One of the finest examples of Green Design is the preservation and reuse of
historic buildings. The need to preserve America's cultural heritage began as a
grassroots movement in the 1800s and continues to have its most effective
results at the community level.
Preservation of Historic Structures
One of the first architectural buildings to be
preserved was George Washington's home, Mount Vernon. The Mount Vernon Ladies
Association was formed and raised the funds to purchase and restore the home in
the 1880s. The Mount Vernon Ladies Association is still responsible for the home
and the tours.
Before the turn of the 20th century, America recognized the need to preserve its
national treasures. Large areas of land were set aside as National Parks (a
concept developed in America), National Monuments, and Historic Sites. In 1914
the National Park Service was formed to manage these and future acquisitions.
Throughout the early 1900s many homes and buildings were preserved and restored
to be used as museums to define America's heritage. Williamsburg, a
reconstructed village, illustrates how an early American community lived and
worked. The Historic American Buildings Survey, or HABS, was begun by the Park
Service in 1933. The initial record produced 24,000 measured drawings of
historic structures.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington, D.C., founded in
1949, is the largest organization in the country devoted to the preservation of
historic buildings, districts, and neighborhoods. An organization sustained by
both public and private contributions, the National Trust maintains the National
Historic Register. The National Trust also administers historic buildings as
museums, disseminates information about preservation to property owners and to
the public at large, and assists in a variety of preservation, restoration, and
rehabilitation efforts around the country. However, it is important to note that
National Historic Register designation does not ensure the building's sustained
preservation. The National Historic Register is a recognition status that
requires only government-owned buildings to be subject to environmental review
prior to proposed demolition. If a community is determined to maintain its local
historic character, that community must invoke local ordinances and regulations
to preserve their structures.
Through the 1950s, 60s, and 70s many national treasures were destroyed in the
name of "progress." Of the structures surveyed by HABS in the 1930s, over half
had been destroyed. Recognizing the need to reaffirm America's historical
heritage, the grassroots movement lobbied Congress, and the national Historic
Preservation Act was greatly enhanced in 1980. Tax relief and grants-in-aid
(among other important legislative actions) were established to promote
preservation. Downtown communities were granted funding through the Mainstreet
Program to save their historic downtown character. Businesses that renovated
historic homes, public buildings, and even factories helped to create the green design
specialty of adaptive use.
Through the grassroots efforts of many individuals and organizations, America's
cultural heritage before and after European occupancy can be observed through
buildings, historic sites, and communities, as well as in the open spaces of
National Parks and Monuments. Americans have recognized the need to preserve a
sense of space. They also recognize that natural resources, elaborate
architecture, and unique details are costly to replace once destroyed. In fact,
many are irreplaceable.
