6.2. HRSR 05-28-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Historic Contexts Defined Historic contexts are part of the foundation for preservation planning,and assist in making decisions about planning, identification,evaluation,registration,and treatment of historic properties.'Historic contexts provide a framework with which to evaluate the historic,architectural,and landscape architectural significance of inventoried properties. A property can be significant within one or more historic contexts.Properties grouped within historic contexts share a common theme,geographical area,and time period.Elk River's historic contexts intersect with broader statewide historic contexts such as Lumbering,Agriculture,and Transportation developed by the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office(SHPO). When combined with an intensive historic resources inventory, the historic contexts study will provide the City of Elk River City with comprehensive information about the location and significance of its remaining historic resources,including its downtown,mill sites,and residential areas. The following Elk River historic contexts were identified: 1.Landscape Setting,1848-1950 2.Agriculture,1850-1950 • 3.Transportation,1848-1950 4.Commerce and Industry,1851-1950 5.Residential Architecture,1851-1920 6.Schools,Churches,and Local Institutions,1857-1920 The National Register of Historic Places One objective of developing historic contexts and historic resources inventories is to determine which properties might be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places(NRHP). The National Register was established by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.It is the official federal listing of the nation's cultural resources deemed worthy of preservation. The National Park Service maintains the list that includes properties of local and state significance as well as those of national significance. A property listed on the National Register must meet at least one of four criteria.Under the first criterion,a property may be registered if it is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of national,state, or local history.Under the second,a property may be registered if it is associated with the lives of persons important in the past.The third criterion addresses architectural • significance,and the fourth addresses archaeological significance.In addition,listed properties must be at least fifty years old,should not have been significantly altered,and Elk River Historic Contexts Study Draft 5/2002 2