Historic Preservation: Missoula Historic Underground

Why is historic preservation important and why should I care?

This experience will expose participants to the field of historic preservation, with particular interest in Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Participants will have the opportunity to explore historic documents in the K. Ross Toole Archives at the Mansfield Library, including 19^th c. Sanborn Maps, the Missoula Mercantile business ledgers, and historic photos. Participants will assist in mapping historic buildings using GPS and archaeological plan map techniques with particular focus on locating and documenting Missoula’s underground tunnel system. There will also be the opportunity for learning the Historic America Buildings Survey (HABS) documentation method for mapping, drawing, and documenting historic structures. An excursion to Butte’s historic district is included and will focus on comparing the two cities, their historical past and their present preservation.

At the end of this class, you will:

• Have an in-depth understanding of Missoula’s historic Front Street district
• Understand the methods of various types of archaeological sites and investigations
• Get a sense of the technologies used in archaeology such as laser scanning, digital imaging, GIS, and more
• Understand the laws and techniques involved with the historic preservation of an urban setting

There will be a series of readings that will assist with this course; a list will be provided upon registration. For a sample please feel free to visit the projects website for its University of Montana student participants at: http://cas.umt.edu/anthropology/underground/default.php

Planned Class Schedule:

Class will meet in the morning (location TBA) at 8:30am for a daily briefing and strategy session before heading downtown, there will be an hour break for lunch and class will conclude at 4:30pm. 

The preliminary itinerary for the week is:

Monday, June 17: Mapping Downtown – Using historic documents to locate and document historic buildings, entrances, changes in topography, and underground features (e.g. tunnels, sidewalk vaults, rooms).

Tuesday, June 18: Mapping Downtown – Use of modern technology, GPS and ground penetrating radar, to confirm/disprove underground features, changes in topography, etc. Guest lecture by Dr. Steve Sheriff, UM Professor of Geophysics.

Wednesday, June 19: Field trip to Butte.

Thursday, June 20: Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) – Learning and applying archaeological mapping and HABS building documentation. Guest lectures from leading practitioners.

Friday, June 21: Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) – Learning and applying archaeological mapping and HABS building documentation. 

Please bring the following supplies: Automatic pencil (0.5 or 0.7 lead size), art eraser, pen, appropriate clothing for working outdoors and in dirty underground spaces (e.g. basements, sidewalk vaults, construction sites, etc.) we suggest long pants, layered tops, hats (wide brim or baseball), yard work style gloves, sturdy walking/hiking shoes, a portable folding camp chair/stool, sunscreen, bug repellant, water bottle, head lamp, camera, metric tape measure, and compass.

We will provide you with: a field notebook, drawing clip board, paper, and rulers.

CAUTION:  ****Tetanus Shot****
Please make sure your tetanus shot is updated.  We may be handling a lot of old, rusty, sharp, metallic objects.

Activity Level:

This course is rated as Easy. This experience will entail walking several city blocks during the course of the day, stairs, sitting in the sun or in underground spaces (no one will be forced to exceed their own personal comfort level in regards to safety and small spaces). Most days will require several hours of standing and walking with intermittent sitting. With advanced warning most disabilities or limitations can be accommodated.

About the Instructors:

Dr. Kelly Dixon is an accomplished historical archaeologist and award-winning author of two books. She is currently an associate professor in The University of Montana's Department of Anthropology. Dixon specializes in frontier west archaeology and has worked at sites like the Donner family campsite in the Sierra Nevada mountains, the Boston Saloon in Virginia City, Nevada, Coloma Ghost Town in the Garnet Mountains, and Rosebud Battlefield in southeastern Montana.

Bethany Hauer Campbell, M.A., is an anthropologist specializing in interdisciplinary research and artifact curation. Campbell has served as The University of Montana's Anthropological Curation Facility curator and is the Project Manager for the Montana Anthropogenic Research Cooperative. She has taught anthropological collections management, care, and ethics.

Registration:

Registration is now OPEN. The deadline for registration is June 10, 2013. Enrollment is limited to 6 participants.

This personal enrichment course is not offered for university credit.  Formal admission to The University of Montana is not required, and all participants pay the same course fee, regardless of state residency.

Historical photos are courtesy of Archives & Special Collections, Mansfield Library, The University of Montana and may not be reused without permission.  From top: Photo Number 84.0356, photographer unknown; Photo Number 78.0375, Chas. W. Lombard; Photo Number 76.0284, Missoula Fire Department Collection.