Table Of Content

LTaa a, 249) wf ULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT fymation for Parks, Federal Agencies, up Tribes, States, Local Governments, he Private Sector Aue 21 NO.2 1998 PUBLISHED BY THE Contents VOLUME 21 2NO..2~ =199 8 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE To promote and maintain high standards for preserving and managing cultural resources DEPARTMENTS ED 6.9.9 .0.5.0.5:0.0650-0-6.090-4006095.00000000080000-2000008 3 Preservation Resources 0... 0.0 ccc eee ee eee eee eee 4 DIRECTOR Robert Stanton 60 0.0.0.0.5.5:5.5.6 b.60.d60-94008090006.000900000000008 33 ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR CULTURAL RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP AND PARTNERSHIPS FEATURES Katherine H. Stevenson A Splendid Little War—Does Anyone Remember in 1998? ............ 5 EDITOR Ronald W. Johnson and Mary E. Franza Ronald M. Greenberg ADVISORS The JNEM Arch’s Unique Tram System—Still Running After 30 Years ... .9 David Andrews Bob Moore Museum Registrar, NPS Randall |. Biallas Domesticated Waters—Delaware Bay Oystering’s Historical Archivect, NPS Susan Science and Technology ........ 6. cece cece eee eee eee eens 11 Director, Historical Services Branch Michael J. Chiarappa Parks Canada John A. Burs ArchitectN,P S Sustainable Design and Historic Preservation ...............0.0005 13 Sharon C. Park Cultural Resource Applications for a GIS—Stone Conservation at Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials ....0.0.... .ce.ce e.ee e.ee ees 17 Kyle Joly, Tony Donald, and Douglas Comer Quechan Indians Boast Long Colorado River History ............... 19 Chuck Wullenjohn America’s Watchtower—Saving the Old Post Office ................ 21 CONSULTANTS Scott G. Shultz Wm. H. Freeman The Seminar for Historical Administration Turns 40 ................ 25 Abby Sue Fisher Building Project Records at Independence .............00.5. c.ue s 26 Karen Stevens Cover:The Hiker, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. See story, page 5. Statements of fact and views are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect an opinion or endorsement on the part of the editors, the CRM advisors and consultants, or the National Park Service. Send articles and correspondence to the Editor, CRM, U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Cultural Resources, 1849 C Street, NW, Suite 350NC, Washington, DC 20240; 202-343-3395, fax 202-343-5260; email: <[email protected]>. 2 CRM N2 2—1998 Departments PRESERVATION RESOURCES POINT OF VIEW NCPTT STATE NEWS POINT OF and improve interpretation and tion methodologies appropriate VIEW preservation of historic resources for the carved stone facade of the of the Hispanic period along the Royal Presidio Chapel NHL com- El Camino Real in the Califor- pleted in 1794. The Diocese of Letters nias. Monterey received a grant from The California Mission Studies the Getty Trust to fund an ongo- Dear Editor Association held its annual con- ing Historic Structure Report for Congratulations on the pro- ference in Loreto, Baja Califor- it, the only remaining building of duction of a long-awaited issue nia, to celebrate the 300th the Presidio of Monterey dedicated to those of us resident anniversary of the missions of founded in 1770. behind the “cactus curtain” (CRM, the Californias.... The California Department of Vol. 20, No. 11, 1997). I was The Santa Barbara Trust for His- Parks and Recreation is about to really pleased with the issue over- toric Preservation continues its begin construction of the land- all, but profoundly dismayed to reconstruction efforts on the Pre- scaping, parking lot, and see that you did not include cul- sidio of Santa Barbara with near restroom facilities to complete tural resource management activi- completion of the commandancia restoration of the 1824 Indian ties in the State of California in and the torreon. The Trust neophyte quarters of Mission this issue devoted to Hispanic her- recently purchased the Rochin “Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz Mission itage. Perhaps this oversight was a Adobe and is conducting test State Historic Park), the only result of a lack of information excavations in the yard. The remaining mission Indian resi- about Hispanic heritage preserva- Trust also purchased the grist dence quarters in the state. tion in the far western part of the and fulling mills complex of Mis- Cabrillo College finished a sec- southwest. sion Santa Ines in Buellton ond summer field school at the I do not speak with author- which they plan to conserve, Presidio of San_ Francisco ity about all such efforts in the interpret, and open to the public. directed by NPS archeologist Leo state, but can list some activities The Trust is completing restora- Barker. Students in the Cabrillo in which I have personally partici- tion of the Casa de la Guerra in Archaeological Technology Pro- pated and those of some of my col- downtown Santa Barbara. The gram excavated portions of the leagues: Trust is in contact with the Inter- Presidio Chapel adjacent to the ¢ The California Department of national Earthen Architecture commandancia, which is the only Parks and Recreation sponsored Committee of ICOMOS and is remaining building of the Span- a Hispanic Heritage Inventory of contemplating sponsorship of a ish Presidio of San Francisco. historical sites within the state Conference on the Conservation Jack Williams continues to exca- parks system which possess His- of Earthen Architecture, tenta- vate the site of the Presidio of panic historical associations, tively called Tierra 2000. San Diego owned by the City of even though some of them are The California Mission Studies San Diego below the Serra State beaches or campgrounds Association's initiative to encour- Museum.... like the Portola camp sites along age National Historic Landmark NPS-funded earthquake repairs Highway One. li is on the World status for the missions which and retrofitting are scheduled to Wide Web as part of the agency. warrant it is bearing fruit: Mis- begin at Rancho Camulos: the The concept was to increase sions Santa Ines and San Juan Home of Ramona, in Ventura, awareness of such historical con- Capistrano have completed California. Rancho Camulos was nections and prompt increased National Landmark applica- the home of Ignacio and Regi- interpretation at the sites. tions.... naldo del Valle, prominent Mexi- e The California Department of The Historic Preservation Com- can Californians who served in Parks and Recreation is involved mission of the City of Monterey the California state legislature. in a project known as El Camino received a grant from the NPS Helen Hunt Jackson visited the Real Misionero with the Mexican National Center for Preservation site in 1882 and used it as the authorities in Baja California to Technology and_ Training venue for her novel Ramona cooperatively encourage tourism, (NCPTT) to investigate conserva- about the plight of the former CRM N2 2—1998 3 mission Indians of the state, Fed- above listed activities, please feel Their number has been dwindling eral CDBG funds were used to free to contact me. each year, however, and all but a fund design and planning efforts —Edna E. Kimbro, few are now gone. Stories about by the County in conjunction Architectural conservator New Deal era excavations are with Rancho Camulos Museum. and historian entering the realm of myth and ¢ Innovative seismic retrofitting folklore, its practitioners viewed techniques that were developed PRESERVATION as giants who once walked among since 1990 by the Getty Conser- us, but who are now all but gone. RESOURCES vation Institute's Seismic Adobe Future generations will thus no Project (GSAP) are being uti- longer have the opportunity to lized at Rancho Camulos. A Reviews learn from them first hand what final report on the project's find- life was like during this era. ings will soon be available from It is thus not surprising, and A New Deal for Southeast- GCI as well as Guidelines for indeed quite appropriate, that this ern Archaeology by Edwin A. Planning and Techniques for book has appeared. New Deal Lyon, The University of Alabama Designing Seismic Retrofits for archeology revolutionized our Press, Tuscaloosa, 1996. Historic Adobe Buildings are understanding of southeastern being developed. A Survey of Reviewed by David G. archeology, in ways that people Damage to Historic Adobe Anderson, Southeast Archeologi- now entering or interested in the Buildings after the January 1994 cal Center, National Park Service. field could have little hope of Northridge Earthquake is avail- grasping without such a synthesis. Every archeologist trained able from the Getty Conserva- A major contribution of this vol- in the Southeast during the past tion Institute. ume is that it provides, under one half century has heard stories of Ideas for Mission Indian memo- cover, a detailed accounting of the vast field projects undertaken rials at the California missions what was accomplished, and as during the New Deal. Massive continue to be promulgated by importantly, how this work was crews consisting of from dozens to historian-activist Edward done. Projects are described as are hundreds of people were put to Castillo and plans for them are the people who ran them, as well work, in some cases excavating proceeding at some mission as some of the trials and tribula- and then analyzing the contents of sites including Mission Dolores tions they went through. Superbly whole mounds, villages, or shell in San Francisco. At Mission documented, the arguments in the middens. This work was com- Santa Cruz, plans have been text are supported by hundreds of pleted under the direction of the made for the campo santo or footnotes referencing primary his- few trained archeologists available cemetery (which is currently a torical documents, many of them at the time, and the crop of harried parking lot), to be re-enclosed letters written back and forth professionals that arose and met by a reconstructed adobe wall, between the principals in this the challenge of the era—many of planted appropriately, and a drama. The volume is, accord- them brash youngsters, self-pro- suitable marker erected. ingly, an absolutely superb piece claimed young Turks fresh out of As California changes demo- of historical research. It also offers school—went on to dominate graphically and a Hispanic major- enjoyable reading. The notes American archeology in the half ity is in sight, it is easy to foresee themselves are mercifully placed century that followed. a time when the state’s Hispanic at the back of the book, so the text A great many truly remark- cultural heritage preservation will can be read and enjoyed as a nar- able archeologists worked in the not be overlooked without com- rative, without the constant inter- southeast during the New Deal, ment. Californians have an obliga- ruption dropping to the bottom of whose names are legendary in tion to increase the awareness of the page to look at the notes can American archeology. Until quite the citizens of the state and of the entail. | read the book twice, first recently, many of these figures nation of its deep rooted and inter- checking the footnotes and then could be seen occupying principal twined Native American and His- straight through ignoring them, roles at national archeological panic cultural legacy. I understand and the second reading was far meetings, and particulary at the and regret that California's His- more absorbing; I'd recommend annual meetings of the Southeast- panic cultural heritage is repre- all but the most scholarly of bent ern Archaeological Conference, sented only by the Martinez to approach the book in the latter which, like the Society for Ameri- Adobe and the Presidio of San fashion. can Archaeology, was created dur- Francisco in the national park sys- Sections of the book encom- ing the New Deal era, in part to tem.... Perhaps this is why CRM pass: (1) Southeastern Archeology handle communications about the overlooked the state. However, if before the Depression; (2) The new discoveries that were occur- CRM is interested in obtaining the Origin of New Deal Archeology; ring on an almost daily basis. names of contacts regarding the —continued page 28 CRM NY 2—1998 G g@ Ronald W. Johnson and Mary E. Franza ~) Koay A Splendid Little War JU Sz! PORNOL d a aay Does Anyone Remember in 1998? has 4 Jo oa NZ ikeG sUtNhD a la “Remember the Maine’—dastardly attack “A Splendid Little War’—easy and cheap victory “You May Fire When Ready Gridley’—heroic leadership hese jingoistic slogans captured Maine at its America’s public consciousness in berth, killing 260 the spring and summer of 1898, American sailors. Tombstone at the and galvanized public opinion for a There was an immediate and loud outcry for retali- national cemetery quick war against a decaying colonial empire that ation. President William McKinley asked Spain for in Sitka, Alaska. soon brought the United States onto the world an armistice in Cuba to be followed by a more scene as an imperial power. This little-remem- substantive peace. By April 9, Spain agreed in bered “lightning war’—a precursor to more principle, but two days later McKinley requested deadly international adventures and conflicts in that Congress send troops to Cuba. What started the 20th century—is but a faded memory. This as a war to free Cuba from Spain quickly evolved year is the centenary of a land and naval conflict into acquisition of an overseas empire. marked by armed invasion of Cuba and Puerto Congress declared war on April 19. The Rico, two major naval battles, and a three-year Navy deployed in the Atlantic and Pacific, and two counter-insurgency in the Philippines. This article engagements put the Spanish fleet out of commis- will examine how the nation has interpreted the sion. Under Secretary of the Navy Theodore Spanish-American War with its monumental cul- Roosevelt ordered Admiral George Dewey to move tural resources. How this conflict has been the Asiatic Squadron from Hong Kong to Manila memorialized can help illustrate how Americans in late April. Dewey scored a stunning victory over of an earlier time felt about the war and how they the outgunned Spanish on May 1. On July 3 the wanted their descendants to remember those who Atlantic Squadron, under the leadership of fought as well as providing patriotic lessons. Admiral William T. Sampson and Commodore Monument in the Village Common, History W.S. Schley, destroyed Admiral Pascual Cervera’s Concord, In the 1890s, Americans were upset with fleet at Santiago, Cuba. Massachusetts. Spain’s repressive tactics in Cuba. A long-running Since the Regular Army had only 25,000 and often bloody rebel- trained troops, Congress requested an immediate lion against the waning increase to 62,000 with a call for 125,000 volun- Spanish empire teers. Volunteers and National Guard units trained resulted in Spain's mili- near Chattanooga. The regulars gathered at Tampa tary intervention and which became the embarkation point for Cuba. establishment of brutal General Nelson A. Miles, a Civil War and Indian concentration camps to Wars veteran, assumed command. Contingents imprison the deter- finally embarked for Cuba in June. Arms, ammuni- mined rebels. The tion, food, clothing and medical supplies were United States sent the scarce. General William R. Shafter landed approx- battleship Maine to imately 18,000 troops at Santiago in late June. Havana in late January The U.S. Army defeated Spanish forces at 1898, ostensibly as a several small battles in early July. These actions “friendly” visit but actu- included El Caney and San Juan Hill—the site of ally as a show of force Teddy Roosevelt's exploits with the Rough Riders. by the world’s fifth American forces occupied Puerto Rico without largest naval power. On incurring major opposition. Spain signed a prelim- February 18, a mysteri- inary peace treaty on August 12 in which it sur- ous explosion sank rendered Cuba, Guam, agreed to the American CRM N2 2—1998 occupation of Manila, and ceded Puerto Rico. name, life dates, unit, and state provide the most Spain signed the Treaty of Paris on December 8, fundamental memorial to those who served and agreeing to assume Cuba's debt and ceding the fought. Typical 19th-century cemetery and funereal Philippines to the U.S. After rancorous debate, monuments such as rough boulders or dressed Congress approved the treaty on February 6, 1899. stone are another form of commemoration. Soldier The U.S. now had an overseas empire. Cuba statues are a relatively common Spanish-American became an independent entity under American War memorial. Other memorials feature a soldier hegemony while the Philippines became embroiled or a sailor figure with a warship—symbols that in a bloody three-year insurrection. project America’s recent arrival as a naval power In this four-month war 460 soldiers and on the international scene in the 1890s. Unlike sailors were killed; another 5,200 fell to malaria, the brutal internal Civil War and its more local dysentery, and typhoid. The longer, more bloody military unit or specific battle action memorials, war to suppress native freedom fighters in the many Spanish-American War monuments illus- Philippines between 1899-1901 consumed $170 trate America’s presence on the world stage. Some million and 4,300 American lives. memorials depict a Liberty/Columbia/Eagle figure How America Remembers the War that represents the nation’s essence in the late- Since the major theater of activity occurred 19th century. The most elaborate Spanish- overseas, the principal physical remains of the war American War memorials are professionally are cemeteries and memorials managed by various designed structures featuring dressed stone (usu- civic entities. There are scant physical remnants of ally marble) with a symbolic figure, military-ori- the training facilities or the embarkation points in ented statues, and explanatory plaques. The most the U.S., other than limited interpretive signs. The poignant memorials display salvaged artifacts or National Park Service offers limited interpretation recast metal removed from the battleship Maine's of the war at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, twisted remains. Monuments have been erected at Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and San the battle sites in Cuba and Puerto Rico. Juan National Historic Site. Other than reading Besides grave markers, large boulders witi the historians’ view of the war, Americans of 1998 attached bronze plaques provide the fundamental can learn more by personally observing the mean- Spanish-American War memorial. These monu- ing of that era's memorialization of the Spanish- ments usually bear the names of fallen local ser- American War. The management of these cultural vicemen, but inscriptions appear extremely spar- resources by a host of civic and governmental enti- tan. These basic monuments do not convey lofty, ties has been exemplary. symbolic patriotic messages. Memorialization of the Spanish-American Many soldier statues were placed as stan- War combined traditional construction and materi- dard Spanish-American War memorials. An arche- als with factual information as well as symbolic typal memorial in front of the City Hall in Troy, patriotic messages. The graves of those killed in New York features a soldier, fuli uniform and action and the veterans are scattered throughout slouch hat, and a 30/40 Krag-Jorgensen rifle. A the U.S. from Arlington National Cemetery to the statue on the capitol grounds in Columbia honors Memorial in national cemetery in Sitka, Alaska, and provide South Carolinians who served in the war. A statue Bushnell Park, Hartford, the most fundamental examples of postwar memo- entitled The Hiker is located on Memorial Drive Connecticut. rialization. The marble tombstones bearing the just outside of Arlington National Cemetery.* This classic monument is seen by all who enter the visitor center area by motor vehicle. The same style statue graces the Memorial Building in Dayton, Ohio. Other memorials were more ornate. A professionally-designed, Spanish-American War memorial was constructed at Columbus Circle in New York City to provide a monumental gateway to Central Park. This massive structure contains several larger-than-life figures including statues symbolizing the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. A smaller Statuary group includes a representation of Maine and a Columbia/Liberty figure holding a child. symbolizing Spain's former colonies. An intricate memorial in Bushnell Park near the capitol in Hartford, Connecticut, depicts an armed, winged figure of Liberty or Columbia standing on the bow CRM NY 2—1998 of a ship symbolizing America’s naval strength in MAINE RESULTED IN THE SPANISH- the late 1890s. Two bas relief figures placed on AMERICAN WAR 1898.” The second, a cannon bronze plaques denote army and navy personnel in base with the inscription: “CANNON CAPTURED action. There is ample room to sit at the base of AT SANTIAGO, CUBA, SPANISH-AMERICAN the memorial, an invitation for a person to linger WAR, 1898/PRESENTED TO THE CITY OF and contemplate the sacrifices made by American COLUMBIA, S.C. BY THE UNITED STATES.” Two servicemen. Spanish-American era four-inch cannon are located in the National Cemetery at Sitka. U.S.S. Olympia, a sister ship to Maine, is moored in the Delaware River at Philadelphia. This 1890s battleship gives thousands of visitors a clear idea of the military hardware developed for the U.S. Navy used to defeat the Spanish. Beyond its use as a major tourist attraction, the old ship memorializes the sailors who fought in the war. Several of the actual battle sites were com- memorated just after the war. A 1906 photo of San Juan Hill depicts a stone shaft surrounded by cannon and shells, but an undated shot reveals that the cannon had been removed and the monument appeared in shabby condition. Veterans erected a monument at El Caney, another of the bloody engagements. The Maine mast Spanish-American War memorials can be in Arlington found in front of public buildings such as state National capitols, city halls or county courthouses, cemeter- Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. aFn oen Le ies, urban parks, on the medians of urban thor- oughfares and other places such as colleges. For Photo courtesy ‘it rH example a simple memorial is attached to the NPS Maritime Program. entry gate at Hampden-Sydney College in Prince Edward County, Virginia. A bronze plaque bears Like previous and subsequent wars, the dis- the inscription: “HAMPDEN-SYDNEY ALUMNI play of various military artifacts serves as monu- WHO DIED IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN ments to the participants. Some of the most heart WAR/WILLIAM D. PASCO ‘95 AND JOSEPH C. wrenching memorials were constructed from sal- SPOTSWOOD '96.” vaged remnants of Maine. For instance, one of the ship’s masts is located in a prominent place at Arlington National Cemetery; a sign identifies it for the visitor. A monument located at the Veterans Administration Medical Center complex in Dayton, Ohio, depicts a bowed Liberty figure with a shield pointing to an olive branch with the sunken Maine in the background. The inscription reads “IN MEMORIAM U.S.S. MAINE DESTROYED HAVANA HARBOR FEBRUARY 15, 1898/THIS Monument at the TABLET IS CAST FROM METAL RECOVERED Veterans FROM THE U.S.S. MAINE.” The memorial was erected by the “MAJOR WM. MCKINLEY CAMP Medical Center in NO. 94 UNITED SPANISH WAR VETERANS IN Dayton, Ohio. 1930.” A similar plaque made from salvaged metal is located in a city park in Richmond, Indiana. A Memorials have been placed on federal facil- bronze cruciform-shaped plaque attached to the ities such as military cemeteries and veterans hos- boulder commemorates “PORTO (sic) RICO, pitals that provide a direct link to these bygone CUBA, AND PHILIPPINES ISLANDS.” The South events. The memorials and monuments cited in Carolina state capitol in Columbia displays two this article were extremely attractive and well wartime artifacts. One is a cannon recovered from tended, demonstrating a society's commitment to Maine with an inscription: “THIS GUN CAME OFF remembrance of its military conflicts. THE BATTLESHIP MAINE/THE SINKING OF THE CRM N2& 2—1998 a Due to the als compared to those of earlier American wars is brevity of the war, their allegorical and symbolic artwork. For the only the larger cities, most part, Civil War monuments are literal mani- for the most part, dis- festations that depict soldiers and sailors with lim- play the Spanish- ited evidence of subliminal patriotic messages. American War Monument designers and builders in the early memorials, although 1900s chose to broaden patriotic messages with one can occasionally mythic forms that symbolized the role and influ- find monuments in ence of the nation on the world stage. The majestic rural communities. female figure representing America/Columbia/ Unlike costlier World Liberty with a warship prominently appears in a War I, World War II number of large memorials. It sends a message to or more recent wars, the viewer that America had inuch more meaning small-town America than the traditional military presence depicted in does not appear to the soldier and sailor monuments, the grave have widespread marker type memorial, or salvaged remnants of Spanish-American Maine. The United States had arrived on the inter- War memorial repre- national scene, and the larger monuments such as sentation due to the the Central Park or Hartford memorials literally limited number of servicemen involved in the interpret the emergence of America’s overseas Memorial at the Deer Lodge three-month war. influence. Although the issue of whether or not the County court- A number of the monuments sandwich the U.S. should take on a colonial empire was hotly house in Spanish-American War between the Civil War and debated at the time, these larger memorials Anaconda, World War I and even World War II. A dramatic instruct their viewers to accept the glory, honor, Montana. memorial with a bronze eagle with spread wings and especially the sacrificial responsibility of for- located at the Deer Lodge County courthouse in eign involvement. Monuments and memorials that Anaconda, Montana, lists several wars. The were raised in the early 1900s provided not too inscription reads: “SPANISH AMERICAN WAR & subtle messages that helped prepare Americans for PHILIPPINE INSURRECTION 1898-1902” in even larger and deadlier foreign adventures in the between references to the Civil War and the (First) 20th century. Thus, these extant cultural resources World War. At the Tarrant County courthouse in provide instruction and interpretation of America’s Fort Worth, Texas, a monument links the Civil War past. with the Spanish-American War. “IN MEMORY OF Overall, there are not many Spanish- CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS 1861-1865 AND American War memorials commemorating events THEIR DESCENDANTS/WHO SERVED IN of 100 years ago. These cultural resources project SPANISH AMERICAN WAR/WORLD WAR a patriotic message long after the war's veterans WORLD WAR IV/ERECTED BY JULIA JACKSON passed from the scene, and give contemporary CHAPTER UNITED DAUGHTERS OF THE Americans an appreciation of and information CONFEDERACY 1953.” Lakeview Cemetery near about an almost forgotten conflict. If one searches Calumet, Michigan displays a Civil War statue with a modicum of diligence, a Spanish-American with wording “TO THE MEMORY OF HER War memorial will be spotted somewhere to HONORED DEAD VETERANS OF THE CIVIL remind Americans of 1998 that the nation fought a WAR AND OF THE SPANISH WAR/CALUMET short war a century ago, a war whose aftermath ERECTS THIS MONUMENT MAY-1900.” The list- gave America an overseas empire marked by con- ing of the Spanish-American War with previous sequences that affect the nation even at the end of and later wars as opposed to a memorial dedicated the 20th century. entirely to the brief conflict probably stems from the number of enlistees from that community, Note available funding to erect a monument, as well as "Also see CRM, Vol. 18, No. 1, pp. 23-25. of the presence of an active veterans organization. Just as the devout in the Middles Ages Ronald W. Johnson is senior planner at the Denver revered relics reputed to represent early church Service Center, NPS. history, a more secular era constructs its version of venerated objects. The purpose of these war memo- Mary E. Franza is director of special education, Denver Public School System, Denver, Colorado. rials was to give the observer pause for reflection and a reminder of armed conflict as well as provid- Unless otherwise indicated, photos are by ing instruction in patriotic values. A major differ- Ronald W. Johnson. ence between the Spanish-American War memori- 8 CRM N& 2—1998 Bob Moore The JNEM Arch’s Unique Tram System Stull Running After 30 Years he highlight of a visit to Jefferson the line. Their first question was, ‘did an elevator National Expansion Memorial have to travel vertically?’ I said I didn’t think so. | (JNEM) is a ride to the top of the could remember that my father built and installed 630' Gateway Arch for a panoramic a dumbwaiter that transferred from one hatchway view of the surrounding area. This ride is in the to another about half way up its vertical travel ... form of a special transportation system, a unique Their next question was, ‘when can you meet with combination of train, elevator and amusement Eero Saarinen?” park ride. From the very inception of the Arch in A month after their initial meeting, Saarinen 1947, architect Eero Saarinen envisioned a “sky called and requested a presentation from Bowser, ride” to take visitors to the top of the Arch. as an independent contractor, for a workable Arch Saarinen felt that one way to interpret the memo- transportation system. The catch was what Bowser rial would be to allow visitors to see the down- had to come up with a concept within two weeks. town area of St. Louis, the mighty Mississippi Bowser recalled that “The first drawing that I got River, and the land stretching to the West. In a had an outline of the Arch, and down at the bot- 1948 description of his plans, Saarinen imagined tom was a square that said ‘elevator’—that’s all a family at the top of the Arch, seeing “the great there was.” Bowser sketched, computed and plains beyond the city... [and] the great droves of dreamed day and night for the next two weeks to people who landed here and passed under your complete his plans, at home in his basement. very feet on their way to open up the West.” But Bowser recalled that his criteria included a Saarinen had no idea how to get people up the National Park Service estimated passenger volume inside of his curving structure. Technology and of 3,500 people in an 8-hour day, or up to 11,000 creativity would have to be used to solve the people in a 14-hour day. Although Saarinen for- problem. bade any distortion of the exterior of the Arch, As plans for the Arch were revised in 1957 Bowser had a free hand on the inside. and money became available for its construction, Bowser first looked at elevators. But getting the Saarinen firm began to search for an elevator people to the top of a 63-story catenary curve company to create a “sky ride.” None of the major would require more than an ordinary elevator. The firms would touch the project, however, fearful Arch is a triangle in cross section, and the differ- that in any system so unique a breakdown or acci- ent slopes of its curve limited a standard elevator dent would generate lawsuits and unfavorable to only the first 300 feet. Above that level, a publicity. Then, in early 1960, a man named Dick smaller elevator which could travel at a steeper Bowser stopped to visit a friend at the angle would be required. Between the larger and Montgomery Elevator Company offices in Moline, smaller elevators would have to be machine Illinois. rooms, pits, and waiting spaces which would have Bowser had worked at many jobs over the consumed about six stories of the interior of the years, including an apprenticeship to his father, Arch. Bowser rejected standard elevators early in who was an elevator man. Bowser left the his two-week search for a solution. University of Maryland without obtaining a degree Next he turned to escalators but, once again, in 1942 and enlisted in the Navy, serving on a many units would have been needed, and the cost destroyer in the Pacific. After the war, Bowser would have been very high. Additionally, in the invented, manufactured and installed parking upper sections of the Arch the slope of an escala- garage elevators which could travel horizontally tor would not have followed the required curva- and diagonally through a structure, eliminating ture. Bowser next considered a Ferris wheel princi- ramps and driveways. Bowser’s friend at ple. He recalled that “this involved utilizing small Montgomery Elevator told him about Saarinen’s containers of people, with their seats pivoted to “transporter” project for the Gateway Arch, and swing at any angle. This approach involved a con- had his secretary call Saarinen’s office. “By the tinuous chain pulling seats which would go up one time he handed the telephone to me, recalled leg of the sch and come down the other; but the Bowser, “there were two of Saarinen’s partners on distance... would have been almost half a mile, too CRM N2 2—1998 9 long for any chains or cables to negotiate success- the way along, the framework rotates around the fully. The Ferris wheel system would also have capsule. A separate train runs in each leg of the had to move on the center line of the Arch, and no Arch because there is great deal of difference in provision could be made for passengers to get off the amount of time that loading takes at the top, at the top observation area. Finally, a combination where it is cramped, and at the bottom, where of the elevator principle and the Ferris wheel prin- there is a great deal of room. Each train of eight ciple was developed into a train of capsules.” capsules is powered by a typical heavy-duty eleva- Designing capsules small enough to fit in the tor machine with cables, counterweights and all of cramped upper levels of the Arch was the key to the safety features of a modern high-speed passen- solving the problem of space. ger elevator. Each of the Arch trains carries 40 After two weeks, Dick Bowser traveled to the passengers and is capable of making a round trip offices of Eero Saarinen Associates in Michigan for in 9 minutes—including loading and unloading a 45-minute presentation. Bowser expected a pre- passengers in both directions. When running near liminary meeting with the architect ¢ nd his staff, capacity each train typically carries 200 to 225 but instead walked into a room filled with St. passengers per hour.” Louis area congressmen, the mayor of St. Louis, The trams have been operating for 30 years, construction engineers, and Director of the traveling a total of approximately 300,000 miles National Park Service George B. Hartzog, Jr. and carrying over 27 million passengers. The final Bowser made a 40-minute pitch of his ideas for car design was by Planet Corporation of Lansing, the trams, then endured several hours of relentless Michigan, and they were built by General Steel questioning. He refused to be intimidated by the Industries Inc. St. Louis Car Division, from group, even though he was an independent con- Reynolds aluminum supplied by Joseph T. Ryerson tractor with a college degree. His straightforward & Son. The five fiberglass seats in each capsule and simple style won over the group, who realized are the only components of the cars and carrier that his unique solution to the problem was the frames not made of aluminum; they were designed only practical plan they had seen. by Eero Saarinen. Within a few weeks Bowser had a contract, The trams were considered to be a trans- for a fee of $40,000, for a two-year job; as it portation system, and found financing for con- turned out, the job lasted six years, until 1967, struction and day-to-day operations from the Bi- and Bowser stayed on with the Park Service main- State Development Agency, a local corporation tenance staff at the Arch until 1972. Bowser's orig- licensed to run mass transportation in the St. inal scheme was altered very little from the idea Louis area. The unique partnership between Bi- he conceived during a two-week period in 1960. State and the NPS at the Arch has allowed the The eight small capsules, used in each of the two dreams of Eero Saarinen and Dick Bowser to Arch trains, “are similar to the barrels used in become a reality. A maintenance crew, dedicated cement mixers,” according to Bowser. to the Arch tram system, comprise some of the “Each train capsule has a 5' diameter bar- most specialized people in the NPS, with a history rel.... The back has a center pivot shaft, and sur- of innovative solutions to their credit. Their mis- rounding the open front there is a frame with sion is to keep the trams running, and the service rollers. The barrel can rotate within the frame, record of the system is a testament to their effec- which is supported by wheels running in channel- tiveness. The Arch trams are a premier example of shaped tracks. the uses of technology in interpretation. The Arch “There are 5 seats in each capsule, so the tram system created by Dick Bowser is as unique weight of the passengers helps keep it in an and special as the Arch itself, and is one of the upright position. Each capsule rotates approxi- many amazing aspects of Jefferson National mately 155 degrees during the trip to the top of Expansion Memorial. the Arch. When the capsule starts out in the load zone, the tracks are overhead, but as it goes up Bob Moore is a historian at Jefferson National the Arch they come to be beneath the capsuie. All Expansion Memorial, St. Louis, Missouri. 10 CRM N2& 2—1998