Call of the Wild: Historic Preservation in Region 1’s Wilderness

Summary

Region 1 of the U.S. Forest Service manages more than 25 million acres in Washington, Idaho, Montana, and North and South Dakota, with more than five million acres designated as Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas. Because of the Wilderness Act, NHPA Section 106 surveys that would identify potential archaeological sites are generally not undertaken in Wilderness areas. However, a number of known historic structures in these areas have been restored by the Northern Region Historic Preservation Team (NRHPT), which is a unique entity within the U.S.F.S. that completes historic preservation projects throughout Region 1. In particular, the NRHPT directs a wide range of historic building preservation projects, including the use of traditional tools. Several Forest Service employees have been trained by the NRHPT, enabling national forests to plan and implement their own preservation projects with minimal preservation team supervision or guidance. A wide variety of historic properties that might otherwise fall into disrepair or neglect are now maintained for continued agency operations and public use. In this presentation, we will provide examples of restoration projects of historic structures in Wilderness areas in Region 1, underscoring the importance of preserving these structures through this unique resource.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 22218