Preliminary Alternatives Description: Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Illinois

2006·1.6 MB·English

by  National Park Service

29.2:L 63/8/2006 ClemsonUnivers
I
Home
Lincoln National Historic Site National Park Service
U.S. Departmentofthe Interior
Illinois
Preliminary Alternatives Description
DearFriendsofLincoln
HomeNationalHistoricSite,
As most of you know, we
have been working on a
General Management Plan
(GMP) for Lincoln Home
National Historic Site in
Springfield, Illinois. Our
goal is to develop aplan that
will establish a clear vision
and serve as a guidefor the
long term management of
the home and neighborhood
whereAbraham Lincoln and
hisfamily livedforseventeen
years. Yourhelpisvitalinthis
planningeffort.
We receivedover yo responses to ourfirstnewsletter, which solicitedthepublic's thoughts on the issuesfacingLincoln
Home National Historic Site and their visionfor the site'sfuture. Using the ideas, comments, and concerns thatyou
expressed, combinedwith inputfrom NationalParkServicestaffandotherfederal, state, andlocalofficials, aswellas
electedofficials, wehavedevelopedpreliminaryalternativesforthefuturemanagementanddirectionofLincolnHome
NationalHistoricSite. Basedonyourresponsetotheinformationinthisnewsletter, theplanningteamwillmoveahead
withthedevelopmentoftheGeneralManagement Plan/ortheNationalHistoricSite. Eachofthefouralternativeshas
a series ofoptions. You may identify which alternativeyouprefer, select optionsfrom within any ofthe alternatives
whichyoubelieveshouldbepartofthepark'smanagementstrategy, oraddtothelistofoptionstobeconsidered.
Welookforwardtoyourinput. Pleaseusetheenclosedpostage-paidresponseformtoshareyourthoughtswithusoryou
may respondby email athttp:llparkplanning.nps.gov. SelectLincoln Home NHSfrom the drop down listand then
selectGeneral Management Plan. Thankyouin advanceforyourcontinuedsupportandassistatmB^tf^elMtipnu'nt
oftheGeneral Management Plan/orLincoln HomeNationalHistoricSite.
Sincerely, I
CM
JamesA. Sanders, FEiaBftCUMENTS
'
Superintendent **ucATJotf TEM o05
LincolnHomeNationalHistoricSite o
JAN
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Contents
Superintendent's Letter 1
The Planning Process to Date 3
Lincoln Home National HistoricSite ManagementZones 4
Actions Common to allAlternatives 5
HistoricDistrictZone -Appropriate Facilities Definitions 6
Alternative One: Continuation ofExisting Conditions 6
Alternative One Map 7
Alternative Two Map 8
Alternative Two:A Step Back in Time - The HistoricLincoln-Era Scene 9
Alternative Three:A RetreatFrom Modern Life in the Heartofthe City lO
Alternative Three Map 11
Alternative Four: Optimize Park Operational Efficiency 1J
Alternative FourMap 14
Alternative ConsideredButEliminatedFrom FurtherConsideration 15
NextSteps 25
PublicMeetings 15
Planning Schedule 16
.? • /incolnIl<wn-NationalHistoricSite
The Planning Process to Date
To begin thegeneral managementplanning differentareas ofthesite.The management
process,the National ParkService (NPS) zones identifythewidest range ofpotential
planningteam, includingparkstaff, resource conditions,visitorexperiences,
confirmed the purpose and significance and appropriate facilities consistentwith
ofLincoln Home National Historic the national historic site's purpose and
Site (NHS). Workingwith partners significance.Three managementzones
in city,county, and stateagencies,the have been developed forthe future
team identified current issues facingthe managementofLincoln Home NHS (see
site.Through ourfirstpublic scoping p. 4).
newsletter,we solicited inputfrom
The preliminarymanagement alternatives
members ofthe publicon theirvision
presented inthis newsletterdescribe the
forthe future ofLincoln Home NHS,
differentways in which the management
concernsaboutissues facingthe site,and
zoneswould be applied atLincoln
the opportunities theywould liketo see Home NHS. Each ofthe alternativeshas
explored in the General Management Plan
an overall management conceptanda
(GMP).
description ofhow differentareaswould
Usingthisinformation, theteam be managedto achieve desired resource
workedwith ourcity, county, state, conditions,visitorexperiences,and
and Congressional partners to develop appropriate facilitydevelopment.
preliminaryalternative concepts,
managementzones,and management
alternatives forthe futuremanagementof
Lincoln Home NHS.These management
zones and managementalternativesare the
buildingblocks fordevelopingan approved
general management plan for Lincoln
Home NHS.
Managementzonesprescribe desired
conditions forLincoln Home NHS's
resourcesand visitorexperiences in
Ih, AllenBarndatestothe1850s,and
wasownedbySolomon Wen. Wen
. .
livedontinspropertywithInswifeand
daughterandlistedhisotiupationasa
"gunsmith." TheAllenhouse nolonger
exists,butthesurvivingbarnisoneoj
m
theoldestoutbuildings Springfield.
Theexhibit"WhatAPleasant
Home \beIincolnHas"lotated
insidetheDeanHouse.
Newsletter2•November2006• I
Lincoln Home National Historic Site Management Zones
Visitor Services/Administration Lincoln Home,whichisseen on apark
Zone (Map Color: Blue) rangerguided tour.Accessto interiors
DesiredResourceConditions: There ofbuildingsand togroundscould be
wouldbe nohistoricresources inthiszone. restricted. Where visitors haveaccessto
Modern facilities complement the desired the interiorofbuildings, accessibilityfor
resource condition in adjacent zones;they disabled willbe accommodatedwhen
do notdistractfromthe historic setting. historic integritycanbe retained. Visitor
numbersare controlled asnecessaryto
DesiredVisitor Experience: Visitor
protect resources and enhancevisitor
orientation, information, interpretation,
experience.
and educationserviceswould be provided
in thisarea. Park supportand leased Appropriate Facilities: This areawould
facilities maynotbeaccessibletovisitors include existinghistoricbuildingsand
and usewouldbebystaff,partners, lessees, newstructuresthatare compatible in
and/orvisitorsthatdoes notinfringeupon scale, design and locationtobuildings that
the historic neighborhood feeling. would havebeen presentinthe Lincoln
era. Exhibits suchas small-scale landscape
AppropriateFacilities: These would
featuresappropriate to depict the historic
includeaccessiblevisitorservice facilities
Lincoln-erascene (fences,gates,barns,
such asparkingareas,visitorcenter,
wash houses,privies,wells/cisterns,
interpretive displays/exhibits, restrooms,
gardens, trees,shrubs,boardwalks, streets,
concessions, cooperatingassociation sales
curbing,and lighting), representations of
and park operations facilities (offices,
missinghistoricbuildings (e.g.,full-scale
meetingspaces, curatorial storage,
structural exhibits, "ghosted" structures or
maintenance shops, etc.),which meet buildingfoundation outlines-seepages 6
visitorrequirements.
and 10),and interpretivewayside displays/
Historic District Zone exhibits,would also be appropriate to
(Map Color: Yellow) representhistoric land use and to identify
propertyowners.
Thiszone containsthe National Register
Historic District. Open Space/Recreation Zone
hNoammeesplwaerteen-oStinnucembSperriendgfuinetlidl Desired ResourceConditions: Historic (Map Color: Green)
1873,theLincolns,likemanyoftheir structuresare maintained inaccordance Desired ResourceConditions: Open,
Springfieldneighbors,usedafront
doornameplatetoidentifytheirhome with the Secretaryofthe Interior's park-like settingwith trees,shrubs,and
tovisitors.
StandardsforTreatment ofHistoric lawns.
Properties. Groundsand yardsare
DesiredVisitor Experience: Would
designed and maintained to reflectthe
include self-directed recreational activities
Lincoln-erahistoric scene.All building
suchas picnicking, self-guided trail
interiors, exceptthe Lincoln Home,are
walks, contemplation, and attendance
adaptivelyusedwith modern interiorsas
and participation in staged events and
park/leased offices; park meetingspace,
educational activitiessuch as reading
storage, maintenanceshops,bed and
interpretive displays/exhibitsand attending
breakfastorotherconcessions; interpretive
park rangerprograms.
displays/exhibits; orpublic restrooms.
Appropriate Facilities: Picnic tables
DesiredVisitor Experience: Visitors
and shelters, restrooms,walkingtrails,
would learn aboutAbraham Lincoln, the
interpretivewayside displays/exhibits,and
Lincoln Home,and the historic Lincoln-
temporarystructuresforstaged events.
eraneighborhood. Visitors have access
to roam throughoutthis zone,exceptthe
4•LincolnHomeNationalHistoru Site
Actions Common to all Action Alternatives
• The fourexistinghistoricbuildings
(Morse, Miller, Stuveand Stuve Carriage
Houses) would be restored to theirhistoric
exteriorappearanceand adaptivelyused
on theinside as administrative offices,
leased space, orconcession operations.
MillerHouse-InI860,AllenMiller,
• Develop acultural landscapeplan for aprosperousleatherdealer,hiswife,
andtheirthreechildrenlivedinthe
the entire park (withafocuson individual house.Alsolivingattheaddress
wereJamesandMirandaKeys,and
lots).
JosephineMiers.(Thehousehasnot
yetbeenrestored.)
• Developwayside path findingaids
between Lincoln Home NHSand
Springfield'sdowntown Lincoln-related ofonsite education programs, teaching
sitesand areaattractions. outlines,videos, DVDs,trainingaids,
and on-line mediaproduced byLincoln
• Interpretiveserviceswould includeuse Home NHSand through partnershipswith
ofinternational language translations in academic institutions.
audio devices forexploringthepark,park
publications,and the park'sweb site. If • Provide accessto facilities,aswellas,
available,bilingual interpreterswould be interpretive mediato accommodatethe
hired to improve communicationswith needsofspecial populations. Interpretive
mediaincludesaudiovisual programs,
internationalvisitors.
displays/exhibits, historic furnishings,
• Develop an information connection at publications,and wayside exhibits.
the Lincoln Home NHSto otherLincoln- Specialpopulationsare identified as
related sites outside ofSpringfield in thosewith sight, hearing, learning,and
central Illinois, Indiana,and Kentucky. mobilitydisabilities;visitorswho do not
• IdentifyLincoln Home NHSasaunit speak English;andthe elderlyandyoung
ofthe National Park Service on major children.
highwaysigns,path-findingsignage,and in • Investigate optionsto partnerwith local
collaborationwith the newvisitorcenter agenciesand historicsites,topromote
in the restored Union Station railroad the Lincoln storyand specific related
depotlocatedwestoftheAbraham Lincoln projectsdirected atenhancingthevisitor's
Presidential Museum. experience in thecommunity.
• Becomeproactive in developing • The National Park Serviceand
educational programswith schoolsin Lincoln Home NHSwould continuethe
Illinois and nationwidethrough the use partnership with Eastern National,a not
forprofit cooperatingassociation that
provides educational material through its
museum shop in thevisitorcenter.
BeedleHouse-InI860, WilliamII
I',>(Hi andlus•errant,KateTierney,
werelivingatthisaddress.Beedle
wasarailroadfireman,andhetold
theenumeratorthatheownednoreal
estate.Heundoubtedlyrentedthehouse.
Newsletter2•November2006• $
Historic District Zone- Alternative Continuation of
i:
Appropriate Facilities Existing Conditions
Definitions:
Theparkwould continuethe currentmanagementdirection,which follows
Full-Scale Structural Exhibits the concept outlined inthe 1970 MasterPlan.
Thiswould be usedwhen adequate
historical documentation does not exist
to reconstruct the historic building Desired Resource Condition
accordingto National Park Service
The existingLincoln-eraneighborhood
policy. The construction ofafull scale wouldbe maintained as itistoday. When
exhibitwould use conjecture where
fundingbecomes available,the parkwould
historical evidence is notavailable. The
restore the followingexistinghistoric
resultingbuildingwould be interpreted
buildings: Morse; Miller;Stuve;and Stuve
to the visitoras an "exhibit" ratherthan Carriage Houses;and Lincoln Home
an "authentic reconstruction". Itwould outbuildings. Vacant lotswould remain
conveya sense ofsize (length, width,
vacant.
and height), mass, texture, and location
in a historic scene. Desired Visitor Experience
Ghosted Structures The focuswouldbe on ranger-led Lincoln
Hometours. Thevisitorexperiencewould
This kind ofstructure is amethod of
also includeviewingthe park movie and
showing representations ofmissing
exploringdisplays/exhibits inthevisitor
historic buildings and can conveya sense
center,Arnold House, Dean House, and the
ofsize (length,width, and height) and
outdoorneighborhood exhibits.
location in a historic scene. Itwould
take the form ofa three dimensional Appropriate Facilities and
frame outline ofthe buildingwith no Development:
buildingfeatures. (See pg. 10) Administrative offices, including
Building Foundation Outlines administration,maintenance, interpretation,
This is another method to show museum curatorial,and lawenforcement
representations ofmissinghistoric would remainwhere theyare, in adaptively
buildings. In this case, the outline of used historic homes and outbuildings.
a buildingfoundation is shown in the The three existingleasedbuildingswould
ground with no other detail orstructure continue beingleased underthe historic
above it. It can conveya sense ofsize leasingprogram. Buseswould continueto
(length and width) and location in a drop-off,pickup, andpark in the current
historic scene. (See pg. 10) visitorcenterbus-parkinglot.
LookingsouthonEighthStreet
6• I1innl11HomeXatinmilIlis1011, Site
Legend
^ Alternative One
"i ParkBoundary
PU ParkUse No Action Alternative
LS LeasedSpace
Lincoln Home National Historic Site
BuildingsContainingInterpretiveDisplays
fie Interior
Restrooms National Park Sei
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HistoricCore Alternative Two
FoundationOutlinesOnly
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] NewBarns/Shedsin HistoricLocations A Step Back In Time
LS LeasedSpace
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HQ
Headquarters Lincoln Home National Historic Site
PU ParkUse
U.S. Departmentofthe Interior• National ParkService
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8•LincolnHomeNationalHistoricSite
Alternative 2: A Step Back In Time - The Historic Lincoln-Era Scene
Underthisalternative,park managementwould focus on interpretation ofthecore ofthe historic Lincoln-era
neighborhoodthrough the construction offull-scale structural exhibits.This core includesthe followingresidential
lots: Lincoln, Carrigan,Burch, Brown,Corneau,Sprigg, Irwin,and Arnold.The historic landscapewouldbe
recreatedas completelyaspossible.
Desired Resource Condition neighborhood. Limited trafficand parking
Missingelements ofthe 1860s in the alleys outside ofthe corewould be
neighborhoodwould be represented permitted. Small-scale elementssuchas
outbuildings couldbe constructed.
with full scale structural exhibitsatthe
coreofthesite inordertogivevisitors Desired Visitor Experience
anappreciation ofthe neighborhood as
Visitorswould experience asense of
Abraham Lincolnand his familymayhave removal fromthe modernworld upon
experienced it. Based upon available enteringthe Historic DistrictZone. The
historical data, the park mayconstruct
buildingswould serveasabufferagainst
full-scale structural exhibits on the modernvisual andauditory intrusions.
Burch, Brown, Carrigan,and Irwin lots An innovative, largescale livinghistory
to representwhatthe homes on these
programwould enhancethevisitors'
lots mayhave looked like duringthe
impressionthattheyhad traveled intime
1860s. Interiors oftheabove houses plus
tothe historicperiod ofthe Lincoln-
theArnold, Sprigg, Corneau,and Dean
eraneighborhood. Curriculum-based
Houseswouldbe adaptivelyused for
educational programming, includingmulti-
parkadministrative functionsoraspublic
dayprograms,would help studentsgaina
interpretive exhibitspace. Othersmall DeanHouseonEighthStreet
betterunderstandingofthe dayto daylives
scale featuresofthe historicscene,suchas
ofthe Lincoln familyandtheirneighbors.
barns,privies, fences,wells/cisterns,and
Interpretive informationwould be
gardens,wouldbe developed as exhibitsto
developed foreach neighborhood property
enhancevisitorunderstandingofthe scale
to enhancevisitorunderstandingofthe
and densityofthe Lincoln neighborhood
Lincoln'ssocial neighborhood setting.
in i860 and to screenthe historic
neighborhood scenefrom modernvisual Appropriate Facilities and
Development
and audible intrusions.
The neighborhood displaymodel in the
The existinghistoricbuildings inthe
visitorcenterwould be moved to the
remainderofthe historicdistrict (outside
interiorofthe full-scale structural exhibit
ofthe core) would be restored to preserve
ofthe Burch House to provide additional
the essential characterofthe Lincoln-era
space forthe Eastern National museum
neighborhood's historical and architectural
store to expand into the lobby ofthevisitor
values,while allowingforcompatible
center.The park visitorcenterwould not
usesofthese extant (existing) structures.
beexpanded. The full-scale structural
Interiors ofstructureswould beadaptively
exhibit ofthe Burch House would serveas
used forpark administrative functions or
an orientation point forvisitors entering
as leased space underthe historic leasing
the historic neighborhood. The Carrigan
program. Representations ofmissing
Barn would also provide additional
houseswould be identified bybuilding
visitor restroom facilitieswith drinking
foundation outlines, which could be
water. Maintenance operationswould be
builtto providevisitorswith some sense
consolidated and moved toanewbuilding
ofthe scale ofthe historic Lincoln-era
Newsletter2•November2006•9
Alternative2 continued) Alternative A Retreat From Modern
3:
n the southportion ofthe Open Space/
Life in the Heart of the City
RecreationZone located alongthe eastern
iide ofthe park.The Stuve House and Stuve Underthis alternative,visitorswould be provided withanappreciation
Carriage Housewould be restored foruse as forhowdifferentLincoln'slifein his neighborhoodwas frommodern
ipark administrative facility,which would urban living.The existinghistoric housesand outbuildingswould remain
enable park managementto lease space in
asthe onlylarge-scale buildingsinthehistoricdistrict,butmissinghouses
lpto eighthistoric houses, some ofwhich in theneighborhoodwouldbe represented byghosted structures and/or
ire currentlyused forpark offices.The foundation outlines and smallerstructuresthattogethercreate apark
instructionofbarnsthatwere locatedin environmentdistinct from the modern cityoutside the park.
he neighborhood alongthealleys during
he historicperiodwould provide concealed Desired Resource Condition
markingspacesforlesseevehicles. Other
Onlyfences, outbuildings and othersmall-
outbuildingswould add to the historic feel
scale landscape features consistentwiththe
)fthe neighborhood. Curatorial items
treatment recommendations ofthe cultural
stored on sitewould beconsolidated and landscape reportwouldbe constructed.
novedtoanewbuildinginthesouth
Representations ofmissinghouseswould
portion ofthe open space arealocated
be identifiedbyalternative methodssuch
dongthe eastern side ofthepark,to free up
asghosted structures and/orbuilding
space inthiscore areaforvisitorfacilities
foundation outlines,whichcould bebuilt
ind interpretive exhibits. Thebus drop-off
to providevisitorswith some sense ofthe
vouldbe atthevisitorcenterand pickup
scale anddensityofthe historic Lincoln-
vould be inthe Open Space/Recreation era neighborhood. Newstructures could
Zone located alongthe easternside ofthe
bebuiltto resemblebarnsthatexisted
Dark. Busparkingwould be relocatedto
duringthe historic period.These new
1newfacilityshared with city,county,and structureswould be constructed of
state partners. Thebus parkinglotwould
materials compatiblewiththe fabric ofthe
De setaside forRV/trailerparking.
historic structures in the Historic District
Zone.These elementswould serveto
bufferthe historic district from outside
Anexampleofa"ghoststructure";IndependenceNationalHistorical
Park 'Franklin<curtcontainsasteel"ghoststructure"outliningthespot
whereBenjaminFranklin'shouseoncestood.
FoundationexampletakenfromFort
FredericaNationalMonument
10'LincolnHomeNationalHistoricSite