Cold War Resources Survey and Evaluation, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, NY (Final)

Summary

Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) has completed the Survey and Evaluation Plan for Cold War historic resources at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (ARS), New York. This Cold War survey was developed in response to a Cold War historic context data gap identified in the Cultural Resources Management Plan (CRMP) developed for the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, New York in 1996. This survey is designed to supplement the information provided in the CRMP, which is updated annually.

The main objective of the survey and evaluation included in this plan was to identify the number of properties associated with only the Cold War historic context, and to evaluate their significance. The CRMP is used to evaluate all other historic contexts at the ARS as buildings reach the 50-year age criteria.

This objective was accomplished by gathering information to determine which properties are significant, based on themes within the Cold War context that have local, state, or national significance. Since the Cold War historic context covers a period of significance that includes resources that are less than 50 years old, the National Register of Historic Places (National Register) Criteria Consideration “G” requires that properties exhibit “exceptional importance” to be eligible for listing. It was determined during the course of this survey and evaluation that properties associated with three themes relating to the Cold War historic context exist at Niagara Falls ARS. Only one of these themes, the Strategic Missile Defense theme involving the construction of the BOMARC B missile site at Niagara Falls ARS, was determined to meet the National Register Criteria Consideration G for exceptional importance to the Cold War historic context. There are five buildings and one structure remaining from this theme at Niagara Falls ARS. However, the evaluation of exceptional importance of these remaining buildings to the Cold War historic context revealed that they no longer retained enough integrity of location, design, setting, feeling, workmanship, or materials to convey the context’s historic significance.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station Archaeology and Cultural Resource Management Archive

Keywords

Temporal Coverage

Calendar Date: 1945 to 1989 (Cold War historic context.)

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station

Contributor(s): James Mathews; Crystal Records; Gailyn Webster

Permitting Agency(s): New York State Historic Preservation Office

Submitted To(s): Department of the Air Force; Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station

Record Identifiers

Task Order No.(s): 0063

Contract No.(s): F41624-03-D-8614

File Information