DECEMBER 2003
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Historic DowntownA Short History of Historic Preservationby Ken Scoville
The value of preservation in this country began with the establishment of Yellowstone National Park in 1872. This was an idea new to the world and started the establishment of national parks in other localities by the first years of the 20th century. The West was no longer the frontier but adventure seekers were exploring every nook and cranny of formerly remote areas with prehistoric artifacts, initiating a new gold rush.
The ransacking and looting of archaeological and historical sites and the passionate conservation efforts of the Theodore Roosevelt administration brought about the Antiquities Act of 1906. This law was the first to require protection and preservation of archaeological and historical properties on federal land. The provisions included fines and imprisonment for damage and removal of artifacts or natural resources, required permits for excavation and, most importantly, the authority of the President to declare national monuments. National monument status would provide the greatest protection for historic and prehistoric sites through the management and protection by the federal government. The State of Arizona followed the U.S. Government’s lead, recognizing the need to protect state lands from unauthorized excavation or destruction of historic, archaeological, or paleontological sites with the passage of the Arizona Antiquities Act of 1927. Another Roosevelt administration would bring the country more preservation law with the Historic Sites Act of 1935. This policy by the federal government provided for the identification and preservation of historic resources of national significance for public use. A defined set of procedures outlines acquisition, preservation, and establishment as a national monument. During this era of the Great Depression, much documentation of historic sites around the country including Tucson was accomplished. Public works programs throughout the country were actively involved in various preservation efforts and construction projects that are recognized today as being worthy of preservation. The stone bridges in Sabino Canyon were part of the efforts and are now recognized today as an integral part of the conservation of the canyon. After World War II, many individuals involved in the preservation of our heritage saw the need for a national organization and from their lobbying efforts a National Trust for Historic Preservation was established. President Truman signed the legislation in 1949 to create an organization to support grassroots efforts and also lobby on a national level. The National Trust began to acquire and manage historic sites but would later expand its mission to include public outreach and education with much being accomplished through a national magazine. The pivotal legislation that brought the National Register of Historic Places to the forefront, along with many standards and procedures for preservation, was the National Preservation Act of 1966. The Secretary of the Interior was authorized to expand and maintain this National Register and provide standards for qualification and preservation. A national advisory council would advise the President and Congress on issues related to preservation and also had the mission of advising state and local governments in preservation legislation. Later amendments would support the efforts of the State Historic Preservation Office and the officers in their role of identifying and managing cultural resources. Tax benefits and grants would become further enticements for property owners of resources eligible for the National Register. The turbulent decade of the 1960s would bring legislation for the preservation of our physical past in the face of massive urban renewal projects that were bringing lunar landscapes to the oldest parts of many American cities, including Tucson. Federal funds made this a reality throughout the country. The mass grading of much of the Old Pueblo’s antiquities during the late 1960s and early 1970s is still in the memory of many residents to this day. Anyone curious about the extent of this destruction should look at the Arizona Highways Magazine for February of 1958. The entire issue is about Tucson and the cover features one of the few color photographs of the Old Pueblo before the bulldozers arrived. Thankfully, the newest renewal efforts in the name of Rio Nuevo now seek to celebrate our unique history and bring people back to downtown. The listing of the Fox Theatre and the other downtown properties is truly a holiday gift that has been a hundred years in the making. |
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he recent listing of the Fox Theater and several other Downtown Tucson buildings on the National Register of Historic Places continues an almost century-old effort to preserve our cultural resources. Real estate development and market forces are often the foe of preservation, but a different perspective on the idea of value to a society and laws enacted to support this point of view have proven their worth. 
