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Evaluating: How to Evaluate and Nominate Designed Historic Landscapes, National Regi... Page 5 of 8
<br />Many designed historic landscapes will be eligible because of their associations with
<br />significant events and trends. For example, the creation of designed landscapes has
<br />historically been associated with social movements. The historic designs for parks, suburbs,
<br />and playgrounds have direct links, in many cases, to the social issues of their times. In
<br />addition to possessing significance according to such historical themes established by the
<br />National Register as social history, agriculture, or transportation and meeting criteria A -D
<br />above on that basis, a property nominated because it is a designed historic landscape should
<br />meet these criteria primarily on the basis of associations with landscape gardening or
<br />landscape architecture under criterion C. In general, such questions as whether a particular
<br />designed historic landscape was the first of its type; is noted for some particular innovation
<br />in design, construction, planting, or use; or is associated with a significant figure in
<br />landscape architecture, gardening, and planning, should be considered. Typically, a designed
<br />historic landscape meets criterion C for one of the following reasons:
<br />• its association with the productive careers of significant figures in American landscape
<br />architecture such as Andrew Jackson Downing, Frederick Law Olmsted, Jens Jensen,
<br />Beatrix Farrand, or other noted practitioners;
<br />• its association with a historical trend or school of theory and practice within landscape
<br />architecture such as the City Beautiful Movement or the Country Place Era, rather
<br />than with an individual person of significance;
<br />• the presence of highly skilled craftsmanship or use of particular materials in the
<br />construction of walls, walks, fountains, and other landscape elements;
<br />• evidence of distinguished design and layout that results in superior aesthetic quality
<br />and constitutes an important artistic statement; or
<br />• a rare or specimen plant materials associated with a particular period or style of
<br />landscape history.
<br />S. Evaluate Integrity
<br />Not all historic properties retain integrity. The National Register criteria recognize seven
<br />aspects, or qualities, which, in various combinations, define integrity. Historic location,
<br />design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association must be considered in
<br />determining whether a landscape retains enough of its important features to convey its
<br />historically significant appearance or associations. Landscapes have unique attributes that
<br />often complicate the evaluation of integrity, but the degree to which the overall landscape
<br />and its significant features are present today must be evaluated. In general, the researcher
<br />should ask the following questions when evaluating integrity: 1) To what degree does the
<br />landscape convey its historic character? 2) To what degree has the original fabric been
<br />retained? 3) Are changes to the landscape irrevocable or can they be corrected so that the
<br />property retains integrity?
<br />The specific features that a designed historic landscape must retain will differ for various
<br />landscape types. Such features may include, but are not necessarily limited to, spatial
<br />relationships, vegetation, original property boundary, topography /grading, site - furnishings,
<br />design intent, architectural features, and circulation system. If, for example, a property is
<br />primarily significant because of its internal road circulation, yet the historic road patterns are
<br />no longer discernible or have been badly damaged, then the landscape has suffered a loss of
<br />integrity that may make it ineligible for the National Register. In addition to establishing the
<br />reasons for a designed landscape's significance, it is also necessary to determine if the
<br />designed landscape is significant for its original or altered character or both. Although a
<br />landscape need not retain all the characteristic features that (see list above) it had during its
<br />httn J /www.nns.trov/NR/nublications /bulletins /nrbl8 /nrb18 5.htm 2/28/2014
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