In reading Historic Preservation, when Tyler stated that the year 1976 was pivotal in the arena of historic preservation, it hit me that these words were so true. It was the year of the bi-centennial, and I was 18 years old at the time. It was a period that as a nation, we could stand proud of the accomplishment that we had survived for two hundred years, through wars, pestilence, droughts, depression, disease and poverty, the United States had help up well as a whole. Historical buildings and monuments had taken on a new focus and that they had historical significance and had come into their own as important spaces and places in the United States. Independence Hall and the Old North Church took on a greater meaning for the typical American at the time. Historic buildings took on a renewed feeling that the buildings themselves were hallowed ground and were sacred. It was thought that due to this event historical buildings and places were preserved. But, as we read, Tyler points out that the pivotal year for historic preservation was ten years earlier, in 1966. Urban renewal was in the forefront of Lyndon Johnson’s new policies of the “Great Society”, so the creation of National Historic Preservation Act in 1966 is a milestone that partners federal, state, and communities to preserve our rich historic past. Looking back at how negative the Government’s role was seen in our society during the mid-20th Century, positive laws were enacted to preserve cultural places for future generations to enjoy. The realization that older buildings, monuments and sites need to be preserved today is still very important for future generations to appreciate.
Looking at the information of the Idaho State Historical Preservation Office website (http://history.idaho.gov/state-historic-preservation-office), it seems to be short, sweet and concise. When speaking of Section 106, it is very down to the point in its language as to why it was created. The part where it says, “Communities were witnessing the loss of their historic downtowns and neighborhoods…” one wonders of the tearing down of the older buildings in Boise, during the 1970’s should have been protected, or did the city and state completely ignore this section of NHPA.
It is sad that we do not look to the past as a way to preserve the future. Most of the buildings described in the blog about teaching preservation ion Boise, gives us as citizens of our fair city, that doom and gloom is indeed prevalent. The blog is over three years old, and it is nice to see that these buildings and areas met the criteria for meeting the National Trust for Historic Preservation. These buildings are a testament how Idaho has grown and is now part of the 21st century. The areas and buildings are important to the past and integral to the 150th anniversary of Idaho and of Boise itself. With the conservatism that this state has, how progressive would the city and the state be in trying to preserve these areas and buildings?
