Webinar - Mission 66: Modernizing Campgrounds while Preserving Historic Heritage

AICP: CM 1

It has been about 80 years since the inception of the National Park Service Mission 66 program, an initiative that focused on providing new campgrounds and facilities across the nation, while also focusing on modernization and expansion. With the establishment of the National Park Service (NPS) in 1916, camping popularity increased exponentially; post-WWII, more and more families were packing up their cars and hitting the road. With this surge of visitors, it became apparent that existing park facilities were too small and in need of repair and expansion. Mission 66 was a successful initiative that helped standardize and modernize campground design. These campgrounds are located from coast to coast and include designed landscapes that clustered campsites into loops and accommodated car camping. They also provided modern comfort stations, walking paths, as well as gathering areas such as amphitheaters and visitor centers. These campgrounds focused on the natural environment, vegetation and features found in the area and centered on the idea of congregation with gathering areas and picnic structures. As modern visitor use evolves, it is critical to understand and assess Mission 66 resources for potential historic significance to allow them to adapt to changing needs and protect their historic character.

This webinar is supported in part by an award from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council and National Endowment for the Arts.

You may also like the following events from Michigan Historic Preservation Network:

• Next month, 13th September, 09:00 am, Advanced Cemetery Preservation Workshop in Flint
• This October, 4th October, 05:00 pm, 31st Annual MHPN Fall Benefit in Grand Rapids
• This October, 18th October, 08:00 am, Hands-on Masonry Workshop in Grand Rapids