Preservation
Articles
“Historic Roads,”
by Dan Marriott for America’s Byways Resource Center; Vistas, March 2001
Historic: Historic Roads
Is your byway a historic resource?
“As I talk with people across the country, I try to help them understand what makes a road historic. If you’re involved with the scenic byways program, you may have wrestled with the six intrinsic qualities in trying to define whether a resource is cultural, historic, archaeological, scenic, natural, or recreational,” explained Dan Marriott, a landscape architect and planner with the Rural Heritage Program at the National Trust for Historic Preservation in a recent conversation with byway leaders. “If your byway is based on history, it’s important to understand what makes that road a historic resource.”
- A road may be significant because it links historic resources, such as historic plantations, farms and ranches, or communities. In this case, the historic resources are elements and structures that are located along the byway. A relatively new road may pass by historic resources.
- The road itself may be historic. The byway may have a rich legacy of history and development, even though it passes by modern structures, such as a Burger King or a Wal-Mart.
- Both the adjacent environment and the road itself may be historic resources.
Defining history more broadly
Historic resources are more than buildings and structures. Land patterns, land grants, orchard patterns, and lot lines can have a rich history as well. Landscapes can be historic. The view from an intact Mississippi River bluff town looking across agricultural fields is historic. Those distant agriculture fields are as much a historic resource as a courthouse tower in Main Square.
Many historic resources and opportunities are overlooked because they are not “built” structures. Fore example, a scenic byway may connect a number of historic farm villages in a rural area. Historically, villages were based on a pattern of settlements with large open spaces and agricultural areas between them. If the open space between villages is lost and eroded due to sprawl and development, some of the overall character and the historic story are lost as well.
What makes a road historic?
A road can be significant for a number of reasons, such as:
- A famous designer. An example is a parkway designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, famous designer of New York’s Central Park and many other American parks and parkways.
- An event. An example is the Selma to Montgomery March Byway in Alabama, site of a three-day civil rights march that captured the attention of the national and the world.
- An engineering accomplishment. An example is the Lincoln Highway, the first paved transcontinental highway in the United States.
The origins or historic roads
The National Trust has defined three types of historic roads, based on origin:
- Aesthetic historic routes were designed to provide an aesthetic experience for travelers. These roads are significant because of natural scenery or metropolitan views. Examples are the Blue Ridge Parkway, Chicago’s North Shore Drive, the roads in New York’s Central Park, and other park roads and parkways.
- Engineered historic roads were created with specific transportation goals in mind (moving people from point A to point B). They were designed to provide efficient, cost-effective, good quality transportation. Examples are the Lincoln Highway, the National Road, Route 66 and the interstate system.
- Cultural historic roads have evolved over time. Without a particular point of origin, they may have begun as an animal trace, a Native American footpath, or an early colonial route connecting farm villages. Over time, they became well worn, accepted, used, built, paved, and improved. Examples are the Ashley River Road (SC), the El Camino Real (NM), and the Natchez Trace (TN, AL, MS).
Managing a historic road
In managing a scenic byway, it’s important to try and balance a road’s origin (aesthetic, engineered, cultural) with the road’s changing needs. Planned changes should consider the road’s history and original design. For example, if there’s a need to replace lighting or improve a high accident intersection on the engineered route, alterations could be made that are sensitive to the original design and accomplish the needed improvements. An aesthetic route is a different situation. On an Olmstead-designed parkway, each view, each turn, each light, and each bridge rail was carefully selected as part of an aesthetic package. There are unique issues involved in making modifications.
Safety is an important concern on all roads and especially historic roads. Recognizing that people drive differently today (than when the road was originally constructed). You need to think about ways to improve or maintain safety. Work with your Department of Transportation to find ways to implement changes that are sensitive to the road’s history and character.
Can roads be listed in the National Register for Historic Places?
The National Register of Historic Places is the Federal government’s official list of important, historic buildings, sites, and other properties deemed worthy of preservation for their significance in American history and culture. Administered by the National Park Service, National Register properties include districts, buildings, sites, and objects of significance to their local community, State, or the nation.
A road, or structures along a road, may be candidates for the Register if they are at least 50 years old. In fact, there are approximately 80 roads listed in the National Register. Although listing in the Register is not a requirement for the National Scenic Byways Program, it does provide valued recognition, respect, and credibility. An application for the National Register listing should include anything that is a contributing resource and part of the road’s history, such as signs, curbing, gutters, street trees, streetlights, access walls, paving stones, and bridge rails.
Does a National Register listing protect historic resources?
The National Register can provide protection benefits if Federal funds are being used for proposed changes. If a historic road is listed in the National Register, or is determined to be eligible for listing in the National Register, it falls under a Federal Policy Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Section 106 says that “if a Federal undertaking could impact a National Register resource, or a resource determined eligible for the National Register, there must be a survey and inventory conducted to assess the impact of the change and make recommendations for alternative solutions.” The National Register is designed to make sure that the Federal government is not destroying or endangering historic resources. Although the National Register is an important tool to protect historic resources, it will not necessarily prevent change.
Marriott shared this example to help clarify the policy. “Let’s say my grandmother’s house is listed in the National Register; a significant house from the mid-19th century in Maryland. Grandma decides to go out tomorrow and rent a bulldozer to raze the property. She can knock it down unless the bulldozer is rented with Federal funds. If grandma rents the bulldozer with Federal funds, that is a different issue and Section 106 would apply. If no Federal funds are used, there could be local or State laws that kick in.”
What types of signs are best for historic roads?
Signage on historic roads can be a difficult issue, since there are modern requirements and information provisions. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is the Federal policy publication that outlines sign placement, size, etc. There are several options to consider in working with your State departments of transportation and local government on signs for historic roads:
- Consider what’s already in place. Delaware’s Kentmere Parkway still has historic stamped cast iron signs along the parkway.
- Incorporate historic elements on modern signs. Connecticut’s Merritt Parkway originally had wooden road signs with a sawtooth edge. The new signs include a reflective sawtooth pattern around the edge of the signs and match the original dark green color.
- Post signs on wooden posts that are painted to blend in with indigenous landscapes (brown, green or tan).
- Paint the backs of signs. The National Park Service paints the back of their signs, which improves roadway aesthetics by eliminating the glare and reflection of metal.
- Be sensitive to placement of signs. Keep signs out of main viewsheds by moving them ahead or back a short distance.
- Avoid oversigning.
The importance of AASHTO
AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) issues important policies that govern how States deal with roads. AASHTO’s Green Book is frequently used in making design decisions at State and local levels. Because AASHTO guidance allows design flexibility, it’s important to be familiar with this resource. Each State determines how narrowly, or broadly, they interpret the guidelines.
