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Site Analysis: Evaluating Integrity and Significance
By analyzing the landscape, its change over time can be
understood. This may be accomplished by overlaying the
various period plans with the existing conditions plan. Based
on these findings, individual features may be attributed to the
particular period when they were introduced, and the various
periods when they were present.
It is during this step that the historic significance of the
landscape component of a historic property and its integrity
are determined. Historic significance is the recognized
importance a property displays when it has been evaluated,
includin~ when it has been found to meet National Register
Criteria. A landscape may have several areas of historical
significance. An understanding of the landscape as a
continuum through history is critical in assessing its
cultural and historic value. In order for the landscape to
have integrity, these character-defining features or qualities
that contribute to its significance must be present.
While National Register nominations document the
significance and integrity of historic properties, in general,
they may not acknowledge the significance of the
landscape's design or historic land uses, and may not
contain an inventory of landscape features or
characteristics. Additional research is often necessary to
provide the detailed information about a landscape's
evolution and significance useful in making decision for the
treatment and maintenance of a historic landscape. Existing
National Register forms may be amended to recognize
additional areas of significance and to include more
complete descriptions of historic properties that have
significant land areas and landscape features.
Integrity is a property's historic identity evidenced by the
survival of physical characteristics from the property's
historic or prehistoric period. The seven qualities of integrity
are location, setting, feeling, association, design, workman- Figure 18: At Lawnfield, the home of President James A. Garfield near
ship and materials. to When evaluating these qualities, care Cleveland, Ohio, the Sugar Maple that shadowed the porch during Garfield's
1880 "Front Porch Campaign" is in decline. Cuttings were taken from the
should be taken to consider change itself. For example, when historically significant tree by the Holden Arboretum and the National Park
a second-generation woodland overtakes an open pasture in a Service for eventual in-kind replacement. (courtesy NPS, Midwest Region)
battlefield landscape, or a woodland edge encloses a scenic
vista. For situations such as these, the reversibility and/ or
compatibility of those features should be considered, both
individually, and in the context of the overall landscape.
Together, evaluations of significance and integrity, when
combined with historic research, documentation of existing
conditions, and analysis findings, influence later treatment
and interpretation decisions. (See Figure 21-23)

Developing a Historic Preservation Approach
and Treatment Plan

Treatment may be defined as work carried out to achieve a
historic preservation goal-it cannot be considered in a
vacuum. There are many practical and philosophical
factors that may influence the selection of a treatment for a
landscape. These include the relative historic value of the
property, the level of historic documentation, existing
physical conditions, its historic significance and integrity,
historic and proposed use (e.g. educational, interpretive, Figure 19: The landscape of Lyndhurst, Tarrytown, New York is
passive, active public, institutional or private), long- and
significant in American culture and meets Criterion C of the National
short-term objectives, operational and code requirements Register because it embodies the distinctive character of a type and period
(e.g. accessibility, fire, security) and costs for anticipated in American landscape architecture, known as early Picturesque; it
capital improvement, staffing and maintenance. The value possesses high artistic value; and it is the work of a recognized master
gardener, Ferdinand Mangold. (courtesy National Trust for Historic
of any significant archeological and natural resources
Preservation)
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