meetings were held.

The Task Force on Natural Beauty presented their recommendations to the President in November 1964. Of particular interest was the “Urban Design” section that included several recommendations which were later incorporated into the National Historic Preservation Act. Some of these suggestions were for the National Park Service to establish a National Register of Historic Places. Financial incentives for State and local governments were suggested to assist with preservation. The Task Force also suggested that the National Trust for Historic Preservation “should be given a fresh legislative lease on life.” This was a thinly veiled way to acknowledge that the National Trust needed an infusion of funding, and, in this case, public funding, to be truly effective at that time.

The Task Force Report was initially met with some harsh reviews by the Executive Branch. A Department of the Interior report issued as a response to the Task Force was scathing and cut to the core. It stated while the “Task Force Report is stimulating and replete with ideas” that “many of these are poorly organized and not thought through.” The Department of the Interior in setting their own priorities largely panned the historic preservation recommendations. The task to rejuvenate the National Trust was judged to be a low priority.

In a Memorandum for the President entitled “The Great Society: Saving the Countryside and Preservation of Natural Beauty” from December 1964, many of the earlier findings of the Task Force report were carried forward along with some recommendations from the Department of the Interior report. Interestingly, the rejuvenation of the National Trust was judged to be a “Fine idea,” and it was further suggested “Quick study needed” to support that action. The need for “full funding” and aggressive enforcement of the provisions laid out in the Conservation Fund Bill were also identified in the Memorandum.[ii]

In our next installment of "NHPAat50" next Friday, we will explore the growing partnership between Stewart Udall and Lady Bird Johnson.

[i] Gould, Lewis. Lady Bird Johnson and the Environment. 1988. p. 42.

[ii] Memorandum for the President titled “The Great Society: Saving the Countryside and Preservation of Natural Beauty.” December 2, 1964. Credit: LBJ Library.

NHPAat50: Support of the Executive Branch

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 19:04:00 +0000

U.S. President John F. Kennedy, right, and Democratic congressional leaders watch the Atlas rocket and the newly-manned Mercury spacecraft blast off at Cape Canaveral, Florida, on a television set in the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 20, 1962. From left are, Rep. Hale Boggs, Louisiana; House Speaker John McCormack, Massachusetts, partially hidden; Rep. Carl Albert, Oklahoma; Sen. Hubert Humphrey, Minnesota; Vice President Lyndon Johnson and Kennedy. (AP Photo)

To fully understand the political philosophy and process by which passage of the NHPA was secured we must first look to the Kennedy Administration. President John F. Kennedy provided the highest level of presidential leadership for conservation since Franklin D. Roosevelt.[i] He presented a “Special Message to the Congress on Natural Resources” on February 23, 1961. This was followed by a “White House Conference on Conservation” on May 25, 1962. Kennedy wrote the preface to Stewart Udall’s book The Quiet Crisis that was first published in 1963. Among President Kennedy’s greatest contributions to conservation “was his reassertion of the concept that the Federal government has a primary responsibility to exercise its authority on issues involving natural resources and the environment.”[ii] This support for conservation during the Kennedy Administration culminated in the Johnson Administration.[iii] Further, the Kennedy strategy for supporting conservation is one that was copied and applied writ large to the support of historic preservation during the Johnson Administration.

Secretary of the Interior, Stewart Udall was a Kennedy appointee who continued to serve under President Johnson. As early as 1961 he began talking about the need for a Conservation Fund similar to the Highway Trust Fund. Such a fund would provide a much needed infusion of resources that would allow for targeted acquisition of open space that was rapidly being lost to development. The Budget office initially panned the idea, favoring entrance fees to be charged to National Parks. This generated only around $12 million a year and was far short of the $30 million to $50 million that was desired.[iv] Ultimately a Land and Water Conservation Fund was established in 1964. This fund later served as a prototype for establishing a similar Historic Preservation Fund in 1977, authorized up to $150 million annually.[v]

Kennedy’s notion of expanding the role of the Federal government to support conservation, and Udall’s persistence in finding and providing an infusion of money to support that expanded role, proved a potent pairing in the Johnson Administration’s support of conservation in general and historic preservation in particular.

In our next installment of "NHPAat50" next Friday, we will look at shifting notions of historic preservation and the Task Force on Natural Beauty.

[i] Gould, Lewis. Lady Bird Johnson and the Environment. 1988. p. 41.

[ii] Gould, Lewis. Lady Bird Johnson and the Environment. 1988. p. 41.

[iii] Frantz, Joe B. Interview with Stuart Udall. May 19, 1969. Credit: LBJ Library.

[iv] Frantz, Joe B. Interview with Stuart Udall. May 19, 1969. Credit: LBJ Library.

[v] National Park Service. “Historic Preservation Fund.” Accessed December 28, 2012. http://www.nps.gov/history/thpo/downloads/HISTORIC-PRESERVATION-FUND.pdf

NHPAat50: The Williamsburg Conference and With Heritage So Rich

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 18:55:00 +0000

Cover of the groundbreaking report, With Heritage So Rich, published in January 1966.

An important anniversary will occur in the fall of 2013 that will likely get little attention. Fifty years ago this year the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Colonial Williamsburg sponsored a national conference on preservation at Williamsburg. This was meant to bring growing attention to how initiatives of the federal government to improve transportation and renew cities were apparently working at cross purposes with the national preservation program at the time. At this important conference advocates called for a broader national historic sites survey and better planning for urban growth. Restoration practices were reviewed and the need for professional training underscored. The results later appeared in a report titled Historic Preservation Today, that was published in 1966.

Following the conference a small group of preservationists gathered in the summer of 1964, to push for a new preservation law. Carl Feiss, an architect and planner with a preservation background, worked with Laurance G. Henderson, a Washington urban affairs lobbyist. They quickly identified Rep. Albert Rains (D-Ala.) and Sen. Edmund Muskie (D-Maine) were interested in urban issues and the need for better public planning. Henderson laid out a plan for a blue-ribbon committee to travel to Europe and study how various countries were funding preservation. The trip culminated in a published report and a major campaign for a new preservation law in 1966. Feiss and Henderson formed a special committee on historic preservation with Albert Rains as chairman. The National Trust provided staff support in drafting new legislation.

Aiding them in the cause was John Gunther, executive director of the United State Conference of Mayors, who helped finance and plan the trip scheduled for October-November 1965. Money for the travel and support was provided by the Mellon philanthropies and the Ford Foundation. Connections were forged with preservation leaders from throughout the world, that proved very valuable at supporting the innovation needed at home in the U.S. After several months of writing and work, the project culminated with the publication of With Heritage So Rich in January 1966. This was only the starting point for a major legislative push to follow throughout most of the rest of that year, culminating in the signing of the National Historic Preservation Act into law on October 15, 1966.

In our next installment of "NHPAat50" next Friday, we will look at the role of the Executive Branch in the lead-up to passage of the National Historic Preservation Act.

Excellent Call to Action Video - Courtesy of the Arbor Day Foundation

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 10:45:00 +0000

We in preservation too often fail at getting our message before a national audience of potential supporters. You have to imagine our sense of chagrin and quiet satisfaction seeing this excellent video courtesy of the Arbor Day Foundation.

Breaking it down a bit - here is what worked well in this video.

1. "We cherish their beauty, we marvel at their majesty, we embrace their heritage." - Wonderful writing grabs listener attention right away.

2. Establishes value quickly, in this case for the National Forests. Even the title, "Our National Forests Depend On Us" is a call to action.

3. Clearly states how we benefit from our National Forests.

4. Establishes threat - fires, destruction, etc.

5. Returns to the original upbeat theme with inspiring images and the song Simple Gifts playing in the background.

6. Gives people something them to do - guides them to ArborDay.org.

What makes this video even more useful for this particular cause is that it is running on national Cable TV. It would be interesting to the level of giving brought in by this well crafted piece of video. With this post the challenge is thrown - can some of our national, statewide, regional, and local organizations create a video with the same power and ability to generate results as this one? If so, please share with us or via Twitter using the @PlacePromo tag.

The Architecture, Art, and Culture of Savannah, Georgia

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 30 May 2013 14:21:00 +0000

We started our day simply enough at Back in the Day Bakery. This oasis of deliciousness is slightly off the beaten path. It was well worth the drive up to 40^th and Bull Street and scrambling a bit to get a parking spot. We had two Muffins, a Biscone, and Savory Ham & Cheese puff pastry. All were very tasty. What set this place apart was the quirky and creative décor. A pleasing color palette and a rich collage of found objects made this a perfect palimpsest for our day-long journey ahead.

Our breakfast at the Back in the Day Bakery.

We jumped into the car one last time to make our way to the historic area. Heading down Abercorn, we found easy parking on Oglethrope between Bull and Drayton. The five hour time limit was perfect for us, and the payment box that accepted credit cards made it easy and convenient rather than having to dig around for enough coins. For the remainder of the day our primary conveyance was by foot (and strollers for our boys aged 4 and almost 2). Walking through Savannah was a sheer delight and pleasure.

Upon getting out of the car we were most immediately struck by some of the amazing juxtapositions that Savannah offers. Looking up the sidewalk beyond a classically inspired brick school building was the spire of the Independent Presbyterian Church. The architectural detailing on the church and spire rivaled the ornamentation found in similar building types anywhere. To have these two buildings side by side, both borrowing from Classical and Renaissance motifs, was a welcome start to our adventure. This would be just the first of several major discoveries of this nature throughout the day.

Spire of the Independent Presbyterian Church.

A City of Statues, Squares, and Symbols

James Edward Oglethorpe (1696-1785) presents an excellent starting-off point for an exploration of the history of Savannah and Georgia. This soldier-philanthropist was responsible for founding the Colony of Georgia. A sculpture by the team of Daniel Chester French and Henry Bacon who also designed the Lincoln Memorial, greets visitors in Chippewa Square. The placement is somewhat curious. Oglethorpe is so high up and out of reach, that his figures are made indistinct. Further, it gives the effect of glaring down on the passerby. From the perspective of history, however, the qualities of character and courage Oglethorpe exemplified does indeed set him apart from the ordinary and everyday lives of most residents and visitors to Savannah. One curious reflection of the Oglethrope statue was in the Jepson Center for the Arts. There in the Artzeum one can get up fairly close and familiar with Oglethrope, albeit on a diminished scale. Somehow in that state he seems less grand.

We shift from one statue to another. The Bird Girl Statue featured so prominently in the Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is simple, accessible, and approachable in a way that the Oglethorpe statue is not. After the film came out and this statue was featured on the cover, visitation to Bonaventure Cemetery (where it was located) and the resulting wear and tear this created, caused the statue to be moved. Today the statue may be found in the main hall of the Telfair Academy on a 5th floor balcony and walkway. The location is so remote, in fact, that many visitors pass through without seeing this famous piece at all, even though it is quite literally right over their head upon entering. What makes this placement more unfortunate is that if appropriately positioned, this piece could drive traffic and interest in the Telfair, and further be a jumping off point for a broader discussion of public sculpture in Savannah. Instead, the Bird Girl is placed so far out of sight that few people will ever see it. Luckily we were among the select few who were able to find it.

Wall section of the Independent Presbyterian Church.

The experience of recreating what once was lost is a defining Savannah trope. A formal preservation movement emerged in Savannah in the 1950's. Since then the Historic Savannah Foundation has been at the forefront of preserving historic places. One place this impulse to preserve and recreate is powerfully on display is beside the Independent Presbyterian Church near Hull and Bull Street. A small one-story arcaded wall section screens a 20 space or so parking lot behind it. Upon closer inspection, a plaque placed in 1980 explains how after extensive archaeological research, this wall was created from stone that "is believed to have been quarried, cut and carved in England from a white English marble." The plaque continues, the wall is "thought to be the remains of one of the oldest structures in the State of Georgia." When compared to similar fragments in places like Paris or Rome, the antiquity of this wall from 1759 is suspect. In the context of Colonial America, however, it provides a vital link to a time before our nation's founding. It also demonstrates how craft traditions like masonry had yet to take hold in places like Savannah. Instead, people of that time needed to rely on imported stone.

Telfair Museums

We briefly touched upon the Telfair Museum already with respect to the Bird Girl sculpture, though will now elaborate upon it in some more depth. This is actually three attractions connected together. The first is the Telfair Academy with traditional galleries and exhibits on display. One can easily pass through here in an hour or less. Of particular note on our visit was the exhibition of Savannah chairs. Some of these were so richly decorated and lavish that they were deserving of special recognition. One could see this becoming a permanent exhibit somewhere, someday, somehow. The two other entities in the Telfair are the Jepson Center for the Arts, just a block away from the Academy, and then the Owens-Thomas House a few blocks away from that. The Telfair has rightfully and respectfully staked a claim for decades as an anchor for a city so rich in culture. Lacking a major encyclopedic museum as many larger cities have (New York, Chicago, Detroit, LA and others), the Telfair plays an important role filling that gap.

In a city so rich in history, one of the remarkable contemporary buildings is the Jepson Center for the Arts. A little less than a decade old (or young as it were), the Jepson Center is an important addition to the educational and cultural life of the city. Designed by Moshe Safadie, an effort is made to connect this building with the surrounding environment in a way that is seldom seen. A comparison might be made with The Getty Museum in Malibu, California. Both have similar light colored stone and are architectural statements in their own right. Where they differ is the Getty is set atop a mountain like an Acropolis, detached from a city whose culture it is seeking to reflect, whereas the Jepson Center is interwoven with the fabric of the city it seeks to celebrate. As such, we find the Jepson a more relevant example of what a cultural institution should be - connected, accessible, and approachable - instead of a place set apart.

Underside of stairway within the Jepson Center.

Of special note, especially for those with kids and families was the Artzeum. This space within the Jepson Center allows for creative play for kids between the ages of about 3 and 15. Some of the highlights from an architectural perspective were lessons about design and construction. In addition to the typical building block toys, there were orders of various columns that children could identify. Two of the most unique features were a garden exhibit meant to mirror a painting in the Telfair collection. Another was of a French countryside house, meant to mirror another painting. These were cutting edge exhibits, in my opinion, and deserving of further elaboration at various other museum settings.

Some of the unique children friendly exhibits at the Jepson.

The Civilizing Effect of Squares

The squares of Savannah are one of the defining features. Each has a personality of their own. Too often where the squares from the original plan have been lost, paved over, or built upon, the city in turn has lost some of its vitality and distinctive charm. We posit that the power of these spaces, is in juxtaposing nature with civilization. To scan ones view from a classically inspired Greek temple to a sprawling live oak tree, one sees the whole gamut of human history from the state of nature to the highest achievements of architecture. This has a sort of humbling effect, making us realize how far our civilization has come, though leaving the unanswered question of "Where are we going?"

Moshe Safdie provides at least a partial response with the Jepson Center for the Arts. Here there is a deliberate architectural strategy to connect the building with the square. Instead of the building being a hermetically sealed object, cut off and set apart from its surroundings. Instead, the building is re-imagined and reinvented as being interconnected with its surrounding. A centerpiece of the building is a cascading staircase in the interior opening to a glass-walled and light-filled atrium. Glass skylights give a further feeling of lightness and transparency, connecting with the sky above. The overall the effect is elegant and grand. If there is hope for architecture and civilization, it is in the sort of innovative expression of form and structure found here.

The Sacred and Profane

In a city so full of architecture and history, it is hard to name one building above all the others. Oftentimes in church architecture, we find the highest refinement of the architectural form. Were there a single building to make a unique claim to the greatest architectural statement in Savannah, it very well might be the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Having recently undergone a $12 million restoration (with all but around $175,000 paid off), this is a truly stunning building in the heart of the city. The interior is marked by richly painted polychromatic walls. While the vaulting is not quite as soaring as the cathedrals of Europe, the effect created here is fairly remarkable. Paintings and sculpture inside provide nice accent notes to the majesty and beauty of the surroundings.

View inside a side chapel of St. John the Baptist.

Corinthian capitals atop columns fronting Trinity Methodist.

Trinity Methodist, albeit on a somewhat less grand scale than the Cathedral, is another one of the great church buildings of Savannah. The city has a long-time association with the Methodists and was an important setting off point for propagation of the faith. This 1850 building by John B. Hogg of Savannah has grand columns surmounted with the difficult to execute Corinthian capital. This spoke to a level of taste and refinement among the designer and congregation relatively rare for this period of time.

Juxtaposed against these sacred buildings we share the Federal Building. These are three separate buildings arranged enfilade. The photo we show below has the much older U.S. Post Office to the rear. Made of Georgia marble, the Post Office demonstrates the grace and majesty once lavished on public structures. The contemporary Federal Building, however, shows a sort of disregard for civic architecture. Our tour guide in the morning hit the nail on the head when she called this the bathroom tile building. Unlike other buildings in Savannah that have been lovingly preserved and adapted through the years, all that may be done to make the Federal buildings welcoming, inviting, and a wellspring of civic delight might be their swift removal. Starting anew based on earlier designs, such as the Post Office, might be a good start. From this example we can observe, how the sacred and the profane stand side-by-side in Savannah.

The understated Federal Building clad in bathroom tile, with the Post Office behind.

Savannah College of Art and Design

One cannot really fully understand and tell the story of Savannah without saying a word or two about the Savannah College of Art and Design. SCAD, as it is popularly called, with its 13,000 or so students is a major driver of the local economy and culture today. Many buildings have been bought up and lovingly restored to serve the needs of faculty and students. Particularly dramatic are the many theaters, especially concentrated in the downtown, that have one sort or another of SCAD programming. Even fairly utilitarian and almost modern buildings such as the Woolworth's have been taken over and re-purposed for some sort of student or academic use. There is not a definite center of the SCAD presence in Savannah. Instead, the whole city is a sort of canvas upon which SCAD activities are spread out. (As an aside, the playing fields are actually on the South Carolina side of the bridge heading into Savannah, showing the relative role and position of athletics compared with the the main academic and artistic buildings in the city center.)

Palimpsest from the Woolworth's store (now long gone) where a SCAD student center is located today.

The Savannah and Lucas theaters are two of the main performing spaces in the downtown area.

When viewing the impact of SCAD upon the local culture and economy today, an interesting comparison might be made with the earlier Telfair Academy. Whereas the Telfair was more tightly focused in scope, and targeted towards those with an interest in the fine arts (painting, sculpture, etc.), SCAD has continued this artistic tradition and expanded it to include features such as illustration, theater, photography, and film. Institutions like the Telfair have given Savannah the bona fides it needs for a the blossoming of creative and artistic activities undertaken by SCAD today. One cannot imagine SCAD without the Telfair, just as one cannot imagine Savannah today without SCAD.

Detail of the front portico of the Owens-Thomas House.

Owens-Thomas House

As one of the finest examples of English Recency architecture in America, the Owens-Thomas House provides a panopoly of pleasures. Outside the facade has a rare and dignified presence fronting Oglethorpe Square. (Note that the Oglethrope statue is in Chippewa Square). Young English architect William Jay designed much of the house in England without ever visiting Savannah. The innovations were many. In addition to the slender columns and curved details on the stairs and portico, other highlights are indoor plumbing, colored glass skylights in the Dining Room, and the most peculiar of bridges on the upper floor of the interior spanning the grand staircase and connecting the front and rear living quarters.

The Marquis de Lafayette famously stayed here for two days when he visited Savannah in 1825. He addressed the people of Savannah from the south balcony on two occasions, one time speaking in English and the other time in French. During our guided tour the claim was made Lafayette's stay was the reason the house received historic designation. While this was an important event and marked the visit of a significant personage, the architecture too is one of the major claims to significance. Not to mention the story of Richard Richardson who was a Savannah merchant involved in cotton production and shipping. In fact it was Richardson had the house built between 1816 and 1819. This spoke to his relative influence and stature. Regrettably, after losing his wealth, the house passed through a variety of hands and the importance of his role as progenitor of this very special place was lost. Even the name used today recognizes George W. Owens, a lawyer and Member of Congress who acquired his house, and Margaret Gray Thomas his granddaughter who gave the house in trust to the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1951.

Perhaps one of the most unique features of the house was not in the house proper, but in the Slave Quarters across the garden and to the rear. These have been re-interpreted to bring to light this important chapter in the history of this house and the broader story of Savannah. Rough hewn beams are on display inside. They have a rough and unexceptional quality to them, especially when compared with the main house. A slight shade of blue paint is discernible over a significant section of the main room where tours begin. Guides claimed this is one of the largest intact sections of Haint Blue paint. The origins of this paint was that slaves believed evil spirits could be fended off by painting walls and ceilings the color of water. According to our guides, this was one of the largest sections of the original paint on display anywhere in Savannah.

... and you Must Stop by Leopold's!

A cold treat for the Kremer boys at the end of a busy action-packed day.

Just around the corner from the Owens-Thomas House at 212 E Broughton St is Leopold's Ice Cream. A Savannah institution dating back to 1919, this confectionery made a perfect ending to a great day. The selection was plentiful and delectable. Service was swift and courteous. And we had plenty of time to sit and enjoy our treats in one of their air conditioned rooms. The Thin Mint ice cream and Thin Mint brownies were a nice shout out to the Girl Scouts. Leopold's even had a badge that scouts could purchase. Just a nice example of the small ways that people are working together to create a local culture and working relationships with reverberations and significance to people far outside of Savannah.

Some Concluding Remarks

After that we strolled around a little bit longer and enjoyed passing by now familiar places one last time. A quick stop by the spray fountains near the City Market provided some fun for our boys. They ran around as the water jets shot out of the ground. Later when asked what their favorite part about Savannah was, of course it was the water. We passed by the river walk and waterfront too. A large boat with shipping containers passed through, and went beneath the bridge ahead with only about 50 feet to spare. There is nothing like watching a ship of that size in the foreground heading towards a bridge of that size in the background, and not being sure whether the ship can actually make it beneath.

Shortly thereafter we were on that bridge heading home. Our last thought as we left was what a lovely city Savannah was and still is. Whereas most places have bulldozed over their history, and in the process created a bland sort of sameness that you can find in most major cities all over the world - Savannah's claim to fame is its distinctiveness. One will be hard pressed to find a city of this size or even larger with so much of the historic fabric still intact. We know this is thanks to the collapse of cotton and the economic malaise the city found itself in for decades after the greatest growth and development during the 19th century occurred. Today, however, we find a vibrant and culturally active place on the cutting edge of art and design. What an exciting place to live in and visit.

We were left with an overwhelmingly positive impression of Savannah, and look forward to many happy return visits in the years to follow. And in that is a theme that unites the past, present, and future of this great city. Savannah was made great through the exporting of products, especially cotton. Today, the leading export is cultural - ideas, art, and creativity. Tourism is an export itself, through attracting outside dollars that help to make the local economy grow. In final analysis, place is the critical element that made Savannah great, and continues to make the city great. As each generation adds their unique layer onto this history-laden place, the wonders of the culture and civilization created are certain to only grow.

View of the city and historical skyline as we headed towards home.

Finding the Top 10 Cities for Historic Preservation in the U.S.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 15:19:00 +0000

We are starting off 2013 asking what are the Top 10 Cities for Historic Preservation in the U.S.?

The Livability website issued their own list of the Top 10 Cities for Historic Preservation.

10. Victoria, TX
9. Danville, KY
8. Muskogee, OK
7. Pueblo, CO (107,577)
6. Abingdon, VA
5. St. Augustine, FL
4. Franklin, TN
3. Santa Fe, NM
2. Savannah, GA (139,491)
1. Charleston, SC (122,689)

While a helpful starting point, this list tends to be dominated by smaller cities. Only three cities on the Livability list have populations over 100,000. While population alone cannot and should not be the sole decider of whether a place is a leading city for preservation, it stands to reason that many of the larger-sized cities have been around longer and due to their greater population have more people and resources to dedicate to ongoing historic preservation efforts. Unlike smaller sized areas, however, the preservation work in larger cities tends to get lost among all of the other economic activity occurring there.

Having said all of that, we've come up with a revised list of the Top 10 Cities for Historic Preservation in the U.S. The smallest of these cities, Baltimore has a population of 619,493, while the largest, New York, has over 8 million residents. Further, the reason we chose to select these cities while omitting more populous areas, is because in our view these cities have well established historic preservation organizations and a clear commitment to preservation in ways that other large cities do not.

The links below go to an online paper for each city. We've selected 25 of the leading preservation organizations and individuals in each city. An online paper is generated each day from links posted to the Twitter accounts for those sources. The resulting paper for each city will then be used as a tool to judge the level of historic preservation activity in each city.

New York City, NY (1)
Los Angeles, CA (2)
Chicago, IL (3)
Philadelphia, PA (5)
San Antonio, TX (7)
Indianapolis, IN (12)
San Francisco, CA (14)
Detroit, MI (18)
Boston, MA (21)
Baltimore, MD (24)

In the coming year we will closely follow these initial ten cities and see what we can learn about preservation as it is practiced in each one. Throughout the year we may add, delete, or change the ordering of cities on this list. Ultimately, our hope is to come up with a list of the best cities for historic preservation in the U.S. We will then release that list at the end of 2013.

Feel that your city has been left out, or have any other special opinions that you'd like to share? Let us know on Twitter @placepromo or by writing to placepromo(at)gmail.com.

Los Angeles Conservancy End of Year Appeal

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 20:57:00 +0000

There is so much to admire when it comes to the work of the Los Angeles Conservancy. Among preservation organizations they are rare in the sense that they keep and maintain an active public list of ongoing preservation issues in the L.A. area. This list is posted to their website where anyone is able to see it. Keeping this list in turn provides a powerful incentive for people to become members and/or to donate to their Preservation Advocacy Fund. I was particularly impressed by this end of year appeal from their Executive Director Linda Dishman. This appeal and the programs of the Conservancy are an excellent model for other organizations to follow.

On Thu, Dec 27, 2012 at 1:00 PM, Los Angeles Conservancy <mtorresgil@laconservancy.org> wrote:

Dear Isaac,

In October, we held "I Heart Garden Apartments Day" to bring awareness to Greater Los Angeles' nearly forty garden apartment communities and the various threats they face. Photos by Shannon Ryan/L.A. Conservancy.

As 2012 comes to a close, the Los Angeles Conservancy is actively involved in nearly 50 preservation issues throughout Los Angeles County. We’re working to save historic places from demolition as well as pursuing proactive outreach to help more cities establish and improve preservation laws and incentives.
We expect our number of active issues to increase in 2013, which is why we ask you to help strengthen our efforts by becoming a member or donating to the Preservation Advocacy Fund by December 31.
Your support matters: two-thirds of the Conservancy’s revenue comes from membership and fundraising, and most of this revenue directly supports our dual mission of advocacy and education.
Thank you – and all of our best wishes for the holidays!
Sincerely,

Linda Dishman
Executive Director
P.S. Join or donate by December 31 and you will be entered into our year-end giveaway to win a new Kindle Fire or two other great prizes!

Forward to a Friend | Visit Our Website | Contact Us | Unsubscribe Trouble managing preferences/unsubscribing? E-mail Cindy Olnick © 2012 Los Angeles Conservancy. All rights reserved.

Los Angeles Conservancy | 523 W. Sixth St. Suite 826 | Los Angeles, CA 90014
213-623-2489 | laconservancy.org

U.S. Presidential Libraries and Museums

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 18:03:00 +0000

The methods for preserving the memory of U.S. Presidents are as diverse as they are unique. Here are just a few of the different types of sites and memorials that have been established:

Presidential library
Museum
Residence

Birthplace
Home before becoming president
Home during presidency
Home after presidency

Burial site

The responsibility for maintaining these different sites also broadly varies. Some are maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration of the U.S. Federal Government. Others are managed by other public and private organizations.

Presidential Libraries
The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center was officially the first to break ground. in 1912. The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museum opened in 1916.The museum was located near the Spiegel Grove house and grounds that were also donated and eventually opened to the public. Later the Hayes museum served as an example for President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Library & Museum, also situated near President Roosevelt's house in Hyde Park, New York.

In 1939 President Franklin Roosevelt donated his papers to the Federal government. At that time Roosevelt also formed a non-profit to raise funds to build a library and museum on his Hyde Park, New York estate. Eventually this program of Presidential libraries expanded and grew so that every President since Herbert Hoover now has a Presidential library officially administered by the National Archives. These libraries today maintain vast archives available for scholarly research. There are now 13 such libraries in operation.

31. Herbert Hoover, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, West Branch, Iowa
32. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, Hyde Park, New York
33. Harry S. Truman, Harry S. Truman Presidential Museum and Library, Independence, Missouri
34. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, Abilene, Kansas
35. John F. Kennedy, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Dorchester, Massachusetts
36. Lyndon B. Johnson, Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum, Austin, Texas
37. Richard Nixon, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Yorba Linda, California
38. Gerald R. Ford, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, Grand Rapids, Michigan
38. Gerald R. Ford, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, Ann Arbor, Michigan
39. Jimmy Carter, Jimmy Carter Library and Museum, Atlanta, Georgia
40. Ronald Reagan, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Simi Valley, California
41. George H. W. Bush, George Bush Presidential Library & Museum, College Station, Texas
42. Bill Clinton, William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park, Little Rock, Arkansas
43. George W. Bush, George W. Bush Presidential Center, Dallas, Texas

Of the remaining 31 presidents without a Presidential library run by the National Archives (including President Obama), there are nine other Presidential libraries either privately or publicly owned and operated. Of these, the Fred W. Smith National Library at Mount Vernon (that has yet to be constructed), will be the only one to be built and maintained without any government funding.

1. George Washington, Fred W. Smith National Library at Mount Vernon (Under Construction), Mount Vernon, Virginia, run by Mount Vernon Ladies Association

6. John Quincy Adams, Stone Library at Adams National Historical Park, Quincy, Massachusetts, run by National Park Service

16. Abraham Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, Illinois, run by State of Illinois

17. Andrew Johnson, President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library, Tusculum, Tennessee.

18. Ulysses S. Grant, Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, Starkville, Mississippi, run by Mississippi State University & Ulysses S. Grant Association

19. Rutherford Hayes, Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, Fremont, Ohio, run by Ohio Historical Society & Hayes Presidential Center, Inc.

25. William McKinley, William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum, Canton, Ohio, run by Stark County Historical Society

28. Woodrow Wilson, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia, run by Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library Foundation

30. Calvin Coolidge, Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum, Northampton, Massachusetts, run by State of Massachusetts

The process of establishing a Presidential library for those without one has proven to be a difficult affair. An effort is underway to create a Grover Cleveland Library in Buffalo, New York. The organization Free New York, Inc. has applied for tax-exempt status. Their website describes: "If and when we are approved, we will begin to accept donations of Grover Cleveland books and memorabilia and look for a suitable location for this museum."

An increasingly common practice has been to associate presidential libraries with major research universities.

James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library / University of Mary Washington
Andrew Johnson Museum and Library / Tusculum College
Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library / Mississippi State University
Theodore Roosevelt Collection / Harvard University
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum / Marist College
John F. Kennedy Library and Museum / University of Massachusetts, Boston Campus
Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and Museum / University of Texas at Austin
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library / University of Michigan
George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum / Texas A&M University
George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum / Southern Methodist University

Speculation is that when President Obama designates a location for his library, that both the University of Hawaii and University of Chicago will contend for that honor. Building on the example of President Ford before him who has his library and museum in two separate cities - both in Michigan - perhaps President Obama could be the first President to have libraries in two separate states.

Presidential Museums
Of all the Presidents whose libraries are part of the NARA system, their Presidential library serves dual purpose as a presidential museum as well. This means that in addition to the library proper, there are interactive exhibits, interesting and fun public programs, and important educational events. Of the presidents within the NARA system, President Gerald Ford is the only one to have a library and museum in separate cities. The museum is located in Grand Rapids and the library in Ann Arbor.

For those presidents outside of the NARA system or without a dedicated library of the own, a list follows of all known museums to date. Every President with the exception of Zachary Taylor, has at least one place where people can go to remember their presidency.

2. John Adams - Adams National Historic Park administered by the National Park Service with residence of John Adams and several other family members.
3. Thomas Jefferson - Monticello estate with the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies.
4. James Madison - James Madison Museum in Orange, Virginia
5. James Monroe - James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library in Fredericksburg, Virginia
7. Andrew Jackson - The Hermitage, Nashville, Tennessee . Home and museum administered by the Ladies' Hermitage Association.
8. Martin Van Buren - Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, Kinderhook, New York. Administered by the National Park Service.
9. William Henry Harrison - Grouseland, Vincennes, Indiana. House while Governor of the Indiana territory.
10. John Tyler - Sherwood Forest Plantation, Charles City, Virginia.
11. James K. Polk - James K. Polk Ancestral Home, Columbia, Tennessee.
12. Zachary Taylor - none.
13. Millard Fillmore - Millard Fillmore House, East Aurora, New York.
14. Franklin Pierce - Pierce Manse, Concord, New Hampshire.
15. James Buchanan - Wheatland, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
17. Andrew Johnson - Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, Greeneville, Tennessee.
20. James Garfield - James A. Garfield National Historic Site, Mentor, Ohio.
21. Chester A. Arthur - Chester A. Arthur State Historic Site, Fairfield, Vermont; Chester A. Arthur House, New York, New York.
22. Grover Cleveland - Grover Cleveland Birthplace, Caldwell, New Jersey.
23. Benjamin Harrison - Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, Indianapolis, Indiana.
24. Grover Cleveland - Grover Cleveland Birthplace, Caldwell, New Jersey.
26. Theodore Roosevelt - Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, Oyster Bay, New York; Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site, New York City, New York; Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site, Buffalo, New York; Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Medora, North Dakota.
27. William Howard Taft - William Howard Taft National Historic Site, Cincinnati, Ohio.
29. Warren G. Harding - Harding Home, Marion, Ohio.

Presidential Burial Sites
The final resting place of our U.S. President's is one final way we've found to honor their role and contributions. The burial locations chosen are varied. Some are on private property such as George Washington's Mount Vernon. Others are publicly owned such as Andrew Johnson's National Historic Site and National Cemetery, Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, and many others.

Increasingly the trend has become to designate the burial site at the location of the Presidential library and museum. That tradition began with Rutherford B. Hayes, the progenitor of the first Presidential Library and Museum in 1916. Initially Hayes had been buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Fremont, Ohio, following his death in 1893. Later he was moved to a burial site at his family home near Spiegel Grove in 1915 that was very near the Presidential Museum that opened the following year.

The tradition of moving the burial site of Presidents is not uncommon. A similar treatment was given to Abraham Lincoln who was disinterred several times.

1. George Washington, Washington's Tomb at Mount Vernon Estate, Mt Vernon, VA.
2. John Adams, United First Parish Church, Quincy, MA.
3. Thomas Jefferson, Monticello Graveyard, Monticello, VA.
4. James Madison, Madison Family Cemetery, Montpelier, VA.
5. James Monroe, Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, VA.
6. John Quincy Adams, Congressional Cemetery, Quincy, MA.
7. Andrew Jackson, The Hermitage, Nashville, TN.
8. Martin Van Buren, Kinderhook Cemetery, Kinderhook, NY.
9. William Harrison, William Henry Harrison Tomb State Memorial, North Bend, OH.
10. John Tyler, Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, VA.
11. James Polk, Tennessee State Capitol Building and Grounds, Nashville, TN.
12. Zachary Taylor, Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, KY.
13. Millard Fillmore, Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, NY.
14. Franklin Pierce, Old North Cemetery, Concord, NH.
15. James Buchanan, Woodward Hill Cemetery, Lancaster, PA.
16. Abraham Lincoln, Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, IL.
17. Andrew Johnson, Andrew Johnson National Historic Site and National Cemetery, Greeneville, TN.
18. Ulysses Grant, General Grant National Memorial, New York, NY.
19. Rutherford B. Hayes, Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, Fremont, OH.
20. James A. Garfield, Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland, OH.
21. Chester Arthur, Albany Rural Cemetery, Albany, NY.
22. Grover Cleveland, The Princeton Cemetery, Princeton, NJ.
23. Benjamin Harrison, Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, IN.
24. Grover Cleveland, The Princeton Cemetery, Princeton, NJ.
25. William McKinley, McKinley National Memorial, Canton, OH.
26. Theodore Roosevelt, Youngs Memorial Cemetery, Oyster Bay, NY.
27. William H. Taft, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.
28. Woodrow Wilson, Washington National Cathedral, Washington, DC.
29. Warren Harding, Harding Memorial Park, Marion, OH.
30. Calvin Coolidge, Notch Cemetery, Plymouth, VT.
31. Herbert Hoover, Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, West Branch, IA.
32. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, Hyde Park, NY.
33. Harry S. Truman, Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, Independence, MO.
34. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Eisenhower Presidential Center, Abilene, KS.
35. John F. Kennedy, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.
36. Lyndon B. Johnson, Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, Stonewall, TX.
37. Richard M. Nixon, Richard Nixon Library, Yorba Linda, CA.
38. Gerald R. Ford, Gerald R. Ford and Betty B. Ford Burial Site, Grand Rapids, MI.
39. Jimmy Carter, Living, (planned for near home in Plains, GA).
40. Ronald Reagan, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Simi Valley, CA.
41. George H.W. Bush, Living, (planned for Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, TX).
42. Bill Clinton, Living, (plans unknown).
43. George W. Bush, Living, (planned for Texas State Cemetery in Austin, TX)
44. Barack Obama, Living, (plans unknown).

As has been shown, efforts to memorialize and remember our U.S. President's have varied greatly through the years. In coming years it is hoped and suspected that interest in efforts of this nature will only grow. Some day it would be a fitting tribute for most if not all U.S. President's to have a library and museum in their honor. Meanwhile, there are no shortage of Presidential sites to visit, all throughout the U.S.

William J. Clinton Presidential Museum and Park - Little Rock, Arkansas

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 16:12:00 +0000

Entrance to the Clinton Museum.

The William J. Clinton Presidential Museum and Park presents many unexpected surprises to the visitor that happens upon this unique site. Not grandiose, not over-the-top – this is as concise, approachable, and welcoming as Presidential museums get.

Map showing museum
and surroundings.

The museum is situated on the banks on the Arkansas River. The exhibit area of the museum proper is set atop a “base” on the ground floor that includes a welcome desk, temporary exhibition space, and other amenities for visitors. By elevating the primary exhibit floor to the second and third floor level, this is undoubtedly to ensure that artifacts and documents are well above the flood plain from the nearby river. One of the most prominent features of the site is a large railroad bridge that has been converted for pedestrian uses. A prominent view of this bridge is provided from the exhibit floor. This provides a not-so-subtle reference to “A Bridge to the 21^st Century” – the theme employed by President Clinton during his 1996 campaign for a second term.

View of bridge from inside of the Clinton Museum.

Upon entering the museum visitors a greeted by a staple in nearly any presidential museum – the presidential limousine. Then by taking a nearby elevator or ascending a staircase one is transported back to the years of 1992 to 2000.

Few museums are more rationally laid out or architectural than this one. Eight large panels titled at a slight angle run down the center of the museum display floor. These each represent one year of the presidency. They have a timeline, descriptive text, and inset television screens continually streaming news coverage of important moments. One is reminded how the Clinton presidency coincided with the expansion of 24/7 Cable News coverage – exemplified by channels like CNN. The experience this creates for the visitor is to literally transport them back to the sights and sounds of the era as people who lived during that time experienced them.

The stacks clearly dividing
the museum floor.

Large stacks run from the first to second floor levels. These are reminiscent of a library and filled with what appears to be archival storage boxes. Whether these boxes contain any documents or artifacts is unclear. The role the stacks serve, however, is to create several niches or display spaces on the first and second floors.

Several niches on the bottom floor of the atrium explore different themes from the Clinton presidency. One such theme is “Putting People First.” A prominent quote is inscribed on the glass enclosing a display case behind. In that case are television monitors again, a collage of photos in the background, and other descriptive narrative text accompanied by photos. Portions of the text are highlighted to accentuate key points visitors should be drawn to.

Tilted panels laying out the Clinton presidency year-by-year.

Putting People First themed display.

On the upper floor of the atrium guests are greeted by some of the most precious artifacts including the dress that Hillary Clinton wore to the Inaugural Ball, a complete table setting with china from the Clinton White House, and a signed jersey from Lance Armstrong, the repeat-winner of the Tour de France.

Panorama of the Oval Office in the Clinton Museum.

Guests are also greeted by a replica of the Oval Office – another staple of most Presidential Museums these days. Replicas of many of the most precious paintings and artifacts stand in for the original. Visitors are only able to view the room from behind velvet ropes. Still, the space and the furnishings create a distinct impression.

In the interest of giving equal time to other branches of the Executive Office, a replica of the Cabinet room is also present. The glimpse provided into this less-frequently seen and known room was a welcome counterpoint to the Oval Office display. One has the impression that it might be possible to convene a meeting in this room today, and surely this is done from time-to-time. In contrast the Oval Office has the feel of a museum piece – to be seen but never to be used again.

View from the Clinton Museum to downtown Little Rock.

The relationship between the Clinton Museum and nearby downtown Little Rock is also an interesting one. Rather than having a gift shop within the museum proper as is frequently done, the Clinton Museum Store was located off into the downtown area. The Clinton Museum and Store are connected by a brief 1/8 mile tree-lined road. A golf cart with a trolley pulled behind provides visitors a free trip between the museum and the downtown.

Once downtown the Clinton Museum Store is located within a renovated historic building. How many people get to the store, and whether this has proven to be effective as a satellite retail operation is uncertain. Though great benefit is certainly created by attracting additional people to the downtown area, and by linking the museum with the downtown.

There is very apparently a resurgence happening in the area around the Gift Shop downtown. The Arkansas Studies Institute and the Clinton School of Public Services have completely taken over a three-story building that has been renovated across the street. An attractive science center and other amenities are also clustered around the Museum Store, so as a downtown revitalization tactic this clearly is a great success.

To close, the Clinton Museum demonstrates a powerful vehicle to travel between the past, present, and the future. The past is represented both by the Museum itself and the time that it seeks to capture, as well as the many well-preserved historic buildings and railroad bridge that are important parts of the Museum complex. The present and future are then experienced by each successive wave of visitors that comes to the site. The Clinton Presidential Museum presents so many admirable qualities that seem to only grow over time. Hopefully many people will be able to experience this one-of-a-kind place and the one-of-a-kind President that it seeks to interpret and explain.

Postscript
While visiting the William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum I filled out a visitor survey form as I am frequently prone to do. Just a few weeks or so after visiting I received the following message. I've filled out hundreds of forms like this and never heard anything back. This was a really nice gesture by the folks with the Clinton Museum. So much so I thought it important to share as an example for others...

On Wed, Oct 31, 2012 at 12:40 PM, Linda Leopoulos wrote:

Dear Isaac,

Thank you for visiting the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum and for sharing your thoughts with us on a visitor card. It is always a pleasure to hear from our patrons after they have toured the museum, and it was especially nice reading your comments. We are delighted that you enjoyed your tour and the time you spent viewing the accomplishments of the Clinton Presidency that were made by "Putting People First."

The exhibits reveal a presidency of leadership and optimism for our country and for the international arena as well. Visitors often express renewed feelings of hope and inspiration after their tour. Since leaving our nation's capitol, President Clinton continues to work hard to improve the lives of millions of people in the areas of health, education, poverty, economic stability, and environmental protection. Website www.clintonfoundation.org expands on these important initiatives and on how we can all make a positive difference in the world around us.

Thank you for your interest and desire to tell others about the Library. Current information on exhibits and events at the Clinton Center can be found on the Center's website www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org throughout the year.

Come back and see us!

Linda H. Leopoulos

Visitor Relations

Help Us Build a National Preservation News Network on Paper.li

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 05:36:00 +0000

Like many others actively involved in the preservation field today, we were struck by the number of sources providing great historic preservation content on a regular basis. Regularly following all of these sources was difficult if not impossible. For that reason we utilized the Paper.li platform to publish a paper on preservation in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The purpose of this effort is to raise the profile of the preservation movement and generate a greater shared sense of purpose among the 15 million Local Preservationists in the U.S.

Paper.li is a relatively new and emerging technology that helps to agglomerate "headlines" from Twitter feeds, RSS feeds, and other sources to "publish" a daily or weekly online newspaper. The technology and interface are relatively straightforward and easy to use. After selecting a maximum of 25 sources, these then help to inform what appears in the "newspaper" each day.

For each paper we sought to achieve a balance between sources of national interest with those of statewide and local interest. A handful of the same national sources were utilized for each state paper. These include feeds from leading national organizations such as the National Park Service (@NatlParkService), Preservation Action (@PreservationAct), and the National Trust for Historic Preservation (@PresNation). Within the National Trust we tried to capture the work being done by several of their most active components including @NatlMainStreet, @SavePlacesPres, and @PresGreenLab. Other sources providing regular content of national interest were also added including @PresnewsLink, @PreservationTV, @RestoreMedia, @histpres, and @placepromo. Taken together these sources promise reliable and high-quality content of national interest.

Added to this are up to 13 state, regional, and local sources for each state featured. To give an example of the types of sources used, see the following list for the top 5 most followed statewide papers:

IN Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@IndianaLandmark @INdnrnews @IndianaHistory @IndianaArchives @IndianaMuseum @DowntownIndiana @historicindiana http://feeds.feedburner.com/HistoricIndianapolis @IndyDT @waltertheatre @Visit_Richmond @munciedowntown @DwntwnLafayette
KY Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@preservationky @KYSHPO @KentuckyTourism @KyHistSoc @FayetteAlliance @BlueGrassTrust @VisitShelbyKY @lexhistory @DwntwnNashville @Downtown_Lou @Kentucky_Museum @lexingtondd @DowntownLexCorp
TX Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PreservationTX @texastourism @TSLAC @TexasDowntown @texasfortstrail @TexasHighways @PresHou @HistoricFW @SA_Preservation @GrueneTX @GalvHistory @downtownfw @DtownDallasInc
MI Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@mihpn @MISHPO @MichiganMainSt @thehenryford http://blog.thehenryford.org/rss @DPGilmartin @JoeBorgstrom @buildingsofdet @PreservationDet @DowntownGR @ferndaledda @OldTownLansing
VA Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@preservationva @VAStateParks @TaketheJourney @VisitVirginia @vmfa @VirginiaMarkers @VAGreenTravel http://www.vacanals.org/feed/ @colonialwmsburg @TJMonticello @historicRIC @WaterfordFdn http://www.fairfieldfoundation.org/feed

The Paper.li platform and the Preservation Daily series of papers are as of yet in their infancy. We look forward to working with national, statewide, and other partners on fine-tuning these papers as an effective communication tool.

Here are a few things you may do to help promote the Paper.li for your state:

Find your statewide paper from the list below. Go to that page and press the "Subscribe" button beneath the headline on the right side of each page.
For each paper you follow press the "Share" button also beneath the headline on the right side. You may choose to "Like" on Facebook, "Tweet" on Twitter, and/or "Share" on LinkedIn. Doing so will help to encourage other people in your network to also follow the same statewide paper.
Embed the paper on your blog or website with the "Nomad Widget" or embed just the headlines with the "Headlines Widget." Both may be accessed by pressing the "Share" button and the respective tabs.
Each paper has a "Discussion Corner" section where you can post your own comments.
Have an organization, person, or project you want others to hear about? Tell us about it on Twitter @placepromo or Facebook.

Paper	Twitter
DC Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PlacePromo
Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PlacePromo
IA Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyMW
IL Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyMW
KS Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyMW
MN Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyMW
MO Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyMW
ND Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyMW
NE Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyMW
OH Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyMW
SD Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyMW
WI Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyMW
CT Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyNE
DE Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyNE
MA Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyNE
ME Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyNE
NH Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyNE
NJ Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyNE
NY Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyNE
PA Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyNE
RI Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyNE
VT Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyNE
AL Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailySouth
FL Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailySouth
GA Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailySouth
LA Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailySouth
MS Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailySouth
NC Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailySouth
OK Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailySouth
SC Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailySouth
VA Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailySouth
WV Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailySouth
AR Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyUS
AZ Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyUS
CA Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyUS
IN Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyUS
KY Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyUS
MD Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyUS
MI Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyUS
TN Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyUS
TX Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyUS
WA Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyUS
AK Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyWest
CO Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyWest
HI Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyWest
ID Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyWest
MT Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyWest
NM Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyWest
NV Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyWest
OR Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyWest
UT Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyWest
WY Preservation Daily @PresDaily	@PresDailyWest

Note that a maximum of 10 papers may be created per paper.li login. Users may login with an existing Twitter of Facebook account. For that reason we created multiple Twitter accounts that roughly correspond with different regions in the U.S. (Midwest, South, West, Northeast, etc.).

Please feel free to post your comments below about your reactions to this project, suggestions of sources to highlight in each of our statewide papers, etc. We'll do our best to incorporate your suggestions into future papers.

Social Media Use by State Historic Preservation Offices

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 00:18:00 +0000

Think how you’d respond if a stranger approached you and asked, “What if I could give you tools to communicate directly with people throughout the entire world about causes that matter to you. And, by the way, it will be free.” It is hard to imagine answering anything but a resounding YES! to an offer of that magnitude. A recent review of State Historic Preservation Office websites reveals that fewer than 20 of the 51 websites have an active Facebook page that is promoted from the home page of their website. The number of SHPO’s with a Twitter account that they promoted on their website was even less. And only 11 of 51 sites, or around 21% had both a Facebook and Twitter account that they promoted.

We can do better.

Here are a few tips to help guide SHPO’s with developing a more robust social media presence.

Having both Facebook and Twitter accounts is now essential. Today there is no excuse to not have both of these essential tools. The following SHPO’s have both Facebook and Twitter accounts that they actively promote on their website: Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Georgia, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Wyoming.
Link your Facebook page and your Twitter account together. That way your Facebook posts will automatically appear on Twitter. Here is one how to guide. One benefit of having a Twitter feed is that whatever gets posted to Twitter can be picked up by news agglomerators that combine information you share along with other sources to create even more robust communication tools. For an example see Preservation Daily.
Make links to your Facebook and Twitter accounts clearly visible on your website. Common practice is to put all of the social media tools in the upper right hand corner. The Ohio Historical Society has perhaps one of the best designed examples of this. Be mindful of the Twitter Trademark and Content Display Policy for how to use the Twitter logo.

SHPO’s that follow these principles will find their base of followers expand and grow. Over time this has the potential to develop ever more powerful communication tools to help promote the work of historic preservation in your state, and for preservationists to better track and monitor work being done from one state to another.

If you have examples of SHPO’s that have effectively utilized social media tools, please include a note in the Comments section below. We will periodically come back and review progress. How great would it be if within the year every SHPO had a more robust social media presence? That surely would help to advance the historic preservation cause all across the U.S.

A Dream for Mobility - Disintegration of Downtown Detroit

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 00:32:00 +0000

A vision for mobility in Detroit, ca. 1935.

Recent proposals for demolition of the State Savings Bank in Detroit, ignited a debate about parking downtown and the impact this has had on the quality of place . Melanie Markowicz, President of Preservation Detroit weighed in with the following op-ed piece in the Detroit Free Press.

Detroit is dotted with the palimpsest of heritage erased for one reason or another. In many areas of the city, the end result is a disjointed assemblage of buildings amid a sea of vacant lots. However, in the central business district, we still have some building density left; and that is something we should safeguard as responsible stewards of our city. We can no longer afford to ignore that continuing to demolish our reusable historic buildings for parking lots directly affects the revitalization of Detroit and all of theinvestments in it. Hopefully, the outcry of concerned citizens and organizations is heard loud and clear.

A glut of parking in downtown Detroit is not an altogether new phenomenon. Instead, the roots of the parking vs. place debate are as old as there were automobiles. A Street Traffic survey was conducted between 1936-1937 by the Works Progress Administration. This called for increasing parking downtown, as well for novel systems of circulation including multi-level roadways (see above). Were a retroactive manifesto to be written about Detroit, the story writ large would be accommodating greater mobility by sacrificing the historic fabric and quality of place. While each incident where this happened might have a limited impact, in total this disintegration of the historic fabric made Detroit less interesting and desirable of a place to live, visit, and work.

Detroit Traffic Survey showing the chipping away of buildings around the downtown core.

Early parking lot with vintage cars, ca. 1935.

As economic malaise set on Detroit with a decline of population, this put great pressure on the downtown. Many partially or fully vacant buildings proved too hard to maintain. These were too frequently removed and replaced by vacant asphalt parking lots. In a way this was a sort of fulfillment of planners plans from 1930's to make parking cheap, accessible, and abundant downtown. A review of historic maps and photographs between 1976 and 2006 showed that over 50% of the buildings in downtown Detroit were demolished in four decades. When added to other losses, this led to a historic downtown area fundamentally changed.

Fast forward to present. Some effort has been made to provide "infill" and convert parking lots to buildings. Certainly the location of casinos on the west and northwest section of the downtown and the side-by-side stadiums on the north-east corner prove this trend. Balancing it are the many vacant places waiting to be filled. Notable is the former Hudson's Building site on Woodward Avenue. Following demolition of this iconic building, an underground parking garage was constructed, though nothing else.

One lesson to take way from this ever-changing transformation of downtown Detroit is that where buildings have been retained they have gone on to have productive uses. Where historic buildings have been lost, however, it has proven very hard to replace them with something new. And while new development has transformed the downtown for the better in many cases, this is hardly enough to replace what has been lost. Hopefully Detroit will find an equilibrium with the right balance between accessibility, parking, and having a livable city too. Retaining historic buildings ought to be an important part of such a strategy. Meanwhile, for close followers of downtown Detroit the surest sign of success will be when surface parking lots and parking garages begin to disappear. Removal of parking has heralded the resurgence of livable places elsewhere and hopefully will do the same for Detroit too.

Restoration of G.A.R. Building in Downtown Detroit

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 01:02:00 +0000

Photo of G.A.R. Building, July 18, 2005

December 5, 2001

The Grand Army of the Republic Building in Detroit is now on its way to a complete restoration and will soon serve as home for a PR firm and a restaurant. That was not always the case. Preservationists were engaged in a pitched battle with those who would have preferred to have seen this iconic building demolished. Luckily, clearer heads ultimately prevailed. We provide some pre-restoration photographs of the building as well as a particularly scurilous Op-Ed piece that ran in the Detroit News in 2006.

Tour of the G.A.R. building in October 2006

A tour was held for potential developers in October 2006. They were given an opportunity to walk through the building, take photos, and prepare proposals for restoration of the building. Just a few months prior an editorial in the Detroit News advocated for demolition of the building. Fortunately, that would not the case. Some photos of the restoration as it is underway today are available via Detroit Curbed.

"History not preserved with decaying building; Preservationists should buy, not sue to keep building," Detroit News, August 22, 2006.

The redevelopment of Detroit is a tricky business. But it's made even harder by preservationists who rally behind every abandoned building as if each was the last vestige of the city's history.

That's the case with the Grand Army of the Republic Building that sits at the corner of Grand River, Cass and Adams. The castle, which was completed in 1901 and served as a memorial and home for Civil War veterans, has been vacant for more than 20 years. In reality, it lost its luster long before that.

Detroit city officials wisely decided it was time to sell the building, which unloads another unneeded property and gets it back on the tax rolls.

Unfortunately, preservationists would rather it stay vacant and decrepit. Three nonprofit groups are suing the city to stop it from selling the building. They turned down offers from the city to buy the building themselves.

Why is that? If the building is as significant as they say and its intact existence is essential, the best way to ensure it remains a piece of the city's history is to buy and renovate it. In 2003, the city placed a value on the property of $200,500, which sounds like a steal.

That won't happen, of course, because it's easier to file a lawsuit than spend a minimum of $1.4 million to renovate the aging structure and try and find a suitable tenant to recoup that investment.

Nonetheless, developers showed an interest in the property before the meddling began. The Ilitch family, in particular, owns a considerable amount of property in that area and could use it to build a new arena for the Detroit Red Wings.

Whether that would require the demolition of the building is unknown. The building's 1986 designation on the National Register of Historic Places makes that option more difficult, but not impossible. And as difficult as it is for some to consider, all options must be on the table.

Keeping the building boarded up won't help it or the city and it certainly isn't a fitting Civil War memorial if nobody knows what it is.

Selling it to a developer won't diminish the significance of the actions of those who served in the Civil War, and the estimated $1 million in historical records that have been saved from the building can be made accessible to the public through one of the area's historical library collections.

The city is right to try and sell the building. Those who want the building to stand as a Civil War memorial should buy it outright, or get out of the way.

Ferndale Way-finding Sign Project, Ferndale, Michigan

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 15:42:00 +0000

The Ferndale Way-finding project was supported by a Preserve America grant. What resulted from this, thanks to the tireless work of the Ferndale Downtown Development Authority, City of Ferndale, National Parks Service and other partners is something that truly amazed me a few months ago when I visited Ferndale for the first time in a long while.

What Ferndale did well is take a typically stodgy topic – interpretive and way-finding signs – and update these to make them both fun and friendly. Let's start with the interpretive signs first. These are placed at strategic locations throughout the community. The sites they refer to is visually proximate to the sign. This allows for some interesting comparison of historical photos with the buildings as they appear today. The casing for the sign has a marquee in green and white with the word "Ferndale" in large block letters. The interpretive panel is surmounted by a large scale photograph. Text describing the landmark is below. The reverse side of each sign has a “Fun Ferndale Fact.” I found these signs to be both playful and instructive.

Some of the many sites featured with an interpretive sign are the Evangelical Association, Pioneer & Merriman Apartments, Five and Dime, Ferndale State Bank and Ferndale Central School

Interpretive sign showing building in background.

Sign system working together in concert to guide and direct.

Another type of sign used are the way-finding directional signs. Here the marquee motif is used again, though it is shrunk in size to fit a smaller sized sign. The white and green are inverted to create a white background with green text over it. In the directional portion of the sign with arrows and names of sites, a green background and white text and arrows make the content jump out. There are two versions of the directional signs - a larger version on the street targeted towards automobile traffic, and a smaller version on the sidewalk targeted towards pedestrians.

Automobile oriented way-finding on street.

Pedestrian oriented way-finding on pedestrian alley.

There is one final sign type that completed the sign system. The Parking directional signs carry the Ferndale marquee logo, and then have a "P" in a circle along with an arrow. This effectively serves a purpose to direct people to parking while reinforcing the visual identity of the sign system.

Parking directional signs carry the visual identity of the overall sign system.

Business listings and map for the downtown.

Detail of map with downtown broken into 4 color-coded districts.

Office of the Ferndale DDA that undertook the way-finding sign project.

Highlights in the History of Albion College, Albion, Michigan

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 23:39:00 +0000

Tenney Peabody purchases land in Oyster Bay and becomes the first permanent settler at “The Forks” (1832).
Rev. Gilruth, Packard, and Thompson speak about establishing a Methodist seminary in Michigan.
Jessee Crowell, a one-time New York State Assemblyman, arrives in Albion for the first time (1835).
CHARTER DAY : Gov. Stevens T. Mason signs a resolution into law establishing the Spring Arbor Seminary, March 23, 1835.
Albion Company founded to plot the early village (1836).
Methodist, Presbyterian and Baptist churches founded (1837).
Little Red Schoolhouse constructed on Superior Street to educate young people of the community (1837).
Albion’s first post office opens with Jessee Crowell as postmaster in 1838.
Amendment to charter, establishing the Wesleyan Seminary in Albion, April 12, 1839.
Original land grant of 65 acres made by the Albion Company to the Wesleyan Seminary, April 22, 1840.
Cornerstone of the Central Building laid, July 6, 1841.
Bell House built, spring 1842.
First students welcomes to the Wesleyan Seminary on October 27, 1842.
Rev. Charles Stockwell becomes first principal of the Wesleyan Seminary.
Central Building officially opens for classes January 1844.
Rev. Clark Titus Hinman, becomes second principal of the Wesleyan Seminary.
Michigan Central Railroad begins service to Albion, July 4, 1845.
Rev. Judson D. Collins arrives to teach botany, zoology, chemistry, physics, and geology. Later goes on the gain distinction as a missionary to China.
Michigan Legislature approves creation of the Female Collegiate Insitute at Albion, February 18, 1850.
Peabody Block constructed at the south-west corner of Superior and Erie Streets (1852).
North Hall dedicated in Fall 1852, later became known as Kresge Building.
Ira Mayhew became third principal of the Wesleyan Seminary, 1853.
North Hall fire dealt a devastating blow to newsest building on campus, leaving behind a brick shell, January 1854.
In 1854 Thomas H. Sinex became Principal and later first President when Albion College was chartered seven years later.
Albion incorporated as a village. 1856.
South Hall construction announced in 1856, exterior completed 1858.
Howard Hall built on Superior Street between XXX and XXX and becomes a popular gathering place for people from town and college (1857).
Albion Female Collegiate Insitute became Albion Female College.
Cascarelli Block at 112 S. Superior Street completed around 1857.
FOUNDERS DAY, Amendment of charter made to create Albion College, February 25, 1861.
Gale Manufacturing first moved to Albion in 1862 and had their shop at the north-west corner of Cass and Superior.
Another charter amendment made to create the Albion College Endowment Fund committee, February 25, 1865.
Albion Opera House built on 2^nd floor of 223-225 S. Superior in 1869, still remains.
President Jocelyn submits resignation to be effective 17 June 1869.
“Stone Pile” dedicated by Isaac H. Riddick as class gift by the Class of 1870. Became a popular meeting place.
James W. Sheldon settles debts in 1870 of Jessee Crowell and the Albion Company which became bankrupt.
William B. Silber elected 3^rd president of Albion College, June 16, 1870.
South Hall dedicated, December 13, 1870.
Little Red Schoolhouse closed with opening of West Ward School, 1871.
Silber removed and Jocelyn re-elected President, June 13, 1871.
David Preston, a Detroit banker begins a 2-year, $60,000 fund drive in September 1871.
Class Gift of 1872 – a portrait of Presient Jocelyn to hang over class rostrum.
Interior of South Hall completed 1872.
Sheldon Block completed in 1872 at the north-west corner of Superior and Erie Sts. home to James W. Sheldon and his wife Mary Peabody Ismon.
Baseball field created in 1873 on Union Square, the present side of Kresge Gymnasium.
Anna Howard Shaw first arrives as a student, went on to become a leading figure in women’s rights movement nationally (1873).
Davis Preston presents $60,635 to Albion College, September 15, 1873.
Ingham Street vacated between Cass and Porter so Albion College Campus may be expanded, September 1874.
No graduation exercise in 1875, due to Depression of 1873 wiping out the entire senior class.
Augustus Porter Gardner house built at 509 S. Superior St. in 1875, for a prominent local hardware merchant.
Delta Tau Delta chapter established at Albion College, May 1876.
President Jocelyn died at 1:45am on January 27, 1877, and laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery.
Board of Trustees elect Leqis Ransom Fiske as President of Albion College on June 19, 1877, named chair of Moral and Intellectual Philosophy the next day.
Parker-Kessler Block, a brick commercial Italinate block built at 119-127 N. Superior Street in 1878.
Wave of Eastern European immigration doubles Albion’s population between 1880 and 1910.
Michigan Central Railroad Depot built in 1882, after earlier depot destroyed.
Professor Samuel Dicki first asks Board of Trustees to let him raise funds for an Observatory, December 21, 1882.
Delta Gamma sorority founded (1883).
First issue of The Pleiad published, January 1884.
Observatory dedicated, June 1884.
Albion College wins first football game vs. Olivet College, March 1884.
Telephone service began (1884).
Albion incorporated as a city in 1885.
City water mains reach campus (1885).
Sigma Chi fraternity founded (1886).
Alpha Chi Omega and Kappa Alpha Theta sorority founded (1887).
Electrical service began, 1888.
Graduation from a public high school becomes an Albion College admission requirement in 1888.
Gale Manufacturing moved to a new factory on Albion Street, and the Albion Malleable Iron Company began operation in the old Gale plant in 1888.
Souvenir of Albion published in 1891, advertising both the community and college.
Albion College football team in 1891 defeats the University of Michigan, 10-4.
First building on campus, the Bell House, moved off site in 1892 and later demolished in the 1970s.
James McMillan, U.S. Senator, writes ledger pledging $20,000 for construction of a laboratory building on campus, June 17, 1892.
Request of President Fiske and James Sheldon to close Oswego Street was presented to Council and passed, January 19, 1893.
Cornerstone for McMillan Laboratory laid at 3:30pm on May 11, 1893.
President Fiske presents his “Historical Address” on Albion College, October 1893.
Sigma Nu fraternity founded, 1895.
Alpha Chi Omega sorority lodge on Hannah St. opened December 11, 1895. Delta Gamma and Kappa Alpha Theata lodges follow.
First game of basketball in Albion, January 9, 1897.
Rev. John P. Sahley chosen as president, December 3, 1897, to begin January 1, 1898.
Rally to support the Spanish American war at 5:30am on April 26, 1898, in front of the Sigma Chi fraternity house.
Mary Sheldon Ismon House built in 1898 at 300 S. Clinton and became a meeting place for local clubs.
Masonic Temple built at 200 West Center Street in 1900.
Winter Lau Field officially dedicated, and Albion wins game against Michigan Agricultural College (later Michigan State University), 27-0 on October 6, 1900.
Baseball diamond, quarter mile oval track, and covered stands added to athletic field between 1900-1902.
Former President L.R. Fiske dies February 14, 1901, feneral at Fiske home on February 19, laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery.
The electric interurban first arrives in Albion in 1903.
Union Steel Screen Company moves to Albion in 1905, later becomes Union Steel Products and ships products internationally.
Mrs. Charlotte T. Gassette of Albion gives $10,000 for construction of a college library, W.D. Butterfield from Detroit selected as project architect, April 24, 1901.
EDUCATION DAY – Methodist congregations throughout the state asked to support Albion College, February 16, 1901.
JUBILEE DAY – held on January 16, 1903, to celebrate successful elimination of Albion College’s debt.
Central Building renovated with funds from Trustee George O. Robinson, to add a new wing to the east, dedicated Octoebr 31, 1907.
Change to semester plan adopted on recommendation of faculty, December 16, 1907.
President Theodore Roosevelt visits Albion by train (April 1908).
Sweetheart of Sigma Chi written in 1911 by Byron D. Stokes and F. Dudleigh Vernor, becoming one of the most beloved and popular of college fraternity songs.
Methodist evangelist and song-leader George Bennard wrote “The Old Rugged Cross” while visiting Albion in 1912.
Preparatory Department dissolved in 1913, Albion emerges as a full-fledged college.
Starr Commonwealth founded outside of Albion by Floyd Starr, an Albion College graduate, with creed “There is no such thing as a bad boy.”
CLASS GIFT in 1914 – Fence and entrance to Alumni field.
Helen Keller visits Albion and speaks, January 14, 1914.
Alpha Xi Delta sorority founded, 1915.
Fire Department introduces first motorized unit in 1916.
Dedication of Epworth Hall with state-of-the-art laboratories and scientific equipment, June 12, 1916.
Delta Sigma Phi fraternity founded, 1917.
U.S. Post Office built at 307 N. Superior Street in 1917.
Thomas T. Lloyd Building completed ca. 1917 at 203 S. Superior Street.
Massive parade downtown to celebrate the end of the World War, November 7, 1918. Armistice announced three days later and another parade held.
African-American population in Albion increases from 10 to 620 between 1917 and 1920, due to recruitment efforts by local industry.
Department of Education established at Albion College, 1919.
Andrew Carnegie Public Library opened on April 31, 1919.
FIRST ALUMNI HOMECOMING DAY, November 21, 1919.
60^th ANNIVERSARY celebrated on Commencement Week, June 12, 1921.
Inauguration of Dr. Laird as Albion College President, October 25-26, 1921.
Major/minor system instituted for 1922/1923 school year.
College Eat Shop opened in a grocery store across from North Hall on Cass Street that was converted for that use.
Albion Chamber of Commerce founded November 19, 1923.
Stanley S. Kresge announces $175,000 gift to be used for a new gymnasium, December 20, 1923.
Methodist Educational Advance celebration completed (March 1923).
Dr. John L. Seaton recommended as President of Albion College, April 26, 1924.
Turner will and bequest of R330,000 made to Albion College, June 16, 1924.
Albion Recorder Building constructed at 111 West Center Street in 1925.
Electric interurban passenger service ended, November 30, 1928.
Bohm Theater officially opened December 25, 1929.
Albion City Hall constructed at 112 West Cass Street between 1933-1936.
Beta Iota chapter of Phi Mu Alpha established at Albion in 1930.
Goodrich Club, a cooperative living residence for men founded in 19392.
CENTENNIAL celebrated during commencement, June 1935 and Albion Centennial Pageant held July 1-7, 1935.
Ground broken for Stockwell Memorial Library, April 12, 1937, dedicated June 4, 1938.
Plans and donation for Susanna Wesley Hall formally announced, October 1938.
Albion’s population increased 53% from 8,345 to 12,749 between 1940 and 1960.
Superior Street brick repaving completed and ribbon cutting ceremony held, October 17, 1940.
Albion’s manufacturing employment rises 57% from 2,100 to 3,300 between 1949 and 1951.
Dedication of Phi Beta Kappa chapter on campus, November 8, 1940.
David Strickler begins long tendure as director of the Albion College Choir in 1943.
President Seaton announces start of collaboration with Bay View Summer School in March 1944.
INAUGURATION of Dr. William Whitcomb Whitehouse held on April 26, 1946.
Much loved Chaplain and Bible Professor Frederic S. Goodrich dies April 17, 1948, and is laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery.
Seaton Hall dedicated in 1949.
Corning Glass Works opens in Albion, employing over 1,000 people.
Interstate 94 constructed from 1958-60 facilitating easier access to Albion, while also bypassing the downtown and college where Michigan Avenue had been the primary route between Detroit and Chicago.
Ground broken for Baldwin Hall on January 15, 1951, built with support from the Kresge Foundation, completed August 1952.
Dedication of Dorothy McVittie Kresge Dining Hall and East and West Halls, September 4, 1956.
Cornerstone for Goodrich Chapel laid October 13, 1956.
Pi Beta Phi sorority founded, 1958.
Laster service held at historic Erie St. Methodist Church (later demolished) and march made to Goodrich Chapel for Dedication Service, September 21, 1958.
Gale Manufacturing founded in 1862, applies for bankruptcy and ceases operations in 1968.
West Central Urban Renewal Project carried out in Albion, resulting in demolition of over 100 homes.
1,300 students and police escort surprise President Whitehouse with a scroll recognizing him for his service to the college, May 1960.
Albion College became a founding member fo the Great Lakes Colleges Association, 1961, Morley Fraser named Michigan’s coach of the year that same year.
President Emeritus John L. Seaton passes away January 28, 961, and is later laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery.
Dr. Louis William Norris inaugurated president of Albion College on April 14, 1961.
Union Board organization formed in 1962 to bring big name popular entertainment acts to campus.
Albion College named recipient of a $2 million Ford Foundation grant requiring a challenge grant be raised by June 30, 196.
Whitehouse Hall dedicated, October 17, 1964.
Cornerstone ceremony held for the Bobbitt Visual Arts Building, October 16, 1965.
Twin Towers dormitory and college fraternity buildings dedicated October 22, 1966.
Groundbreaking ceremony held for science center, on October 20, 1967.
Relationship with Bay View Summer School ends effective September 1, 1969.
1,200 Students submit petition and proposal for open housing policy, April 1970.
New science complex dedicated April 23, 1970.
Dr. Bernard T. Lomas inaugurated as 12 president of Albion College on February 6, 1971.
Dedication Ceremony ofor the Gerstacker International House held October 22, 1971.
Faculty vote to accept a revamped set of core requirements, November 19, 1971.
Albion one of 10 communities nationally to win the All America City Award in 1973, recognizing community-led efforts to respond to challenges at the time.
Herrick Center for Speech Communication and Theater built with support in 1975 from the Herrick Foundation.
“The Best is Yet to Be” capital campaign begun in November 1975, to raise $16 million in capital gifts.
Sprankle-Sprandle Stadium completed in 1976.
General Motors executive Roger B. Smith becomes campaign of $15 million campaign named Albion’s Bridge to the Future.
American Molder monument dedicated at N. Superior and Michigan to honor foundry workers from Albion.
Albion Depot reopened in 1986 after extensive restoration.
Seeley G. Mudd Learning Center completed in 1980.
Olin Hall built with support from the Olin Foundation in 1983 and opened to students in the fall.
Goodrich Club holds open house on February 5, 1983 to celebrate its 50^th anniversary.
President Melvin L. Vulgamore inaugurated September 30, 1983, as the 13^th College President, Bernard T. Lomas became first college chancellor.
Albion Sesquicentennial Celebration held July 4, 1985. Walking Tour of Albion first published.
Brick re-paving of Superior Street completed in 1992.
Albion College wins NCAA Division III football championship in 1994.
East Cass Street Bridge reconstructed in 1996 retaining brick facing from original bridge built when Dr. Samuel Dickie was mayor.
Dr. Peter T. Mitchell becomes President in 1997, begins college visioning process that year, and community visioning process the following year.
“Liberal Arts at Work” slogan announced in 1998, ,followed by “Liberal Arts at Play” initiative in 1999.
Donation of $7,000,000 made to build the Ferguson Administration Building and Karro Student Village.
Gerstacker Foundation provides $2,000,000 grant in 2000.
20 ton cupola added to the top of the new Ferguson Building at Albion College on May 6, 2002.

Graystone Ballroom and Motown Records, Detroit, Michigan

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 11:37:00 +0000

Motown Records

The 1976 Detroit Urban Conservation Project provides us a window into two iconic Detroit buildings just a few blocks apart from one another on Woodward Avenue. The first is what was popularly called the Motown Building just north of I-75 and Woodward. This building inauspiciously feel in 2005 just prior to the Super Bowl. A bit further north of this was the Graystone Ballroom. This building was demolished too around 1980. The Graystone Ballroom once hosted Duke Ellington and was among the most popular of dance halls in the country. Distinguished by a substantial dance floor with an open and uninterrupted span, this was among the liveliest of spots along Woodward Ave for decades.

Motown Records in 2001, prior to demolition

Both Motown Records and the Graystone Ballroom were targeted for use as museums at different times. Regrettably, neither of those proposals transpired to honor the Jazz and Motown heritage of Detroit respectively. Had either or both come to fruition, they might have helped to cement Detroit's musical legacy. Instead, this great musical legacy stands without a dedicated visible landmark downtown.

Graystone Ballroom, 1976

Graystone Ballroom in background as nearby buildings are demolished, 1976.

Today the Motown Records building has given way to a parking lot. In the 2000's a McDonald's restaurant was built on or very near the site of the Graystone Ballroom. Of the more than 25 buildings present on the block around 1950, fewer than 6 remained in 2012.

Detroit, Michigan, 1950 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, vol 2, Sheet 77

Buildings demolished between 1950 and 2012.

Integrating Historic Preservation and Community Development in Areas of Concentrated Poverty

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 11:34:00 +0000

While the number of people living in concentrated poverty in the United States has decreased between 1990 and 2000, the land area considered severely distressed (where 40% or more of residents live below the poverty level) has increased. This situation poses unique challenges for what to do with the people but also the places that have been left behind in an increasingly information-based global economy.

Community development – defined as “a group of people in a community reaching a decision to initiate a social action process…” (Christenson, 1980) – has promoted affordable housing, commercial development, crime prevention, and youth programs among other things. But it is argued that community development practitioners have not taken full advantage of the history and culture of areas, thus overlooking valuable tools and partnerships to assist in development efforts.

In recent years historic preservation has been suggested as an integral component for community revitalization, especially renewal of our older neighborhoods. Preservationists themselves have actively made an effort to become involved in community revitalization activities. The question then is how to take preservationists interest in community development and through a “social invention” to use historic preservation and the awareness of the importance of history and culture to buttress and reinforce community development efforts in severely distressed areas.

These ideas are explored by reflecting upon a case study of the Ransom Place Historic District in Indianapolis, Indiana – a traditionally African-American neighborhood that throughout the 1990’s sought to use the African-American heritage of the neighborhood to stimulate renewal. The efforts of an African-American preservation visionary Jean Spears are described and analyzed, as well as the good work of those who supported her including J. Reid Williamson, Jr., President of the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana (HLFI); Suzanne T. Rollins, also from HLFI; David Baker, Administrator, Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission; Dorothy Jones with the Business Operations Services, Inc. Community Development Corporation; Dr. Stanley Warren, Chair of the African-American Landmarks Committee of HLFI; and Spears’ own daughter Claudia Polley who assisted in her mother’s efforts, founded the National Association for African-American Heritage Preservation, Inc. and has since gone on to an international career in museum planning and management.

Ultimately, the case study is used as a theory-building exercise to draw some conclusions on how to infuse community development activities with a historic preservation consciousness, and to use an awareness of local history and culture (or what I call a preservation consciousness) as a tool for renewal – especially in severely distressed areas and in conditions of concentrated poverty.

We reflect upon the case in order to distill principles of good practice for an integrated approach to historic preservation and community development. This investigation is seen as being very timely because of the increasing popularity of the asset-based approach to community development which has, to date, failed to adequately consider the contribution of historic and cultural resources to promoting sustainable development in low-income communities.

To read the full thesis follow this link:

Integrating historic presevation and community development for renewal in areas of concentrated poverty : a case study of the Ransom Place Historic District in Indianapolis, Indiana / by Isaac David Kremer.

All That is New Must Grow Old - Detroit's New Center

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 12:30:00 +0000

New Center some time after construction of the New Center Building (today the Albert Kahn Building) in 1931.

Our attention turns to Detroit's “New Center.” Today this area is defined by several iconic buildings including the General Motors Building (1922), Fisher Building (1929), Albert Kahn Building (1931), Argonaut Building (1931) and others. While these building are the character defining features of what constitutes New Center today, there once was a finer-grained neighborhood with blocks teeming with residential and commercial uses.

How the neighborhood as it was gave way to the neighborhood as it is today is a story of considerable interest, with deep historical antecedents. Roots for Grand Boulevard go back even further to Native American paths meant to go around Fort Detroit that was once located where the Central Business District is today. Grand Boulevard when it was laid out was meant to designate the outermost extent of Detroit's city limits in the line nineteenth century. Grand Boulevard served much the same function defining an edge as the city walls in places like Paris, Athens, or Rome in Europe, or Charleston in the U.S. Whereas walls were a formidable obstacle and forced inhabitants to remain within their confines, a ring road was an invitation to push ever further outward. It should be no surprise that is precisely what happened.

The building that initiated this spread outward in many respects was Henry Ford's "Boulevard Building" constructed in 1910. Albert Kahn was the architect of this and so many other Ford buildings. An excellent article here explains the genesis and use of the building in more depth. The original three story building was constructed to provide service to Ford Motor Co. branch offices throughout Michigan. By 1913 another 5 stories were added to the original building. Detroit's 13th Annual Auto Show was held at the Boulevard Building in January 1914. An insensitive modernization program replaced the exterior with very bland window bands, making each floor appear pancaked upon one another. The building and some of its rich interiors are still there at the corner of Woodward and East Grand Boulevard.

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, 1915, showing the Ford Motor Co. "Detroit Branch" (Vol. 10, Sheet 1)

What Henry Ford set into motion, it took others to fully develop. Those qualities that attracted Ford to this location in the first place - convenient access to downtown and factories, avoiding city taxes, and close proximity to exclusive Boston-Edison subdivision (where Henry Ford himself once lived) - provided a powerful inducement for other companies to locate in this area too.

The General Motors Building was constructed on a monumental scale in 1922 and is an internationally regarded architectural masterpiece. A mere 12 years after the Boulevard Building was completed, Albert Kahn was responsible for the design of the General Motors Building . At the time of its completion this was the second largest office building in the world after the Equitable Building in New York. Four identical wings off of a central spine allowed for ample light, ventilation, and views of the surrounding area. Public areas on the lower levels were spacious. The building also matched the corporate order with those with higher status on the uppermost floors and each division of the company seemingly occupying a designated wing of their own.

A somewhat lesser known story that comes along with the construction of the General Motors Building was the clearance of an entire block covered with several two to four story residential buildings. While the nature of these buildings and what efforts were required for the acquisition is beyond the scope of this article, surely a compelling story could be told about that. Instead, we simply share a massing study of the General Motors Building superimposed over the previous residential neighborhood.

General Motors Building superimposed over buildings that previously occupied the site.

General Motors Building, 1976 Detroit Urban Conservation Project

The General Motors Building dominated the landscape from every angle. One photo taken during the 1976 Detroit Urban Conservation Project shows the words "General Motors" seemingly hoovering in the background high atop the building. Another photo from the same project, has cars lined up in a row in front of the building demonstrating the domination of cars over the landscape.

The Fisher Building was another notable building that helped to give New Center another anchor and its unique identity. The Fisher brothers commissioned Albert Kahn in 1927 to design the world's finest office building. He responded with a lavishly decorated twenty-six-story tower with elegant setbacks, a three-thousand seat theater, and an eleven-story parking garage attached to the rear. Also proposed was an identical building across the street with a central tower more than twice the height of the flanking towers. This design was regrettably shelved by the Great Depression (Gallagher and Hill, 2002).

The Argonaut Building was another Albert Kahn design from 1930. Just eight short years after the General Motors Building was constructed, new space was needed for research and development. Unlike other buildings in the New Center, the inside areas were functional and lacked much ornamentation at all. The exterior with its masonry banding and brickwork created a strong architectural effect.

One final notable addition to the New Center was Kahn's New Center Building in 1931. This was constructed with materials left over from the Fisher Building project. The AIA Guide to Detroit Architecture claims that the "in some respects the architecture here is more consistent and original." The window head designs are cited as an example. In looking at the Fisher Building and New Center Building side-by-side it is both hard and easy to compare them at the same time. Hard because the two buildings are of a dramatically different scale. Easy because the New Center Building can be seen as a continuation of earlier designs begun with the Fisher.

What can be said of all the primary buildings we've described in the core of the New Center area is that they fundamentally served to transform this once residential area into a formidable center for business where leading firms had equally grand architecture suited to their status. Were this pattern to have continued, it might have been possible for the New Center to eclipse the downtown. What happened instead is that development spread ever further outward from the city center. Ford Motor Company moved their headquarters to the suburbs just south of Detroit in Dearborn. The Southfield Town Center - a cluster of five interconnected skyscrapers with 2.2 million square feet in total was built between 1975 and 1989. The construction of this complex is perhaps another topic for another day. What should be said, however, is that the roots for the Southfield Town Center and other projects like it may be found in Detroit's New Center.

Postcard around 1930 with the areas dedicated to parking in green.

View from Google Earth roughly approximating the area of the 1930's postcard. Interestingly, Google Earth has yet to render the Fisher Building in three dimensions.

Areas in red show buildings demolished between roughly 1930 and today.

Areas in orange show areas that have been set aside for parking.

Demolition of buildings and expansion of areas for parking fundamentally altered the character of the New Center area.

The New Center area had perhaps its greatest cohesion and integrity just after the Albert Kahn Building was completed in 1931. At that time there were many architectural masterpieces surrounded by an area still mostly with residential character. The possibility to live and work here at that time was very great. Increasing reliance on the automobile (thanks at least in part to the Ford Motor Company and General Motors which had a presence here) made proximity of work and home less important. Whereas in the 1930's less than one city block was dedicated for surface parking, by around 2010 well over six full blocks were dedicated for parking. When you consider how the Fisher Building, General Motors Building, and New Center Building occupied approximately 2 to 3 city blocks total, the area just used for parking today could easily double or triple the size of the New Center. This over reliance on automobiles and providing such ample area for parking, had a dampening effect on other nearby residential areas such as Boston Edison. Today a committed neighborhood association and residents struggle to maintain and protect that grand residences that once were home to Albert Kahn, Henry Ford, and numerous automotive company executives.

One result of creating such density in New Center and not requiring or providing for suitable places nearby for those who worked in this area to live, made New Center a less viable or desirable place compared to outlying complexes like the Southfield Town Center. Then when you consider the sheer number of buildings lost to make way for additional parking in the New Center area, this further served to cut this area off from surrounding residential neighborhoods, making it difficult for New Center and these neighborhoods to function the way they once did. It is unclear whether the sort of corrective surgery will ever happen that is needed to return this neighborhood to its former character. When creating visions for the future of New Center it may be wise to look to the past for guidance. The sort of neighborhood that existed here in the 1930's is precisely what New Urbanists and urban planners dream to create today.

Detroit's Lost Moonlight Towers are Austin's Gain

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 02:17:00 +0000

Postcard showing Moonlight Tower (to left) on Woodward Ave. near Adelaide in downtown Detroit.

At first this seemed like another interesting postcard of a long-lost Detroit streetscape. Upon closer inspection, however, there was a remarkable feature. Near the left edge is a latticed tower rising through and beyond the upper edge of the postcard. Until just a few months ago I would have had no idea what that structure was, and write it off as some kind of utility tower or something. It was not until moving to Austin, Texas, a few months back that I became wise to what this tower was and is - the Moonlight Tower.

The large building in the center with tower and slated spire was the Woodward Avenue Baptist Church located at the southeast corner of Winder and Woodward. On the extreme right side of the postcard are the stairs of the Woodward Avenue Congregational Church projecting into the postcard frame. The handsome four story building on the right side of the postcard is the Burnstine Block. All three of these buildings have been demolished. Perhaps the only still surviving building on this postcard is the St. John's Episcopal Church. This church still stands immediately south of Interstate 75 and adjacent to the Comerica Park Major League Baseball stadium.

1897 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map with highlighted area showing view included in postcard.

The tradition of putting lights atop towers, mostly to serve for enhanced security and public safety, is a tradition that had origins in Europe though which spread to the United States as well. Some even speculate that the Eiffel Tower at one point had lights installed to illuminate the surrounding area. The Jenney Electric Company developed this type of lighting in the early 1880's and by the 1890's had installed moonlight towers in Albany, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Little Rock, and Philadelphia (City of Austin). At one time "Detroit was the only large city in the US (and in the world) lighted wholly and exclusively by the tower system." At the peak of the system there were 122 towers with a height of between 100 and 180 feet lighting over 21 square miles of the city. These towers were first installed in Detroit the 1880's and remained in use until the 1910's. The growth of ever taller buildings spelled the demise for the Moontower system in Detroit and other places.

In 1894, the City of Austin purchased 31 used Moonlight Towers from Detroit. Some claim that the towers were acquired and installed as a result of the brutal acts of the Servant Girl Annihilator - an unknown serial killer who preyed upon people in the City of Austin between 1884 to 1885. This story doesn't completely jibe though, because the towers were installed ten years after the murders occurred.

Moonlight Tower in Austin, at southeast corner of Guadalupe and West 9th Street (Photo by author).

Moonlight Tower in Austin at northeast corner of Canterbury and Lynn Street (Photo by author).

In 1970 the towers were recognized as State Landmarks. In 1974 the remaining towers were named a City of Austin Historic Landmark. Finally, in 1976 they were listed in the National Register of Historic Places. A comprehensive rehabilitation project was undertaken by the City of Austin in 1993 to restore the towers and their working components at a total cost of $1.3 million. Today Austin is the only city in the world known to still operate moonlight towers. The quality of light is similar to a bright, full moon, hence the popular nickname, moonlight towers. Each moon tower has approximately 12,600-13,200 candle power. At the peak there were 31 Moonlight Towers operating in Austin. Today only 17 of these towers are still standing.

Leland St. and Eastside Dr (NE corner)
Monroe St. and S. 1st S (SW corner)
West 4th and Nuece (SW corner)
West 9th and Guadalupe St (SE corner)
W. 12th St. and Blanco St (SE corner)
W. 12th St. and Rio Grande St (NW corner)
W. 15th St. and San Antonio St (SW corner)
W. 22nd St. and Nueces St (SW corner)
W. 41st St. and Speedway St (SW corner)
Zilker Park (used for Zilker Park Christmas Tree)*
Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and Chicon St (SE corner)
E. 13th St. and Coleto St (NE corner)
Pennsylvania Ave. and Leona St (NE corner)
E. 11th St. and Trinity St (SE corner)
E. 11th St. and Lydia St (SW corner)
E. Cesar Chavez and Trinity St. (SW corner)
Canterbury St. and Lynn St. (NE corner)

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David Whitney Building - Detroit and Starwood's Next Big Preservation Win?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 03:44:00 +0000

Now our attention shifts to the somewhat maligned David Whitney Building in downtown Detroit. The way this postcard with a postmark from Saginaw, Michigan in August 1920 put it:

Woodward Avenue enjoys the unusual distinction of being both Detroit's leading business and residence street. It is named in honor of Judge Woodward, one of Detroit's foremost citizens in the pioneer days, and stretches approximately north and south. At the foot are the ferry docks where boats leave regularly for Windsor, Int., Belle Isle and Bois Blanc Islands.

Oddly, the inscription on the reverse said little to nothing about the David Whitney building itself, except by inference to say that this building was located on Woodward Avenue that was Detroit's leading business and residence street. Where this statement takes on an added level of interest, is that the home of David Whitney, Jr. was located at 4421 Woodward Avenue just 1.3 miles north of the David Whitney Building . Built by Gordon W. Lloyd in 1894, this is among the most lavish of the surviving Detroit residences from the nineteenth-century. The cost was $400,000 at the time (or roughly $10.5 million in today's dollars). David Whitney, Jr. was a prosperous lumber baron and steamship owner. No expense was spared in design and furnishing of this lavish house. The more than forty rooms are filled with Tiffany stained-glass windows, marble, onyx, and, of course, ample hand-carved woodwork. David Whitney, Jr. died in 1900, though his family remained in the house until 1920. In 1986 the building was renovated to become an upscale restaurant that was very popular for many years.

The David Whitney Building, constructed nearly two decades after the house, was built by D. H. Burnham and Co. of Chicago in 1915. This was one of several Detroit commissions of theirs including the Majestic Building (now demolished) and the Dime Building. This building was actually completed after Daniel Burnham's death, though along with the two others comprises one of the nation's best stocks of Burnham skyscrapers (Gallagher and Hill, 2003, p.68). For more about these two other Burnham buildings, read this blog post. The David Whitney Building was constructed as architects were still struggling how to properly articulate massive skyscrapers. Italian Renaissance details were chosen to mark the exterior.

Together the David Whitney Building and the David Broderick Building across Woodward Avenue marked an official "entrance" to the business district downtown. The "two David's" as they have sometimes been called, clearly marked a line of demarcation between the business area to the south and the commercial area to the north with a more residential character, exemplified by the David Whitney, Jr. House.

In designing the David Whitney Building, the architects conformed to the odd size of the block facing Grand Circus Park and wedged in between Woodward Avenue and Washington Boulevard, with a six-sided building. The interior has what is perhaps one of Burnham's best interiors, formed by four floors of shops encircling a large rotunda space under a polygonal light court (Chappell, 1992, p.115). The cost of the David Whitney Building at the time of its construction was $1,528,543.

Regrettably, the original facade of the David Whitney Building was renovated in 1959, when decorative cornices and other architectural details were removed, and the building given a more modern look.

David Whitney Building and Statler Hotel, some time prior to 1923 (postmark)

Skyline from Grand Circus Park, some time before 1929 (postmark)

Grand Circus Park, Eaton Tower, Whitney Building, Book Tower, and Hotel Statler, ca. 1928 (postmark)

David Whitney Building (on far left), Statler Hotel, Hotel Tuller.

Grand Circus Park with David Whitney Building to left, ca. 1942 (postmark)

David Whitney Building in September 2001.

David Whitney Building (center) while demolition of Statler Hotel was underway in June 2005.

David Whitney Building, just prior to the All-Star Game in July 2005.

David Whitney Building (to left) as demolition of Statler Hotel nears completion in September 2005.

Preservation work is already underway on the 34 story David Broderick Tower, just across the street. As Model D reported in February 2011, the Detroit Downtown Development Authority provided a loan to cover about a third of the buildings $3.3 million purchase cost of the David Whitney Building. At that time they projected financing by the end of 2011 and completion by 2012.

As most development plans go, there was a slight delay. In December 2011 it was announced that Starwood Hotels & Resorts joined the project, with plans to build their first Aloft hotel in Michigan. Plans are being made to retain the lobby, and to also reinstate the architectural features that were removed after the insensitive renovation in 1959. This is only the second adaptive reuse project in the U.S., and their are plans to seek LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Another Starwood adaptive reuse project was later announced in Orlando, indicating that this is a growing emphasis for their franchise.

The Grand Circus Park area has experienced a great resurgence with opening of the Detroit Opera House in 1996, followed by restoration of the Kales Building (originally the Kresge Company Headquarters) several years later. With work underway on the Broderick Tower and work about to begin on the David Whitney Building, there will very soon be no vacant buildings facing Grand Circus Park.

Were the Statler Hotel and Tuller Hotel still standing, it might have been possible that they too could have been swept up in the wave of redevelopment happening on Grand Circus Park. Instead they are vacant lots awaiting some uncertain future use. In their absence they provide powerful evidence that preservation of existing building is oftentimes a more viable strategy for downtown revitalization, rather than demolishing historic buildings and awaiting new development which almost never happens without far deeper subsidies than preservation requires.

The rehabilitation of the "two David's" standing side-by-side on Woodward Avenue, holds great potential for the ongoing revitalization of downtown Detroit. As someone who has been away for many years though still considers Detroit home, I look to the revitalization of these buildings and the downtown with great excitement. Downtown Detroit appears to be realizing the potential that so many of us have seen for so long. Hopefully these exciting developments will embolden efforts to restore some of the few remaining vacant historic buildings downtown.