Historic Preservation and the Imagined West - Essay Example

Albuquerque, Denver & Seattle: Preserving the Tangible History Introduction Several efforts were made to restore historical sites in the United s, as a statement of respect on traditional heritage by looking back important details on the aspect of art and architecture. Historic or landmark preservation is the recognition and protection of properties which have significance in history, arts and culture. Judy Morley, in her book Historic Preservation and the Imagined West, emphasizes the efforts made in Albuquerque, Denver and Seattle and explains the implications it made to the cities they are today. In this paper, significant historic preservation in Old Town Albuquerque, LoDo in Denver, and Pioneer Square in Seattle, with the different entities and organizations responsible for its preservation, how they preserved it, and what has been changed in function will be discussed. Old Town Albuquerque New Mexico is the seat of Old Town Albuquerque. Their culture is deeply rooted centuries ago, which makes the town an interesting place for historic preservation. The architecture says a lot of things about the west, giving the visitors an ancient feel, yet not losing the enthusiastic ambiance of modernity. There can be unlimited ways on how to rediscover the town of Albuquerque. With its museums and different historical landmarks and unique western architecture, the town was able to preserve its heritage. Reviving the “Historic” Old Town According to Malloy, Old Town’s features are facts presenting the 500 year European’s presence in New Mexico, founded in 1706. The flag is a symbolic combination of Spain, Mexico, and United States. It is also considered a religious center in the presence of the 200 year old parish called the Church of San Felipe de Neri. The preservation of the Old Town Albuquerque began in 1957, and designated it as a historic zone with the initiative of the state’s government and Albuquerque’s historic preservationists (Baca et al. 2). Any historic preservation would need government recognition and public information so that a place can be considered worthy of a reservation. In the process, they would need government funding, technical advice and assistance so that the buildings and historic landmarks will be well preserved. After the preservation process comes the real deal: maintenance. A law which states the restriction of demolition in the preserved areas is important. Even private owners of historic houses should secure a Certificate of Appropriateness in order to have renovation, if in case the renovations would affect the exterior face of the building. Old Town: Then and Now The transformation of Old Town Albuquerque does not answer the question of what were the changes but rather, how much was retained. According to Baca et al., there are more than 200 historic structures listed in the National State Registers as of June 1997. Much of the Old Town’s buildings were preserved, specifically the NiKo Indian Theatre. The specific architectural details were retained in order to define what an Indian theater really is. LoDo, Denver LoDo district is located in the lower downtown Denver, thus the acronym LoDo. It is known for its historical background, being the oldest settlement in the city. Through the years, there have been accounts on how Denver succeeded as a city and also its pitfalls. According to Midson, Colorado’s gold and silver boom in the 1890’s has produced extravagance among its people. However, the Silver Crash of 1893 did the opposite extent, wherein edifices were demolished leaving the city a “scattered debris.” This awakened the city leaders and eventually rallied together in order to re-establish the Denver they had before; this lead to the different historic preservations, especially in LoDo. The LoDo Preservation The LoDo Historic District and LoDo District Organization are the major sectors which administer LoDo’s preservation. In the mid 1980’s the district’s concentration was of design and building restoration due to property damage and the continuously growing modern designed buildings (Theye). The Lower Downtown Property Owners Association and the architects and designers in the LoDo district joined hand in hand for the restoration of the buildings and its maintenance. Taking for example the Ice House Building, its preservation was through the initiative and efforts of its developer, Dana Crawford. She convinced organizations to use effective marketing strategy in order to transmit the importance of preserving the building to the government. Another organization called Historic Denver, Inc., made formal agreements with the LoDo officials that the district should have laws on historic building protection, which lead to the formation of the Lower Downtown Historic District in 1988. The preservation did not stop from the 129 structures that were identified as “historic.” The maintenance of the historical structures are still protected by the law and the people from different public or private organizations are working together, with the faith that LoDo’s heritage will never fade. LoDo: What it has become In the Public Review draft, it is said that the preservation of the LoDo district “provides economic benefits” (“Strengthening Communities”). There were jobs and more tax revenue created in the preservation because it is “labor intensive.” Furthermore, the more historic and traditional-looking the buildings are, the more tourists are attracted by it; therefore results to an increase of tourist visits around downtown and would serve more privileges for small and medium enterprises. For instance, the house of Molly Brown was typically a private residence, but due to its age and the historical contribution of Molly Brown (Titanic survivor), it was created into a “museum house” (Midson). Pioneer Square Seattle A mix of traditional and urban feel can be anticipated during a visit in Pioneer Square, Seattle. Antique shops and night clubs, art galleries and bookstores, are just a taste of this perfect combination. Since establishment in 1852, Pioneer Square has become Seattle’s center for trade and industry. There are many courthouses which still can be found in Seattle dated back from its settlement in the mid 1800’s. Although the “Great fire of 1889 destroyed 29 downtown blocks,” some of its buildings have been successfully reserved by its private owners (“Pioneer Square Seattle: Seattle”). A Peek Into the History of Pioneer Square Seattle was named after its ruling Chief, who advised the first White Settlers in Washington to move to Elliot Bay (the modern Pioneer Square), due to the harsh winter in West Seattle. “Pioneer Square was also shaped by the Yukon Gold Rush of 1897” (“Pioneer Square Seattle”). It became the gateway to Alaska, a perfect place for the gold expedition. Pioneer Square Preservation The official preservation of the Pioneer square began in the late 70’s and 80’s, along with its enlistment in the National Register of Historic Places. Although masonry, using bricks to build houses, was an answer to prevent what had happened in 1889, the district was not spared by its susceptibility to earthquakes, resulting to a difficult preservation and maintenance pattern in the modern period. Furthermore, the Great Depression also affected Pioneer Square, being the center for commerce. As Morley states, “Pioneer Squares social deterioration mirrored its physical decline” (71). In 2001, an organization called Pioneer Square Community Association helped in the different needs of the district like communication, professional service and historic preservation (McIntosh). The Association has been thinking of innovative ways on how to make use of the old buildings in Pioneer Square without losing its historical value. Conclusion Years have changed the facade of the cities, mostly forgetting what has been in history. Through historical preservation, the culture and arts of long ago will remain tangible, offering a glimpse of the past. In order to appreciate what is happening today, it is important to learn much about the past. True, that there might be cases which can potentially damage historic properties, but the efforts of the ones concerned would actually prevent it from happening. Works Cited Baca, Jim, and Planning Department, City of Albuquerque. Historic Preservation in Albuquerque. City of Albuquerque Planning Department. City of Albuquerque, June 1998. Web. 08 Dec. 2010. . MacIntosh, Heather. “Preservation in Seattle.” Preservation Seattle. Historic Seattle, Sept. 2002. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. . Malloy, Betsy. “Albuquerque Old Town: Old Town is a Historic Center and Shopping Area.” About.com. About.com, n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2010. . Midson, Lori. “How Denver Works: Denver City Guide.” How Stuff Works. HowStuffWorks, Inc., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2010. . Morley, Judy Mattivi. Historic Preservation and the Imagined West. Kansas: University Press of Kansas, 2010. Print. “Pioneer Square Seattle.” destination 360. Destination370.com, n.d. Web. 201 Dec. 2010. . “Pioneer Square Seattle: Seattle’s Historic Attraction.” Seattle travel.com. Seattletravel.com, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. . “Strengthening Communities Through Historic Preservation.” City of San Diego: America’s Finest City. Sandiego.gov, 09 June 2003. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. . Theye, Jim. “LoDo District: People or Places?” LoDo Denver. LoDo District, Inc., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2010. . Read More