23RFP8422_Exhibit D_Survey Manual 2023.pdf

South Dakota State Historic Preservation Office South Dakota State Historical Society

S.D. Department of Education

900 Governors Drive, Pierre SD 57501 https://history.sd.gov/preservation/

February 2021 Last updated: January 2023

South Dakota Architectural Survey Manual

Exhibit D https://history.sd.gov/preservation/

Foreword This manual is a guide for undertaking architectural and historical surveys of South Dakota's buildings, structures and landscapes. Surveys may be undertaken to discover information about the past, obtain data for community historic preservation programs, or identify properties eligible for listing in the National

Register of Historic Places.

This manual has two main purposes. First, it establishes requirements for those undertaking historic architecture surveys with State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) subgrant funding and serves as an addendum to grant agreements. Second, it provides standards for state and federal agencies undertaking surveys to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, to identify properties that are eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. It is written for cultural resource professionals, federal agencies, local governments, historic preservation boards/commissions, and the general public.

This manual builds upon and replaces the previous version published by the SD SHPO office in 2000 and updated in 2006, which was written by staff members Stephen C. Rogers, Michelle C. Saxman, Lynda B.

Schwan, and Jason Haug. Portions of the text from that version have been brought forward into this document, while others have been substantially rewritten to address current survey documentation standards, give information about the digital data management systems currently in use, address frequent questions, and give additional guidance on best practices. The SHPO office continues to strive to improve its survey program to make its programs more efficient and provide other agencies and the public with accurate data.

This manual is also useful for undertaking surveys without substantial SHPO involvement. It may serve as a reference for those who seek to understand what is involved in undertaking a survey, conducting an independent survey, or hiring a professional survey consultant. For a broader perspective on surveys, consult the National Register Bulletin: Guidelines for Local Surveys: A Basis for Preservation Planning

(hyperlinks to scanned version in two parts, Part 1 and Part 2, NRB 24).

Thank you for your interest in identifying and preserving South Dakota's historic resources. Your suggestions to improve this manual are welcome.

Ted M. Spencer

State Historic Preservation Officer

** All photographs used in this manual are of South Dakota historic resources from SD SHPO staff, NRHP nominations, or SHPO survey files. The full list of photographs is in Appendix H.

FOREWORD

https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/upload/NRB24-Complete_Part1t.pdf https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/upload/NRB24-Complete_Part2.pdf

Table of Contents

Foreword | pg. 2

Introduction | pg. 4 State Historic Preservation Office | pg. 4

Tribal Historic Preservation Offices | pg. 5

Purpose of Historic Surveys | pg. 5

Who Does Historic Surveys? | pg. 6

How are Historic Surveys Funded? | pg. 8

CRGRID | pg. 10

Survey Types | pg. 12 Reconnaissance Surveys | pg. 12

Intensive Surveys | pg. 12

County Surveys | pg. 13

Thematic Surveys | pg. 13

City and District Surveys | pg. 14

CLG Grant Projects | pg. 14

Review and Compliance | pg. 15

Background Research | pg. 16

Research Design | pg. 16

Research Sources | pg. 17

Preparing for Survey Work | pg.20

Survey Boundary | pg. 20

Survey Methodology | pg. 21

Public Engagement | pg. 22 Public Meetings | pg. 23

Field Work | pg. 28

Evaluating Eligibility for the

National Register of Historic Places | pg. 29 Evaluation Criteria | pg. 30

Criteria Considerations | pg. 32

Multiple Property Documentation Forms | pg. 33

National Historic Landmarks | pg. 33

Special Property Types | pg. 33

State Register of Historic Places | pg. 37

Submitting Architectural Survey Forms | pg. 39 User Accounts | pg. 39

Inventory Forms | pg. 40

Special Property Types | pg. 52

Requesting a SHPO ID Number | pg. 54

Editing and Updating Existing Records | pg. 55

Photograph Guidelines | pg. 56

Map Guidelines | pg. 63

Historic Survey Report Specifications | pg. 65

Appendices A. County Map and Codes | pg. 70

B. Inventory Forms | pg. 71

C. Master Lists | pg. 74

D. Historic Contexts & Multiple-Property Listings | pg. 78

E. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards | pg. 80

F. National Park Service Bulletins & Publications | pg. 81

G. Selected Bibliography | pg. 82

H. List of Uncaptioned Photographs | pg. 84

J. Acronyms & Glossary | pg. 86

K. Overview… for NHPA Section 106 | pg. 88

L. Tips for Statements of Significance | pg. 90

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

State Historic Preservation Office

Since the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA), the Governor of each state has been required to appoint a State Historic Preservation Officer to oversee preservation efforts mandated by the Act, as amended.

In South Dakota, the State Historic Preservation Officer is a program director within the South Dakota

State Historical Society. Under state and federal law, the South Dakota State Historic Preservation

Office (SHPO) is responsible for administering, in part, the following programs and activities:

▪ Survey and maintain inventories of historic properties;

▪ Nominate eligible properties to the State and National Register of Historic Places;

▪ Provide public information, education, training, and technical assistance relating to historic preservation;

▪ Cooperate with local governments in creating local historic preservation programs and Certified

Local Governments;

▪ Administer grant and tax incentive funding programs to assist in the stabilization, rehabilitation, and restoration of historic properties;

▪ Administer a state historical marker program;

▪ Provide advice and assistance in implementing state and federal preservation tax incentives for restoration and rehabilitation of historic properties; and

▪ Consult with and advise federal and state agencies and local governments in carrying out their historic preservation responsibilities, especially on projects that might affect historic properties.

The SHPO office is currently comprised of the State Historic Preservation Officer; Review and

Compliance Coordinator and Archaeologist; several Historic Preservation Specialists; and a Historic

Preservation Assistant. The SHPO offices are located in the Cultural Heritage Center (900 Governors

Drive) in Pierre.

SHPO staff encourage communities to consult with our office while planning and implementing historic surveys. Staff can also provide training or workshops on our survey program and best practices, as well as talks on various history and architectural history topics.

INTRODUCTION

Find current staff contacts and a map of HP Specialist regions:

https://history.sd.gov/preservation/contact.aspx

Or contact shpo@state.sd.us or 605-773-3458 to be directed to the appropriate staff person.

https://history.sd.gov/preservation/contact.aspx mailto:shpo@state.sd.us

Tribal Historic Preservation Offices

There are nine federally recognized American

Indian tribes in South Dakota, eight of which have designated Tribal Historic Preservation Offices

(THPO). All THPO offices maintain their own survey and inventory programs for archaeology, and most do the same for above-ground resources as well. The SHPO office survey records include some resources that are on tribal lands and reservations, but the THPO offices should also be consulted for survey projects on those lands.

If surveying for the purposes of Review &

Compliance, tribal consultation is a part of the federal agencies’ responsibilities in that process.

The SHPO website currently includes contact information for Tribal Chairs and Tribal Historic

Preservation Offices/Cultural Resource Management Offices. (If link has changed, you can contact

SHPO for the current version.)

Purpose of Historic Surveys

Historic sites surveys identify what historic resources are present in a given area and provide information to compare and evaluate these resources on a local, statewide, or national scale. Survey projects produce records and photographs of individual properties as well as final reports with survey findings and contextual information. Surveys are used to help inform decisions regarding the preservation of a specific property or a collection of potential historic sites. SHPO’s statewide survey program is a mandate of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA), as amended. Because of the valuable information they provide, survey projects are a priority for resources and funding from the

SHPO office, the National Park Service, and the Certified Local Government grant program.

It is important to be intentional about the goals, scope, and anticipated audience(s) for a historic sites survey. These aspects of a survey project help frame the plans for background research, field methodology, public engagement, and the format of reports or other products, in order to achieve the desired outcomes.

Surveys are used for planning. Communities can use historic survey information to inform comprehensive plans, to plan for local preservation ordinances, to designate historic local landmarks or conservation districts, to guide economic development efforts, to inform streetscape design plans, or to target local rehabilitation efforts and incentives. SHPO also uses survey records to plan additional research and survey efforts and to determine its annual projects. Property owners and stewards can use survey information to plan management strategies and preservation treatments.

St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Marty. Photos by SHPO staff.

https://history.sd.gov/preservation/docs/TribalChairsTHPOs.pdf

Surveys are used for the identification of properties eligible for the State and National Registers of

Historic Places. Accurate survey information allows SHPO and local governments to provide technical assistance to property owners about the potential for National Register listing and funding opportunities.

Properties that are listed in (or sometimes those that are determined eligible for) the National Register may qualify for federal and state historic preservation grants and tax incentives administered by the

SHPO office.

The identification of historic properties is also key to the Section 106 process of the NHPA, through which federal agencies, with SHPO/THPO consultation and public input, review the potential effects of their projects and undertakings on historic properties, properties that are listed or eligible for listing in the National Register. Also, under South Dakota Codified Law 1-19A-11.1, the state or sub-municipalities of the state give consideration to properties listed in the State or National Register of

Historic Places before taking an action that could damage, destroy, or encroach upon those historic properties, with the opportunity for SHPO to investigate and comment on the proposed project.

Surveys are used for research. Survey records are a snapshot of a historic property with a physical description of the resource and information about the history of the property. Survey projects for certain geographic areas or thematic topics provide large bodies of information on the architectural history and built environment of our communities and state. This information can support general research and writing, as well as provide comparative data for evaluating similar resources.

Surveys are used for education and outreach. Surveys can promote public awareness and public appreciation for historic resources across the state and can strengthen our commitment to protect them.

Local historical societies, tourism offices, downtown associations, and educators can use historical and architectural information from survey records and reports in the development of publications, tours, events, curriculum, exhibits, or other programming.

Who Does Historic Surveys?

Survey projects take time to organize, plan, complete, and use. Effective surveys are thorough, detailed, relevant, well-informed, and well-organized. You want committed, knowledgeable people on the team.

Research, field work, and evaluations need to be conducted by or under a lead/principal investigator who meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Professional Qualifications for a discipline of history, historic architecture, architecture, or architectural history as defined in the Code of Federal

Regulations, 36 CFR Part 61.

Surveyors should have experience organizing and conducting field work, managing the resulting data, and making evaluations of eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places. It is recommended that they also have knowledge of and/or experience with the location, type, or period of resources targeted by the survey.

SHPO staff surveying a residential area in Vermillion, 2019 https://www.nps.gov/articles/sec-standards-prof-quals.htm https://www.nps.gov/articles/sec-standards-prof-quals.htm

Project Sponsors and/or Funding Organizations

The offices, agencies, departments, or organizations who commission and/or fund survey projects for

SHPO’s statewide survey database have an important role.

Sponsors:

• set the goals and aims of the project;

• define the scope of the survey;

• seek out qualified personnel to undertake field work, recordation, and analysis;

• facilitate public engagement efforts;

• monitor the quality of the data, reports, and other survey products; and

• integrate the survey results into the continued preservation work of the community.

It is recommended to have a single project coordinator identified to direct the work, make decisions, and serve as a point of contact for the other parties involved in the project. However, it may be valuable for some projects to enlist other staff from the agency/organization, professionals in relevant subjects, or community members to provide expertise and guidance, either on an as-needed basis or by organizing a small advisory committee. This group can help with follow-up engagement in the community using survey data results and products.

It is recommended that survey site records be submitted to the SHPO historic sites survey database, even if the project is not undertaken for SHPO directly, under a SHPO sub-grant, or for Section 106 review.

See sections on CRGRID and Submitting Forms.

Consultants

If the sponsors need to seek expertise to conduct the survey work from outside their organization or agency, they may hire a consultant with experience in survey work and historic/cultural resources.

A number of individual or company consultants work from or have worked in South Dakota. SHPO maintains lists of consultants and contractors as resources for sponsors or property owners. Lists for

Architectural Historians, Engineers/Environmental/Surveyors, and Historic Preservation Consultants can be found on the SHPO website here: https://history.sd.gov/preservation/consultantscontractors.aspx/.

These lists are provided with the understanding that the SHPO does not recommend, endorse, or assume responsibility for the quality of the work nor guarantee that any work product produced by those on this list will necessarily meet federal or state requirements. The professionals on this list possess varied levels of education and experience, and their listing does not imply that every individual is qualified to conduct architectural surveys. These lists are not comprehensive. Other individuals and/or firms who have not requested to be on our list may meet the Standards and/or be equally qualified.

To solicit bids/estimates from potential consultants, have a solid plan for the scope of work needed for your survey project. Some historic preservation programs require the issuing of a Request for Proposals

(RFP), particularly for projects above a certain spending threshold. Consult your sponsors and/or funding organization to determine if this is the case. RFPs are sent out widely to seek competitive bids by a given deadline. So that respondents know the expectations and can reply adequately, RFPs should be clear and detailed about: the scope of work, required field work and any public meetings, required https://history.sd.gov/preservation/consultantscontractors.aspx/ products, time frames, and what to submit in a bid. SHPO staff can help review the scope of work for a survey project that will contribute to the SHPO’s state database. Compare bids by looking at their proposed survey plan and methodology, the consultants’ qualifications and experience, provided references and sample work, and the estimated project costs.

Sponsors and consultants should have a signed contract before starting the field work. The contract should specify the budget and payment schedule, deadlines, the scope of work (including participation in any public meetings), the required final products, and any required legal and insurance information.

Volunteers

Volunteers are often valuable partners in a survey project. Many sponsoring organizations such as historic preservation boards/commissions or local historical societies may operate largely with volunteers who will help set the goals and scope of the survey, connect surveyors with research materials, coordinate public notifications and outreach, host public meetings, and use the survey results in their work for their communities.

In certain cases, volunteers may also have a role in field work and evaluations. Volunteers may have the expertise required to conduct the entire survey work. In certain cases, sponsors may also host or conduct training for interested but non-expert volunteers that could prepare them to assist in the data collection that is part of field work, or assist with the research, data entry, or report formatting. For example, a group of volunteers may collect preliminary data on a neighborhood that can help a sponsor decide whether to invest in hiring a consultant to formally survey a potential historic district.

How are Historic Surveys Funded?

If direct funding from a sponsor is unavailable or limited, there are multiple sources that can provide funding assistance for historic sites surveys.

SHPO can fund survey work using annual federal grants from the Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the National Park Service. In recent years, SHPO has prioritized county-wide surveys, but other geographic, district, or thematic surveys are also considered. Each fall, SHPO accepts public comments and suggestions, prior to its annual work plan meeting for the next fiscal year. The deadline for submitting comments is typically October 31, and the suggestion form is typically posted on the

SHPO website or can be requested from SHPO staff ahead of that date.

City and county governments who are active Certified Local Governments (CLG) with the National Park

Service can annually apply to SHPO for dedicated sub-grant funds from the Historic Preservation Fund.

Survey inventory is a priority type of eligible project for these funds. Applications are typically due by

March 31 annually, and grants run from June 1 to May 31. For more information about the CLG program requirements and grants, contact your regional HP Specialist at SHPO and visit the website:

https://history.sd.gov/preservation/commissions.aspx.

At times, the National Park Service has special grant programs that can provide matching funds for survey projects, such as those recently for Underrepresented Communities Grants, Tribal Heritage

Grants, or African American Civil Rights Grants. Contact SHPO staff or visit https://www.nps.gov/history/grants.htm for more information.

Other non-federal grant programs may be available for survey projects. The National Trust for Historic

Preservation has information on their grant programs on their website at the following link and encourage potential applicants to contact their staff before applying:

https://forum.savingplaces.org/build/funding/grant-seekers.

For surveys required by Review & Compliance processes under Section 106 of the National Historic

Preservation Act or other laws, federal agencies may conduct or fund surveys, or they may require applicants for federal funds or permits to fund their own surveys.

Back to Table of Contents.

https://history.sd.gov/preservation/commissions.aspx https://www.nps.gov/history/grants.htm https://forum.savingplaces.org/build/funding/grant-seekers

CRGRID

The SD SHPO’s CRGRID (Cultural Resources Geographic Research Information Display) system was developed to manage the immense amounts of historic sites survey data collected by the SHPO office and to make unrestricted data more accessible to cultural resource professionals, local governments, researchers, property owners, and the general public.

CRGRID was created in approximately 2006 to transition SHPO’s survey program to a digital format.

“Legacy” data from before 2006 was uploaded into the system, but SHPO regularly encounters and strives to correct older records that are incomplete or inaccurate, particularly for location data. If there are questions about the accuracy of data or old/obsolete data, SHPO encourages surveyors to re-survey the resources in their survey boundary or area of potential effects and then update state records.

Old hard-copy survey records are retained in storage at the SHPO office. The text information was incorporated into CRGRID at its creation, but the hard-copy files may have site sketches or index prints of photos as well. Contact SHPO staff about requests to consult these records. SHPO staff may retrieve single or small sets of records for researchers, but they may request researchers visit the office in Pierre and undertake the search in-person for larger requests. There are no fees associated with searching old survey records held by the SHPO office. Additionally, a number of old survey photographs and slides have been scanned by the State Archives into SD Digital Archives.

CRGRID has two online access points, one for approved users with password-protected accounts that is primarily used to add and edit survey records, and the other for professional or public users to view, query, and download (in PDF or Excel) survey data on a GIS-based map application.

SHPO has forms for three record types -- Structures, Bridges, and Cemeteries -- each with some fields that are tailored to those resource types. The three types are entered separately, but they can be viewed or queried either together or separately.

See the Submitting Forms section in this manual for information about requesting a user account, submitting forms, and requesting SHPO ID numbers for resources.

** Both of CRGRID’s web applications underwent a large update and redesign in 2018-2020. If you are using either website and notice technical errors, please send a description or screenshot of the error to

SHPO so we can have the issue addressed and keep the system working well for all users.

https://history.sd.gov/SHPOHS/

To add/edit survey records.

Digital submission of forms is the preferred method of providing survey record data to SHPO.

Approved users can also view and download Detail or

Summary records in .pdf or .xml files from this website, but search options are more limited than in https://apps.sd.gov/DE71SHPOCRGRID/ (described below). Search results are grouped in tables according to record type: Structures, Bridges, and Cemeteries.

CRGRID

https://sddigitalarchives.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/photos https://history.sd.gov/SHPOHS/ https://apps.sd.gov/DE71SHPOCRGRID/

To view, query, and download survey data.

The site includes tools to search for records by attributes (such as Property Name, SHPO

ID, address, etc.), within drawn polygon areas, or within a buffer area around a selected point. There are also tools to measure area and distance, and to display geographic coordinates for a selected point.

From the Selected Sites results list, users can download Detail or Summary records in .pdf or .xml files.

A Help Guide for users is hyperlinked here and on the website’s Help tab. SHPO staff can also answer questions about using the tools on the site, provide copies of the Help Guide directly, or, in certain cases, provide training on using the site.

Archaeological Records

Archaeological survey records are managed by the SDSHS’ Archaeological Research Center (ARC) in

Rapid City. Archaeological site information is restricted from the general public. Qualified archaeologists working on projects or property owners looking for information on their own property can contact ARC staff for more information about options for conducting Record Searches, fees may apply:

https://history.sd.gov/archaeology/recordsearches.aspx. If you are already conducting or requesting a

Record Search from ARC for your project, they should have access to and be able to provide records for above-ground resources from CRGRID along with the archaeological sites.

Shapefiles

If you are a surveyor working on a cultural resource project and would like to request GIS shapefiles for

CRGRID data for a certain geographic area or other query, contact regional HP Specialists at SHPO to coordinate that request.

https://apps.sd.gov/DE71SHPOCRGRID/HelpGuideCRGRID2020.pdf https://history.sd.gov/archaeology/recordsearches.aspx

Survey Types

There are two levels of architectural surveys: reconnaissance and intensive. A reconnaissance survey provides a minimal amount of information about a large number of sites. An intensive survey is designed to gather all available information about a particular structure or set of structures. There are also five program types listed below with information about their specific scopes and requirements.

Reconnaissance Surveys

For a Reconnaissance level survey, a surveyor should conduct historic research and the review of existing SHPO historic sites data before field work. These steps will inform effective survey methodology and evaluations for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, and they provide the material for a historic overview and bibliography in the final report. This research should include existing survey and State and National Register records, as well as overview information for the survey area from maps, city and county histories, historic photographs, etc. See more in section on Background

Research. Reconnaissance surveys do not typically require detailed research about each property.

Reconnaissance level field work includes visiting, photographing, and documenting basic details about all the properties within their scope of work. After field work, surveyors need to submit survey forms in the CRGRID system for each newly surveyed property and update older existing survey records. The forms need to include at least a determination of eligibility, a brief physical description, and basic location information such as township, range, section, quarter sections, and UTM coordinates. See sections in this manual on CRGRID, Submitting Forms, and Evaluating Eligibility.

Reconnaissance level surveys can be used for determining which resources could or should receive intensive survey work, consideration in local planning efforts, or consideration in the assessment of potential impacts of a project/undertaking in a Section 106 review.

Intensive Surveys

Intensive level surveys record a deeper level of historical research and documentation. Research may include looking at land records, building permits, the history of property ownership and inhabitants, the history of the property’s use/function, and investigation of physical alterations over time. Documentation should include details of construction and ornamentation, and may include detailed photographs or sketches. For an Intensive survey of a single property, it is more typical to coordinate with the current owners for permission to visit and document exteriors not visible from the public right-of-way and/or the interior of the building or structure.

Intensive level surveys are often done when SHPO staff or consultants need additional historical context and research to evaluate properties under NRHP criteria (see section on Evaluating Eligibility), or are looking to prepare materials such as National Register nominations, Part 1 applications for the Federal

Historic Income Tax Credit, or local designation applications. They may also be warranted if more information is needed to assess the potential impacts of a project/undertaking under Section 106 review.

Intensive surveys may require more expertise, more time, and more funding to achieve their goals.

SURVEY TYPES

County Surveys

County surveys are typically undertaken by the SHPO office or through a Certified Local Government grant (see section on CLG Grant Projects, following) and are usually reconnaissance level surveys.

County surveys require preliminary background research ahead of field work, and often include at least one public meeting by SHPO and the surveyor team. Unless the project contract specifies otherwise, every public rural road and town street within the county is traversed and resources older than forty years and potentially eligible for the National Register of Historic Places are recorded, photographed, mapped, and evaluated. Existing survey records older than five years are also re-surveyed and any necessary updates made to those records. SHPO staff will review records and evaluations after field work and will review a draft of the final report.

In recent years, SHPO has completed surveys of one or two counties per year on average through awarded contracts funded by annual grants from the federal Historic Preservation Fund. SHPO is working through a list of counties that need survey work, as prioritized by factors such as the number of older built resources according to census data and the number of resources already entered in CRGRID.

If you are interested in viewing the full survey reports from any previous county survey in South Dakota, beyond the records posted in CRGRID, contact the SHPO office to determine if a survey is on file and can be made available.

Thematic Surveys

Thematic surveys target resources within specific historic contexts that may be defined by certain geographic areas, time periods, history themes, building types/forms, architectural styles, and/or architect/builders. The context should be defined in the scope of work. Thematic surveys may require a deeper level of historical research about that context. They may be undertaken as preparation for writing a full context study or a Multiple Property

Documentation Form for the NRHP. Previous SHPO historic context studies, thematic surveys, and Multiple

Property nominations can be found in Appendix D of this manual.

Thematic surveys may require recording every resource that can be identified within the given parameters and the evaluation of their eligibility for the National Register of

Historic Places, or they may require identifying and recording a representative sample that can be used to write guidance on evaluating the NRHP eligibility of additional similar resources as they are identified in the future.

2011 Survey of Water Towers in South Dakota https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/upload/NRB16B-Complete.pdf https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/upload/NRB16B-Complete.pdf

Thematic surveys can provide valuable information about the range of extant resources related to the chosen theme, which can inform judgements of rarity or ubiquity of different resource types within the thematic context. They can also identify trends that impact the historic integrity of those resources—for instance, the common replacement of windows in public schools and county courthouses resulting from the energy crisis of the early 1970s, or trends in the construction of classroom additions to schools and churches that followed the post-World War II baby boom.

City and District Surveys

Surveys may cover entire cities or look in detail at certain properties or neighborhoods to provide local governments or other sponsor organizations with information about historic resources in their communities. City and district surveys can be undertaken at either reconnaissance or intensive levels depending on project goals, or sponsors may plan to do both levels in a phased project. For instance, a local government might do a reconnaissance survey of a broad neighborhood area to study the potential eligibility of and recommend a boundary for nominating a historic district to the National Register of

Historic Places. An intensive survey could be done as a second phase to refine the boundary and record more details about every resource within the boundary. That data could then be used to prepare a NRHP nomination documentation for the district. Active public engagement, particularly with property owners, at each step of the process is recommended for sponsors working towards nominating a historic district to the NRHP. See section on Public Engagement.

Local governments may maintain their own survey systems that record historic sites. SHPO nonetheless encourages local governments to submit survey data into the state database to help improve preservation programs statewide. Some programs, like the CLG grant projects discussed below, may require this.

CLG Grant Projects

Certified Local Governments (CLG) are municipal governments that have a preservation program certified by the National Park Service and are eligible for sub-grant funding through the SHPO. Surveys and re-survey work is a priority for this funding. For surveys completed as CLG grant projects, records need to be entered in the state survey database. See section on Submitting Forms. CLG grants also have match requirements and deadlines of which sponsors and consultants should be aware. SHPO must approve any extensions or substantive changes in the scope of work for the CLG’s overall grant.

As federal sub-grants, CLG survey projects must meet certain requirements for bids and contract terms.

CLGs should review their grant manual from SHPO and consult SHPO staff while applying for grant funds. The CLG’s regional HP Specialist should review the scope of work in the survey RFP and contract. It is highly recommended that the HP Specialist participate in public meetings about the project.

They can present details and/or answer questions about the National Register and nomination process, rehabilitation grant and tax programs, and Review and Compliance laws. See section on Public

Engagement.

Program information, including the grant manual and a list of current CLGs, can be found on the SHPO website at: https://history.sd.gov/preservation/commissions.aspx.

https://history.sd.gov/preservation/commissions.aspx

Review and Compliance

Historic property surveys are often undertaken for the purposes of Review and Compliance under Section

106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for a federal undertaking. Surveys investigate resources within a project’s identified Area of Potential Effects (APE), defined in consultation with the SHPO office. Surveys identify historic properties that are listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Identified historic properties can then receive the required consideration in the review process. Federal agencies may undertake surveys for Section 106 themselves with qualified personnel, directly hire contractors to complete survey work, or require applicants to hire contractors to complete survey work.

Surveys may also be undertaken by federal agencies for compliance with Section 110 of the NHPA (to identify historic properties on federal lands) or other laws.

Appendix K “An Overview of Architectural Survey for NHPA Section 106” has additional notes. SHPO has detailed guidance on the Section 106 process, including survey requirements, in its publication South

Dakota Guidelines for Complying with Federal and State Preservation Laws (2023).

More information on the Section 106 review process can be found on the SHPO website at:

https://history.sd.gov/preservation/laws.aspx.

https://history.sd.gov/preservation/laws.aspx

Background Research

Research Design

Surveyors should have general expertise in history and/or architecture in fields related to the target resources of the planned survey. It is recommended that surveyors do additional background research on the specific geographic area and the historic contexts covered by the scope of that survey. The research design should be scaled appropriately to the size and complexity of the survey targets.

Research designs should include a description of relevant historic contexts, questions to investigate, a review of existing records and literature, a plan of sources or repositories to consult, and any proposed public engagement efforts to gather information.

A research design should make use of existing survey data as well as relevant prepared and published contexts, but background research should also be open and broad enough to build information about gaps in the existing literature, particularly regarding underrepresented histories and communities, vernacular architecture, and more recent time periods that are coming under the National Register’s 50-year guidance. See section on Evaluating Eligibility.

A Request for Proposals (RFP) may require that consultants submit a preliminary research design in their bid/estimate. A survey contract also may require that a sponsor organization review and approve an initial research design or the results of background research and bibliography before the surveyor begins field work.

Research targets that can help inform effective surveys and NRHP evaluations may include:

• the histories of indigenous people and tribes who have had relationships to the land from thousands of years ago to today

• early exploration by private individuals or companies, European colonial governments, and/or the

U.S. government

• trends in settlement, county organization, and town development from approximately the 1850s to the 1920s, including by railroad and town companies, the U.S. government, migrant and immigrant communities

• changes in patterns of land use and/or agricultural practices over time

• geography, natural resources, and landscape features in the area, particularly in how they facilitated or limited the human experience on the land, impacted the development of the built landscape, or intersected with histories of cultural practice, industry, agriculture, construction, recreation, tourism, and/or conservation movements

• transportation networks and the movement of people, commercial goods, and building materials, and their impact of those histories on the built landscape

BACKGROUND RESEARCH

• commercial development in the retail businesses, services, professions, and industries active in the area over time

• residential development and patterns of growth in the community’s population and built landscape

• social histories of education, health care, religious groups, political groups, sports and recreation, and organizations such as (but not limited to) clubs, musical societies, fraternal organizations and auxiliaries, and veterans’ organizations and auxiliaries

• individuals who made a significant impact on the local communities or in their field of influence

(profession, avocation, social or civic activities, etc.)

• regional and national events and trends that may be represented in the history of the local community, such as economic recessions, natural phenomenon like droughts and floods, sociopolitical movements, migrations of people, changes in technology, etc.

Research Sources

The types of available research sources can vary widely by community, but there are plentiful records and histories to use to study South Dakota places. While planning research, you can consult SHPO staff, subject experts, and/or local historians, as well as libraries, museums, and/or historical societies for ideas of sources to use and repositories to visit.

While doing research, it is recommended to organize your notes by source and record all relevant bibliographic information. In survey reports, and where possible/feasible in survey records, surveyors should include sources in brackets or footnotes for the use of future users. Surveyors should include a full bibliography in the final survey reports.

Some suggested possible resources sources include:

SHPO files:

• Existing survey records from https://apps.sd.gov/DE71SHPOCRGRID/. For large sets of existing records, contractors may request GIS shapefiles of survey data for the area from SHPO staff. Old hard-copy survey records at the SHPO office that were incorporated into CRGRID at its creation but may include sketches or index print photos. A number of old survey photographs have been scanned by the State Archives into SD Digital Archives as well.

https://sddigitalarchives.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/photos

• Past survey reports

• Historic context studies (lists in Appendix D)

• Multiple Property Documentation Forms and Inventory nominations (lists in Appendix D)

• National Register files and nominations

• Architect Files

Geographic sources:

• County atlases (SD State Archives; local repositories)

• Sanborn and Fire Underwriter insurance maps (SD State Archives (index); Library of

Congress)

• Land patent records, including from the Bureau of Land Management-General Land Offices

(the BLM-GLO website)

• Property deed and plat records (often at county

Register of Deeds offices)

SD State Archives, including Digital Archives:

• Library (catalog)

• Government Collections

• Manuscript Collections

• Newspapers (microfilm; Chronicling America –

LOC)

• Photographs and Maps

• County Guides, lists of Archives’ materials for some counties

• Other special collections including:

Biographical files, Vertical files, the GFWC

(General Federation of Women’s Clubs) Pioneer

Daughters collection, military records, etc.

Local libraries, museums, historical societies, and archives

Local institutions in South Dakota may have limited or seasonal hours, or limited staff and volunteer availability. Many have websites or social media pages with information on hours, location, collections, finding aids, etc., but smaller operations may not have extensive websites.

Some also materials stored off-site and need to retrieve materials before researchers visit. It is recommended to contact institutions in advance to confirm hours/availability, make an appointment, or inquire about desired materials.

Tribal Historic Preservation Offices and archives

The SHPO website currently includes contact information for Tribal Chairs and Tribal Historic

Preservation Offices/Cultural Resource Management Offices. (If link has changed, contact

SHPO for the current version.)

Oral history from property owners and/or past occupants

Oral history, and even informal conversations, can provide valuable leads for property research and human stories to enrich the historic context about a property. However, as they are sources

SHPO Library at SD State Archives https://history.sd.gov/archives/FireInsurance.aspx https://www.loc.gov/collections/sanborn-maps/index/location/?all=true&fa=location:south+dakota https://www.loc.gov/collections/sanborn-maps/index/location/?all=true&fa=location:south+dakota https://glorecords.blm.gov/ https://history.sd.gov/archives/default.aspx https://sddigitalarchives.contentdm.oclc.org/ https://sdsa.booksys.net/opac/sdsa/#menuHome https://history.sd.gov/archives/manuscripts.aspx https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ https://history.sd.gov/archives/data/County/CountyDefault.aspx https://history.sd.gov/archives/collectionindexes.aspx based on memory or even second-hand information, be judicious in their use and record the source(s).

Federal and state population and agricultural censuses

These can be sourced as hard-copy records or in digital formats either through repositories like the SD State Archives or other avenues such as subscription genealogical services.

Reference sources from the period, such as city directories, state gazetteers, etc.

These can be sourced in printed or digital formats through repositories like the SD State Archives, local archives, or other avenues such as subscription genealogical services.

Published state, county, and local histories.

County histories were a trend in South Dakota around the time of the state centennial in 1989 and were usually written by dedicated amateurs and volunteers. They often include a high level of detail and a number of photographs—particularly regarding early settlement, businesses, certain social organizations, schools, churches, and family histories. As useful as they can be, contemporary researchers should be aware of their limitations, gaps, and biases, and not rely solely on a county history as the basis of background research for a survey.

Architectural histories and style guides (see Appendix G for specific examples)

The SHPO office has a Historic Preservation library within the State Archives as well as some sources in-office that researchers may be able to use at the Cultural Heritage Center.

Relevant historical studies, books, or journal articlesr

Popular sources such as news and magazine articles or online articles that discuss historic and cultural topics for the research area. Examples may include South Dakota Public Broadcasting, South

Dakota Magazine, local newspapers and their websites, etc.

Preparing for Survey Work

Survey Boundary

The boundary of a survey is often defined in the scope of work of a survey project. Following are several ways that a survey boundary can be determined. There may also be cases where a combination of the following is appropriate.

Project area, or Area of Potential Effects

A survey boundary may be determined by a certain proposed development or government undertaking. In Section 106 reviews, federal agencies need to define an Area of Potential Effects

(APE) in consultation with the SHPO that incorporates the project area as well as surrounding properties that might be affected by the project.

If historic resources extend beyond the project area or APE, the survey boundary might limit the surveyors’ ability to complete the survey goals. For instance, if an APE extends a certain distance from a highway, that survey boundary might include farmstead outbuildings near the road but leave out other resources further back, limiting the ability to evaluate the farmstead as a whole. An APE for work on a bridge might include a segment of a constructed canal with historic significance that is crossed by the bridge. The whole canal or canal system may need to be recorded and evaluated in survey work as determined in the consultation process.

Property or legal boundaries

Surveys may cover certain property or legal boundaries, such as county/city boundaries, a series of property lot/parcel lines, or right-of-way limits.

Historic boundaries

A survey might cover a historic boundary of a property, city, neighborhood, or plat addition. It may also be drawn to encompass historically associated resources, such as a farm/ranch, mining complex, or school campus.

Natural or topographic boundaries

One or more boundary edges may follow natural features like rivers or bluffs. They may also follow other man-made topographic features like road or railroad grades.

Extant resources

Within a given legal or historic boundary, a survey might be modified to exclude areas known to no longer have standing resources (if not also surveying for archaeological resources). A survey boundary could also be selected based on known extant historic resources, particularly if re-surveying an area or doing an intensive survey in an area formerly covered by a reconnaissance survey.

PREPARING FOR SURVEY WORK

Survey Methodology

Survey methodologies detail what is to be surveyed, what level of survey, and what methods of survey work will be used. Some of these aspects may be determined by the project sponsors, and others may be at the professional judgement of the surveyor. Aspects that are required by the sponsor should be included in the scope of work in the Requests for Proposals and may affect the consultant’s cost estimates. RFPs may also require that bids include the consultant’s proposed methodology. The project contract should include all required and agreed upon survey parameters in its scope of work.

To consider:

What properties will be included in the survey?

Will the survey include every structure or cultural resource within the boundary/APE, or will it focus on resources of a particular thematic period or type within the boundary? Will associated secondary buildings and/or landscape features be included? Are only potentially NRHP-eligible resources included, or only resources older than a certain date? How will the surveyor determine which resources meet those parameters?

What route will the surveyor or survey team(s) take?

It’s often recommended that surveyors follow a planned route so that time for travel is efficient, no required resources are missed, and records & photographs can be keyed and correlated after field work is completed. If using multiple survey teams, surveyors might divide up the survey boundary by zone, block, streets, etc. If surveyors can only do work from the public right-of-way, or if they need to coordinate visits on private property with the property owner, that should be specified in the scope of work. Consider whether there are physical obstacles or road conditions/construction that would limit the surveyors’ movements.

Surveyors should bring detailed maps for field work, both for wayfinding and for writing keys/logs of survey records, addresses, and/or photographs. Include road maps, and/or topographic or tax parcel maps.

What level of survey is being undertaken?

What aspects of a resource need to be recorded? Is the focus on primary street-facing elevations, all exteriors, or also interior? With landscape and setting? With secondary structures or outbuildings?

Spatial and visual relationships between resources?