Ozark Living

By Tom Wing Special to Ozark Living May is Historic Preservation Month. Historic preservation is the practice of identifying, protecting and preserving buildings, structures, sites, artifacts and other cultural resources that are of historical, cultural or architectural significance. e goal of historic preservation is to ensure that these resources survive to provide lessons and educational opportunities for future generations. Historic preservation encompasses a wide range of activities including research, documentation, restoration and rehabilitation. Preservationists work to identify historic properties and to document their historical and cultural significance. ey also work to protect historic properties from damage or destruction, oen through legal means, such as historic district designations, zoning ordinances and easements. Restoration and rehabilitation are also important aspects of historic preservation. Restoration involves repairing or reconstructing a historic property to its original condition; rehabilitation involves adapting a historic property for modern use, while preserving its historic character. Historic preservation includes a variety of benefits. Preserving historic properties can promote a sense of community identity and pride, while also providing opportunities for tourism and economic development. Additionally, historic preservation can promote sustainable development by encouraging the reuse of existing buildings and reducing the need for new construction. Arkansas has a rich history dating back thousands of years, from the prehistoric era to present-day. As a result, the state has numerous historic sites, structures and landmarks that are worthy of preservation. e Arkansas Historic Preservation Program (AHPP), which is part of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, is responsible for identifying, protecting and preserving the state's historic and cultural resources. AHPP works with the federal government, state agencies, county and city governments, and local individuals to preserve our collective past. e AHPP administers several programs that support historic preservation efforts throughout the state, including the National Register of Historic Places – a list of historic properties that have been deemed worthy of preservation due to their significance in local, state or national history, architecture, archaeology or culture. e AHPP also provides technical assistance to property owners, preservation professionals and local governments to help them preserve historic properties and comply with preservation regulations. e AHPP also maintains the Arkansas Register of Historic Places, including properties that are important to the history of Arkansas, but do not meet the stringent national register criteria. In addition to the AHPP, nonprofit organizations in Arkansas also work to preserve historic sites and structures. Preserve Arkansas is a statewide advocacy organization which promotes the preservation of historic properties and works to educate the public about the importance of historic preservation. Notable historic sites in Arkansas include: e Old State House Museum in Little Rock served as the state's capitol building from 1836 to 1911 and is now a museum that showcases Arkansas's political history. e Arkansas Post National Memorial, located near Gillett, is the site of the first European settlement in the Lower Mississippi River Valley. e Fort Smith National Historic Site preserves several historic buildings in Fort Smith, including the courthouse where the legendary Judge Isaac C. Parker presided over the "hanging court." Van Buren, located in Crawford County, has a rich history dating back to its founding in 1836. e Van Buren Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, encompasses the city's downtown area and includes numerous historic buildings. Many of these buildings were constructed in the late-19th and early-20th centuries and feature a variety of architectural styles, including Italianate, Queen Anne and Classical Revival. Arts on Main is the most recent preserved and rehabilitated building on Main Street. e Vault 1905 Sports Grill and Chapters on Main are two popular businesses in rehabilitated buildings. In addition to the historic district, there are other notable historic sites in Van Buren, including the Drennen-Scott Historic Site, which includes two historic homes that were Preserving Frisco Depot in Van Buren history our 22 • May 2023 • OZaRK LIVING

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