Attachment_4_-_Historic_Structures_Report.pdf

TRATL OASTS

HISTORIC STRUCTURE REPORT

vrsrToR CENTER (HS-2)

Scotts Bluff National Monument Gering, Nebraska

Novemberr200l

Prepared by Alan \il. O'Bright

Midwest Regional Ofüce National Park Service

United States Department of the Interior

Trail Oasis

Visitor Center (HS-2) Historic Structure Report

Scotts Bluff National Monument Gering, Nebraska

Prepared by

Alan W. O'Bright Historical Architect

MidwestRegional Offrce National Park Service

United States Department of the Interior

May,2002

RECOMMENDED:

CONCURRED:

Resources, Midwest

\ovro:

Data

Regional Director, Midwest Region

National Monument t4 /4æq oL f"r"-

Hi;toric Structure Report

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

PROJECT TEAM MEMBERS

INWSTIGATION HISTORY AND METHODOLOGY

USE PROGRAM

PROJECT GOALS

PART ONE: DEVELOPMENTAL HISTORY

HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS

HISTORY

Adminßtrative B ackgro un d Constructíon History Comparative Anølysís

SI GNIFICANT FEATURE IDENTI FICATION

EXISTING CONDITIONS

Síte Context

Climate Grade and Drainage Vegetation Pavement Fencing Exterior Seating Flag Pole Area Amphitheater Site Lìghting Signage Mis c e ll ane ous Sit e Furnitur e

Structural Systems Foundation Systems Floor Systems Wall Systems Roof and Ceiling Systems

Exterìor Envelope Illall Finishes Roof Flashing Gutters and Downspouts Windows Exterior Doors

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Interíor Fínßhes and Use Break Room 001 C onfer enc e/ Libr ary 0 0 2 Mechanical Room 003 Locker/Storage 005 Hall006 Sales Storage 007 Sales Office 008 Sales Storage 009 Kitchen 010 Office 011 Collections Storage 0l 2 Storage 013 Lobby 101 Museum Exhibit Room 102 Hall 103 Ranger Office 104 Employee Restroom 108 Closet 109 Theater/Landmark Exhibit I l0 Ofrìce I 12 Office II3 Jacl<son Exhibit Room ll5 Tower 201 Amphitheater Public Restrooms

Plumbíng Systems Fíre Suppressíon Heatíng/Cooling Systems Electrícal & Líghtíng Systems Communication & Security Systems Hazørdous Materiøls Archeologlt Accessíbilíty As s essment

Site Doors Accessible Routes Visitor Contact Counter Stairs Restrooms Drinking Fountain Public Telephone Exhibits & Sales Area Admini s tr at i on B uil ding Accessibility Summary

Visìtor Center (HS-2)

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3Historic Structure Report

Lífe Safety Evaluøtion Occupøncy Fire Separation Egress Coryidors Stairways Exit Signs Iil'ater Closets

Existíng Space Allocution Exßtíng Space AnøIysß

Visitor Contact Exhibit Spaces Sales Public Restrooms Offices Conference/Library Collections Storage Employee Services Storage Amphitheater

Exßtíng Condìtions Drawíngs

PART TWO: TREATMENT AND USE

DESIGN PROGRAM

New Space Allocation

TREATMENT ALTERNATIWS

Treatment Alternatíve I Treatment Alternative 2 Treatment Alternatíve 3a Treatment Alternatíve 3 b Treøtment Alternative 3c Treatment Alternative 3d Treatment Alternatíve 4 a Treøtment Alternatíve 4b

F'URTHER INVESTIGATIONS

APPENDIX A

APPENDIX B

APPENDIX C

REFERENCES

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4 Visitor Center øS-2)

Historic Structure Reoort

EXECUTIVE ST]MMARY

STATEMENT OF PUNPOSE

The purpose of this document is to provide advance planning for the eventual rehabilitation of the Scoffs Bluff Visitor Center. The existing visitor center is significant with respect to its association with early interpretation of Oregon Trail heritage and the structure's architectural design. The structure has value with respect to the site, and therefore should be incorporated into any future design proposals. This document is intended to provide alternative concepts for rehabilitation of the structure for continued use as the park's primary visitor contact station. Selection of an ultimate treatment will take place drning future design development and value analysis phases of the project. Note that the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Offrcer recommends Treatment Alternatives 3 and 4 as the preferred alternatives for fuither development (see Appendix C).

PROJECT TEAM MEMBERS

Information and management assistance:

Scotts Bluff National Monument Valerie Naylor, Superintendent Dean Knudsen, Park Historian Robert Hamann, Facility Manager

Collections management consultation:

Carolyn V/allingford, Curator, Midwest Archeological Center

Archeological issue consultation:

Bruce Jones, Archeologist, Midwest Archeological Center

Cultural landscape consultation:

Sherda V/illiams, Historical Landscape Architect, Midwest Regional Office

Structural investigation :

Tom Fitzpatrick, Structural Engineer, Fitzpatrick Structural Engineers, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Adobe consultant:

Jake Barrow, Restoration Specialist, Intermountain Region, National Park Service

INWSTIGATION HIS TORY AND

METHODOLOGY

No comprehensive architectural study has previously been completed for the Visitor Center, although various research documents and data bases have outlined major construction developments and identiflred problems. In 1976 Scotts Bluff was included in a study of National Park Service visitor centers. That study identified internal and external visitor congestion areas, and minor maintenance challenges, but offered few viable recommendations.

About that same time a Master Plan being developed by the Denver Service Center stirred controversy by suggesting that the present visitor center be demolished and that function be relocated near the periphery or outside of the park to retum the landscape to its natural state. While the recommendation to demolish the structure obviously went unfulfilled, that same document also identified the absence of a decent auditorium as a major interpretive weakness, and the crowded conditions within the building.

The 1983 Scotts Bluff administrative history authored by National Park Service Historian Ron Cockrell, succinctly sequences the above-mentioned studies and plans, and naturally includes Visitor Center construction history. A Determination of Eligibility study, approved in 1995, generally reiterates the structural history presented by Cockrell, but for the first time analyzes the characteristic style of the building and identifies its significance in relationship to the interpretation of the Oregon Trail. Approved in 1996, a cultural landscape Determination of Eligibility study contains relevant justification on the integrity of the structure as a component of the development complex.

The park's revised General Management Plan, approved in 1998, offers a recommendation to relocate administrative and maintenance functions away from the park to alleviate overcrowded conditions at the Visitor Center. The recommendation indicates the two vacated buildings are then to be rehabilitated for use as interpretive exhibits.

This report relies heavily on previously-mentioned studies and construction drawings for primary information on building history and development. This study proceeds a step further by identifying significant building features, condition and functional problems, and building code and handicap accessibility violations through a thorough inspection. Treatment and program requirements are based upon interviews with park staff.

Public restrooms are located in a small adobe structure separate from the Visitor Center. However, because the public restrooms are an integral part of the visitor services and physically located very close to the Visitor Center, the public restroom building is specifically included within this analysis. All other structures within the complex are addressed only in terms of their indirect impact on the administrative operation of the Visitor Center.

Structural and adobe analysis has been completed with this investigation. Due to severe funding constraints electrical and mechanical engineering analysis and design could not be fully developed with this document. It is understood that should ultimate treatment recommendations be implemented in the future, these specialized services will be handled by the National Park Service or contracted private sector professionals.

USE PROGRAM

The Visitor Center will continue to be used as the primary site visitor contact building.

Ancillary functions such as administrative offices, and collection and general storage will be evaluated against what other site structures can offer to relieve presently overcrowded conditions. Treatment alternatives relative to use are addressed and evaluated elsewhere in this document.

PROJECT GOALS

The goal of this project is to evaluate existing use functions and fabric condition to develop viable conceptual treatment alternatives for the anticipated long-term service of the Visitor Center for public use and enjoyment.

Historic Structure Report

PART ONE: DEVELOPMENTAL HISTORY

HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS

The following photographs were selected from the extensive archival photographic collections at Scotts Bluff NM. The intent of these images is to demonstrate Visitor Center building development, construction methods, details of now missing elements, and appearance and character of modified interior spaces. The photos are arranged in chronological order. Other historic photographs illustrating specific elements or construction episodes are presented elsewhere in this document.

Figure I - Museum - 1935-1936. This view from the apparently taken toward the end of construction. The unpainted. (SCBL photo archive, No. 69).

southwest was brick walls are

Figure 2 - Museum Building, about 1935. In this view directly to the north, the structure appears to have been painted soon after construction. (SCBL photo archive, Drawer 2, No. sb2427).

Visitor Center t'HS-2)

Figure 3 - Museum Building Exhibits. Interior view of Room 102 to the east. Note the exposed timber trusses at the ceiling that are now concealed by a suspended ceiling, and the curtained windows that are presently blocked. At the very end of the room is a pafu of dioramas that now reside in the Jackson Room. (SCBL photo archives, Drawer 2).

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Figure 4 - Museum Building Addition Construction,1937. In this view to the northwest from the interior of the Landmark Room (110), CCC workers are seen erecting an internal wooden frame of the west wall.

Adobe bricks would later be laid up against the frame at the exterior.

(SCBL photo archives, Drawer 2, No. sbl145).

Figure 5 - Museum Building Addition Construction, 1937. View to the northeast toward tower framework. Concrete posts rather than adobe brick provide structural support of the tower. Later, adobe will be infilled between the posts. (SCBL photo archives, Drawer 2, No. sb I 13 1).

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Figure 6 - Museum Building Addition Construction, 7937. View to the east toward the Landmark Wing. The tall concrete posts serve to support a concrete bond beam supporting the roof. In this image CCC workers are laying up the adobe brick. (SCBL photo archives, Drawer 2, No. sb242).

Visitor Center HS-2)

X'igure 7 - Museum Building Addition Construction, 1937. View to the northeast toward tower and Landmark Room. In this view adobe bricks are completed to the window sill level at the Landmark Room west elevation. (SCBL photo archives, Drawer 2, No. 1082).

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Historic Structure Renort

Figure 8 - Museum Building Addition Construction, 1937. View to the northeast toward the tower and Landmark Room. In this view adobe bricks are installed nearly to the second floor level of the tower, and window lintels have been installed. (SCBL photo archives, Drawer 2, No. sbl074).

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X'igure 9 - Museum Building Addition Construction, 1937. View to the east of tower and west entrance area. (SCBL photo archives, Drawer 2, No.

sbl 155).

Figure L0 - Museum Building Addition Construction, 1937. View to the southeast. In this view Landmark Room and tower walls are completed, and the Landmark Room roof is under construction. (SCBL photo archives, Drawer 2, No. sb573).

Figure L1 - Museum Building Addition Construction, 1937. View of the office wing (rooms 111 &, 112) to the southwest. Here the CCC construction crew is placing the concrete foundations. (SCBL photo archives, Drawer 2, No. sb1130).

t;l;lî,nÆ llistoric Structure Renort

Figure 12 - Museum Building Addition Construction, 1937. View of the office wing (rooms 111 e, ln) toward the southwest. In this view construction of the adobe walls is nearly complete, and window frames have been installed. Reinforcing rod or bolts protruding from the wall top between windows and addition corners indicates that concrete posts were installed in these walls prior to adobe installation. The grilled windows of the Museum Room north elevation were permanently concealed when this addition was constructed. (SCBL photo archives, Drawer 2, No. sbl154).

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Figure 13 - "Oregon Trail Museum, Gering, Nebr." View to the northwest of Visitor Center with recently-completed tower and ranger quarters. (SCBL photo archives, No. 53).

l4 Visitor Center HS-2)

Figure 14 - Museum Building Lobby (101), June 1941. View toward the west wall. At the time this image was taken a small visitor contact counter and visitor sign-in stand were located against the west wall. A vertical board Dutch door with window separated the Lobby from the Ranger Office, and the floor was finished with scored concrete that emulated tile.

(SCBL photo archives, Drawer 2).

Historic Structure Report 15

Figure 15 - Colorized postcard view of the visitor center complex from Scotts Bluff to the southeast, circa 194I. Except for the Jackson Wing addition, the ranger quarters at the southwest corner of the complex, and construction of a free-form parking lot east of the Visitor Center, the view remains relatively the same today. (SCBL photo archives).

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Figure 16 - Administration and Museum the north immediately after completion photo archives, Drawer 1, No. sb3134).

Visitor Center ffiS-2)

Building, May, of the Jackson

1949. View to Wing. (SCBL

Figure 17 - Administration and Museum Building, May to the northeast immediately after completion of the (SCBL photo archives, Drawer 1, No. sb3215).

22, 1949. View Jackson Wing.

Historic Structure Reoort 17

Figure 18 - Administration and Museum Buildings, September 26,1949.

View to the southeast of the Landmark Wing and tower. Note the pedestrian gate just outside of the west entrance. (SCBL photo archives, Drawer 1, No. sb3126).

HISTORY

Adminístrstive B ackgro und Constructed in 1935 the visitor center was initially referred to as the Administration and Museum Building until 1956 when it was formally renamed the Visitor Center.

The building has always functioned to provide visitor services including site information, museum and special exhibits and events, and restrooms. Over time various spaces were adapted to provide administrative offices and collections storage.

In 1975 the Visitor Center was listed in the National Park Service's List of Classified Structures (LCS) under the LCS identification number (IDLCS) 70068. In the updated 1995 LCS inventory the structure is listed as Historic Structure (HS) 2,witha revised IDLCS number of 101264.1 The structure is entered in the site's 1978 National Register of Historic Places nomination form as a non-contributing structure.2 A consensus in the lgg5 Determination of Eligibility study recommends that the structure be included as a contributing feature of the historic district of the 1920 to 1948 period of significance.3 As of this writing the Visitor Center remains unlisted in the National Register of Historic Places, although it is eligible for listing.

The park's 1998 General Management Plan recommends that administrative and maintenance functions be moved off site to provide additional interpretive space in those vacated buildings.a

Construction History Established late in 1919, Scotts BlufT National Monument had few essential visitor services until construction of the Administration and Museum Building in 1935 to house the Oregon Trail Museum.

Designed by National Park Service landscape architect Howard Baker, and constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the simple structure consisted of a visitor contact lobby and a museum room extending from the lobby to the east, and measuring twenty feet by thirty six feet.s A full basement housed a work room beneath the lobby and a large furnace room beneath the museum room.6 Apparently, another wing was to have been built at the same time, but insufficient project fr¡nds delayed construction until 1938.7 Drawings produced in 1935 reflect only construction of the lobby and Museum Room however.

Visitor Center (HS-2)

I National Park Service, "List of Classified Structures Single Entry Report, Oregon Trail Museum," 77

March, 1995.

2 "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Fotm, Scotts Bluff National Monument," (Date entered, 3 October, 1978), Item 7,page 2. The Oregon Trail wagon wheel ruts are listed as the only significant historic feature. All other structures are listed as "non contributing."

3 Dena Sanford, "Determination of Eligibility, Scotts Bluff National Monument," (Date approved, 1995).

4 "scotts Bluff National Monument General Management Plan," (Omaha, Nebraska: United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Midwest Support Office, 1998), 18.

' Ron Cockrell, Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska: An Administrative History, 1960-1983, (Omaha, Nebraska: National Park Service, Midwest Regional Office, November 1983), (hereafter cited as

Cockrell, 1983 Administrative History), 26.

Although Baker is the design architect cited in Cockrell's work, Baker's name curiously appears nowhere on the drawings.

6 "Administration Building & Museum, Scotts Bluff National Monument," NPS Drawing No. SB-3007, sheet 2 April, 1934. According a notation on the drawing, the building was completed on 22 June, 1935.t S. Serrano, Assistant Landscape Architect to Howard W. Baker, Landscape Architect, lelter, 23 June, 1936.

Historic Structure Reoort 19

Resembling the Spanish Colonial style or the folk sod construction predominant in nineteenth century Nebraska plains (see

Comparative Analysis), the building consisted of a reinforced concrete foundation, and brick walls topped by a shallow-pitched wood shingle roof (Figures I and 2). From the early images it appears that the building was painted a light shade soon after construction. Windows were placed high on the museum room wall and covered on the exterior with a concrete grill.

Visitors approaching from the parking lot south of the building passed through a brick segmental arch into a small foyer flanked by built-in concrete seats, before entering the lobby through the fi'ont door. The Museum Room ceiling featured exposed wooden trusses and the floor was bare concrete scored to simulate square tile according to the construction drawings (Figure 3).

and 1938 the first addition to the Museum Building was constructed under private contract, in addition to a Ranger's residence, a public rsstroom building, and a maintenance yard.

documented, the designer is suspected to have been Howard Baker. A gated road entrance from the parking lot south of the building site to the bluff was created between the ranger's residence and museum.

A public restroom, or comfort station, was built east of and separate from the museum wing (Figure 19).e

All of these structures were to have been completed in 1935, but the project was delayed due to insufficient funds. Project completion as originally envisioned was in jeopardy until a revision was made in the use of a primary building material. All structures were initially designed to be constructed of fired brick as reflected in the construction drawings. But the idea was floated that if adobe was substituted as an alternate material, the entire project could be completed without securing additional funds.lo

A discussion ensued as to how to treat the adobe surface on the addition. There was concern that the addition may appear different from the existing Museum Building because of the change in building material. The Museum Building was constructed of exposed, nominally-sized fired brick measuring roughly 2% inches by 4 inches by 8 inches with joints to lz inch thick. Traditional adobe brick was

Although not

Figure 19 - Comfort Station, Júy, 1937. View to the northwest prior to application of a cement plaster coat over the adobe bricks. (SCBL photo archives, Drawer 3, No. sbl144).

Museum designers must have anticipated future additions to that building, as blind door openings with concrete lintels were designed and apparently constructed into the east and north walls.s Indeed, between 1937 t "Administration Building & Museum, Scotts Bluff National Monument," NPS Drawing No. SB-3007, sheets 4 and 5, April, 1934. See south and east elevations for opening locations.

n "Addition to Museum Building," NPS Drawing No.

SB-2501-4, 16 March, 1937, sheet 1, and S. Serrano, Assistant Landscape Architect to Howard W. Baker, Landscape Architect, letter, 14 July,1937.

to S. Serrano, Assistant Landscape Architect to Howard W. Baker, Landscape Architect, letter, 23

June, 1936, 1, see Appendix A for full content.

historically much larger, 4 inches by 9 or 12 inches by 18 inches with joints averaging 1 inch thickness.ll Bricks used in construction of the addition and other structures at the site measure 4 inches by 8 inches by 16 inches (see Wall Systems).

Discussion centered on revising the size of the adobe bricks to match the exposure of the Museum Building brick.r2 Ironically, the Museum Building was constructed of fired brick emulating an adobe-style design.

Now that the more affordable adobe was considered for the addition, ideas were developed to form adobe bricks to match the initial fired brick construction. But the proposal to employ adobe was apparently protested by local contractors unfamiliar with adobe's temperament, as the material had not been employed in western Nebraska for many years.13

Another alternative floated by the designers to visually tie the brick to adobe was to plaster all of the exterior walls. Historically, adobe walls were plastered, or stuccoed, with an adobe mud veneer as a sacrificial finish to protect the irrner bricks from the effects of weathering. The veneer gives traditional adobe structures their soft, monolithic appearance. However, there was concern as to how adobe would adhere to the Museum Building bricks without special preparation of the brick surfaces.

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Work proceeded in 1937 to construct the addition and other structures in the compound with traditionally-sized adobe brick rather than fired clay brick, and cover all adobe exterior wall surfaces with a cement stucco that had the appearance of an adobe veneer.l5 With this rolrrtion the size of the adobe brick was inconsequential as all size-distinguishing masoffy joints were concealed. But to unify the appearance of all adobe and masonry surfaces the entire stucco and brick exterior was painted a color matching the surrounding bluff clay.

Adobe had previously been quamied and processed at a pit located near the north boundary of the park by the CCC for construction of their camp (Figure 26). It is unclear if the CCC was supplying a contractor with the brick to construct the addition, which would have saved materials costs, or if the CCC was totally involved with adobe supply and building construction.

Adobe walls were strengthened with steel or cast-in-place concrete posts, and concrete bond beams in response to the tall, thin adobe walls that could not be expected to carry heavy roof loads without collapsing.

The posts were placed directly between windows and at corners of the new additions (Figures 5,6, andT).16

Vi.gitor Center (H,g-2) t' M. R. Harrington, How to Build a California Adobe, (Los Angeles: The Ward Ritchie Press and the Southwest Museum, 1948),12.

'' S. Serrano, Assistant Landscape Architect to Howard W. Baker, Landscape Architect, letter, 23

June, 1936, 3. This concern extend to the other structures as well.t' S. Serrano, Assistant Landscape Architect to Howard W. Baker, Landscape Architect, letter, 23

June,7936,2.lo S. Serrano, Assistant Landscape Architect to Howard W. Baker, Landscape Architect, letter, 23

June, 1936, 3. The brick surface preparation method was not specified.

t'Addition to Museum Building," NPS Drawing No.

SB-2501-A., 16 March, 1937, sheet 4. A few window details indicate core walls of adobe, yet a number of other details in the drawing set still carry brick notations. Window details probably had to be revised to reflect special anchoring methods in the softer adobe.

tu Addition to Museum Building," NPS Drawing No.

SB-2501-4, 16 March, 1937, sheet 2. Steel posts were placed between windows of the Landmark Wing, and concrete posts elsewhere.

Historic Structure RenorÍ

The new museum addition consisted of a wing combining paleontology and geology exhibits, site custodian (superintendent) and ranger offrces, workroom, and fulI basement beneath the wing. An adobe garden wall was constructed north and east of the building. This wall and the ell-shape of the building enclosed a large courtyard.

The new wing, closely resembling the size and detailing of the museum wing, extended north from the lobby. A hip-roofed, two-story tower added to the west side of the lobby housed the ranger office and a lookout room at the second floor (Figure 10). To the north of the tower a small staff restroom and basement stairwell was created. A workroom and superintendent's office were tucked in the ell created by the two wings.

Since this aÍea was protected by a continuous extension of the museum wing roof a concession had to be made to accommodate ceiling head height in the workroom and office by lowering the floor level three feet (Figure l2). Sets of steps were provided between the Landmark Wing and the north wall of the ell addition down into the workroom.lT The basement beneath the Landmark Wing probably only functioned as mechanical access space at this time, as the floor was exposed dirt according to the construction drawings.

The 1938 construction work necessitated removal of various portions of the 1935 structure to provide access to the new addition. A window on the lobby west wall was replaced by a door to the ranger's office, and the basement stair was relocated to create a wide doorway between the lobby and Landmark Wing.

The public had no view of the western Nebraska landscape from inside the building. Access to the tower was restricted due to the placement of tower stairs within the ranger's offrce, and the use of the tower room as living quarters. The exterior could only be viewed from the office areas, and even then, Scotts Bluff could not be seen from most ground floor windows.

Two other constructions associated with the Museum Building were added in 1937.

According to historic photos an adobe garden wall joined the east elevation. It is suspected that this \ilas an extension of the courtyard that enclosed an area north of the Museum Building (Figure 20). That same year the latrine, or present public restroom, was constructed (Figure 19). The walls and floor of this structure may have been built over a toilet vault.18

The last major building episode occurred in 1949 with funds provided by the American Pioneer Trails Association to construct a new wing to display works of early western art by William Henry Jackson.le Named after Jackson, the wing essentially extended the museum wing east by twenty nine feet (Figures 16 and 17). The style and detailing of the new addition rubber stamped the older

2l tt "Addition to Museum Building," NPS Drawing No. SB-2501-4, 20 February,1937.

tt NPS Architect Mike Fees to Alan O'Bright, 16

June, 2000, and "Addition to Museum Building," NPS Drawing No. SB-2501-A,20 February, 1937, Sheet 1. Vault stories were related to Fees by others in the 1980s. Although there are no construction details, the Museum Building drawings label the building as "latrine," a name more closely related with vault construction. The vault was undoubtedly abandoned when more reliable water and sewer service was installed at the site.

re Cockrell, 1983 Administrative History,26. A 1942 drawing shows that the wing was apparently planned well ahead of construction. (see "Headquarters Area Utilities Layout, Part of the Master Plan for Scotts Bluff National Monument," NPS Drawing No. NM- SB-4965-C, 1 lanuary, 1942.

museum wing except at the interior. Here structural roof trusses were concealed with a skim coat plaster ceiling trimmed with redwood cove moulding. There was no basement beneath the Jackson Wing. The concrete slab floor in the room was covered with asbestos floor tiles.2o completion of the Jackson Wing signaled the end of major construction at the Visitor Center. However, serious discussion took place in 1975, during development of the site draft Master Plan, over whether the entire administrative and visitor complex should be removed to return the landscape to its natural state. A determination was made that the present complex was serviceable until such time that "the present structures have lived beyond their normal life under appropriate maintenance, to the point where expensive major rehabilitation would be necessary."2l There is no evidence of any movement to remove the structures since that discussion.

The absence of a dedicated auditorium and cramped administrative offices were identified as Visitor Center weaknesses in the 1975 Master Plan. The recommendation to construct an addition to provide improved interpretation and relieve office crowding was recommended, but not approved by the reigning Regional Director.22

Since that 1975 report several modifications have been made to improve tight space at the site. The ranger's quarters, located just across Summit Road from the visitor center, was renovated for use as an administrative building to house the superintendent's and administrative officer's offices, and storage for park files. The superintendent's quarters then reverted to the ranger's quarters.

Within the visitor center, first floor offices vacated by the superintendent are presently occupied by three support staff members.

The basement beneath the Landmark Wing was rehabilitated for use as an offrce, worlcoom, sales off,rce and storage, and a

Figure 20 - Courtyard adobe garden wall under construction, June, 1937. View to the northwest toward the Museum Building. (SCBL photo archives, Drawer 3, No. sbl83).

To construct the new addition, the east gable end cast concrete grill was moved from museum wing to the new gable end of the Jackson Wing. A wide doorway centered on the museum wing gable end wall was cut through the brick to access the new addition.

In addition, a portion of the adobe courtyard wall built in 1937 was demolished to make way for the Jackson V/ing. New ducts were brought up at the adjoining corners of the Museum Room to heat the Jackson wing.

The Jackson V/ing must have been unevenly heated as there was no return air ducts and all supply air vents were concentrated at the western end of the room.

Except for utility and mechanical systems, and exhibit repair or replacement, . :.:.; .:¡;r.l! : :i iïsêir:å*,\:¡ ':: :i: ":!:::ltr.\':ti .:&.:&, \.:*itw. : .i , .: ,\W:L':í t::

Visitor Center HS-2)

'o "William H. Jackson Memorial Wing Addition to the Administration Building and Museum," NPS Drawing No. NM-SB-2501-J, 16 July, 1946, sheet I and2.

2l Beal to Hendrix, memo, 15 January, 1975, see

Cockrell, 1983 Administrqtive History,28-29, for full discussion.

22 Cockrell, 1983 Administrative History,29.

small kitchen. Basement space beneath the Museum Wing now functions as a conference room and library, seasonal locker space, and employee break room.

installed in the building, with condenser coils located within a fenced area just outside visitor center off,rces. In 1958 the amphitheater stage, fire ring and wooden fence were constructed.z5 A sump pit and pump were constructed in the Museum Roorn basement in 1962.26 ln T978 exhibit redesign within the Jackson Wing resulted in the installation of a suspended acoustical ceiling, lowering the floor-to-ceiling height from twelve to nine feet.t' It is assumed that the same ceiling alterations occurred in the Landmark room at that time. In 1984 the site water distribution system was replaced.2s Around 1988 a projection booth was built within the amphitheater to facilitate evening presentations.

In 1990 all heating systems at the park were converted from propane to natural gas.2e

The wood shingle roof was replaced about that same yeur.3O A restroom meeting contemporary standards and codes to replace the existing public facility was designed in 1990, but never constructed.''Figure 21 - Replacement of tower west window with a door, March, 1941. This door was in turn replaced with a window in the 1970s. (SCBL photo archives, Drawer 2, No. sbl193).

Other work has played a part in the appearance, comfort level, and serviceability of the Visitor Center structure. In 1941 the west ranger office window was replaced with a door to facilitate ranger contact with autos entering and exiting the bluff road (Figure 2l)." That door was replaced by a window around the 1970s at the same time that most wooden windows were replaced with doubl e-glazed, fixed aluminum sash.2a

Around 1957 air conditioning was first

23 Scotts Bluff NM photo files, Drawer 2, photos sbl192, sbl193 and sbl l94,March 7941.

'a Park staff to Alan o'Bright, 19 April,2000. The door was nearly impossible to operate during high winds from the west.

2s Scotts Bluff NM photo f,rles, Negative No.2426.

26 "Installation of Air Conditioning System, Administration Building and Museum," NPS Drawing No. NM-SB-2501-M,30 August, 1957 and "Installation of Sump Pump, Administration Building," NPS Drawing No. NM-SB-2501-N, 8

May, 1962. The reason for installation of the sump pit is not entirely understood, but may have been placed to pump out condensed water from the nearby air conditioner.

" "Visitor Center Remodeling, Jackson Wing," NPS Drawing No. 3 l7-41 000, 1 November, 1971.

28 "Replacement of headquarters Water Distribution System, Scotts Bluff National Monument," NPS Drawing No. 3 17-80015, 13 June, 1984.

2e "Conversion of HVAC Systems to Natural Gas, Visitor Center," NPS Drawing No. 317-80025, 1

September, 1990.

to NPS Architect Mike Fees to Alan O'Bright, 16

June,2000.

3l "Proposed Restroom, Scottsbluff [sic] N.M.," NPS Drawing No. 317-80026, 19 September, 1990.

Changes and additions to the administrative complex have had an impact on use and appearance of the site. A two room addition was constructed to the ranger's quarters in 1949. Later, this house was rehabilitated for use as park administrative off,rces. A second quarters was constructed at the southwest corner of the complex in 1958 as a result of the Mission 66 program.s2 Also under the Mission 66 program, the 1936 maintenance shop was expanded in 1958, then again in 1981 to accommodate additional vehicles.

A vaulted metal storage building was built north of the two quarters in 1958.33 form lots.35 The selected design retained and improved the original rectangular lot and added a kidney-shaped lot to the immediate east of the visitor center that caters principally to buses and recreational vehicles. Unfortunately, the organic shape of the new lot and associated sidewalks conflict with the ordered, rectilinear character of the remainder of the administrative complex. While difficult to perceive from the ground, the lot is not in character with the complex when viewed from visitor lookouts at the top of Scotts Bluff.

Visitor Center (HS-2)

Figure 22 - Mantenance yard garden wall collapse, Muy, 1942. View to the north toward the maintenance facility. A similar fate was met by the Museum Building courfyard walls. (SCBL photo archives, Drawer 3, No. sbl482).

Around 1942 the adobe garden walls began to collapse, probably as a result of direct exposure to weather (Figure 22).to Most of the remaining adobe walls were demolished in 1951 and later replaced with stuccoed concrete walls and a wooden fence.

A deteriorating parking lot precipitated a

1988 analysis to improve parking conditions and circulation. The three proposed design alternatives presented kidney-shaped, free-

32 Cockrell, 1983 Administrative History,26.

33 Cockrell, 1983 Administrative History,27.

3a Scotts Bluff NM photo files, Drawer 3, sb1482 and sb1483.

Figure 23 - Example of frontier N Note the simple form, low-pitched roof, window openings. (Nebraska State Society, Solomon D. Butcher Collection).

Comparøtive Analysis

As initially constructed in 1935 the Museum Building attained the look of folk adobe Spanish Colonial residences typical of early examples found in coastal California, but with eclectic features. One might also argue that the building had the scaled-up appearance of sod houses indigenous to late nineteenth century western Nebraska (Figure 23). It is unknown if landscape architect Howard Baker was influenced to design the and few Hìstorical

" "Entrance and Visitor Center Parking," NPS DrawingNo.317-41005, l May, 1988.

Historic Structure Report 25 complex based upon similar sites he experienced in the southwest, whether he was caught up in the Spanish colonial revivai style of the time, or swayed by historical ties to the humble dwellings of the early Nebraska settlers.36

The stylistic demeanor established on the first building was transferred to subsequent additions. These later additions forming the complex of visitor service, maintenance facility, ranger dwelling, and other support structures seem directed toward the development of a rustic style that would be one with the land. This was a prominent design ideal in the development of many state and federal park projects of the Depression era, particularly _ in the southwestern United States." Park administrative complexes of Spanish colonial design influence typically featured structures arranged in rectilinear fashion extending to meet a sparse landscape. Areas between buildings were enclosed with adobe or masoffy garden walls to create patios and maintenance courtyards. Often, the grouping was arranged to also serve as a gateway into the park as was done at Scotts B luff National Monument.

Yet another influence in the overall design of the Visitor Center may have been rooted in a long lost structure. Fort Mitchell was recorded as being one of many outposts protecting Oregon Trail travelers. Located along the bank of the North Platte River near Scotts Bluff, Fort Mitchell was in existence only three years before abandonment by the Army. Constructed of sod in 1864, the fort quickly reverted back to the soil from which iLt came soon after desertion.3s Two surviving drawings of the Fort Mitchell by V/illiam Henry Jackson show striking resemblance in layout and massing in comparison with the present Visitor Center (Figure 24).un Each drawing depicts a two-story guard tower with narrow, gable roofed structures set at right angles to the tower.

The buildings also served as the defendable walls of the fort. Depending upon the artist's interpretation a parade ground was enclosed by the sod structures at all quadrants, or sod structures at three sides and a single wall enclosure of log pickets.

In the 1933 drawing window openings are set high on walls facing the prairie.

Whether Baker knew of these drawings prior to his design work is unknown.

At present, the administrative complex at Scotts Bluff National Monument still retains the characteristic design elements established in the late 1930s. Few exterior alterations have been made since then; the most prominent being the replacement of the adobe garden walls with a wooden fencing, addition of Mission 66 quarters and maintenance buildings, and replacement of the parking lot.

36 see Roger L. Welsch, Sod Watls, The Story of the Nebrqska Sod House, (Broken Bow, Nebraska:

Purcells, Inc., 1968), for numerous examples from Solomon Butcher photo collection.

See Albert Good, Park and Recreation Structures, (Boulder, Colorado: Graybooks, 1990), and Laura Soullière, Architecture in the Parl<s, Nationql Historic Landmark Theme Study, (Washington D.C.:

Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 1986), for several examples of adobe structures and districts.

" Dean Knudsen, An Eye For History, The Paintings of lltilliam Henry Jackson, (Gering, Nebraska: Scotts

Bluff National Monument & The Oregon Trail Museum Association, 1997), 32.

'n Dean Knudsen, An Eye For History, The Paintings of William Henry Jackson, (Gering, Nebraska: Scotts Bluff National Monument & The Oregon Trail Museum Association, 1997), 32-33. Each of the original drawings are in the Scotts Bluff William Henry Jackson collection.

Not unlike Spanish colonial revival structures of the era, the Visitor Center features massive, monolithic-appearing adobe and brick masoffy walls that have been uniformly plastered. The low-pitched roof with extended eaves is more closely situated with California adobes that received light to moderate rain not unlike that found in western Nebraska. Few, deep-set wall penetrations are also characteristic of adobe constructions.

SIGNIFICANT FEATURE

IDENTIFICATION

Overall, design integrity presides over material integrity in the case of the entire Scotts Bluff administrative complex.

Elements of the Spanish colonial style for most of the present-day complex is by far the most important feature. Although not necessarily indigenous to westem Nebraska, Spanish colonial design is traditionally rooted to the landscape by its sprawling construction and use of site-derived earthen materials. The style arranges buildings and garden walls to capture surrounding space, creating rooms without roofs. Traditionally, these outdoor spaces were used for everyday work and social activities, not unlike the use of the administrative complex today.

Visitor approach from the highway and view of the administrative complex from Scotts Bluff are important considerations. From the highway the complex is seen as a sprawling, low-lying series of structures that serve as a middle ground focus to the bluffs beyond (Figure 16). From the bluff top the complex appears as an oasis on the prairie, giving visitors a reference to scale, direction, and altitude they have traveled (Figure 15).

Unfortunately, some of the design cohesiveness of the present complex has been compromised through replacement of adobe garden walls by wooden fencing, and addition of a free-form parking lot.

The arrangement of structures and circulation provides a gateway to the bluff monument. From the parking lot, vehicles are directed through a naffo\ry channel between the Visitor Center at the east and the ranger quarters and maintenance facility at the west. Although an arm gate signifies this pass as a control point, the act of driving from the open parking lot, squeezing between building confines, and continuing

Visitor Center øS-2)

Figure 24 - Fort Mitchell. This bird's-eye view of an early sod or adobe fort along the North Platt River is reminiscent of the park Visitor Center in lines and form. Fort Mitchell was abandoned around 1867;

there are no above-ground remains. (Signed and dated by William Henry Jackson, SCBL collections, No. SCBL 28).

Eclecticism is reinforced through the use of concrete brick window grills and the segmental arched doorway. The indigenous nature was strengthened through the use of wood shingles rather than clay tile typically found on gable-roofed adobe structures in the southwest. The interior reflects contemporary use, although the exposed roof trusses in the Museum and Landmark wings are a characteristic feature of gable-roofed adobes. Unfortunately, the open trusses ffe presently concealed from view owing to 1970s renovation work.

Hi.storic Structure Renort into the open prairie imparts on the visitor that this is a special place.

The uniformity of scale in the entire complex is also an important consideration.

No building within the complex is wider than twenty eight feet, and no taller than a one-and-one-half story residence, with the exception of the Visitor Center tower.

Typical complex characteristics include the employment of shallow gable and shed roofs, deep-set windows against stucco walls, and low garden walls.

Specifically, the Visitor Center features linear wings uniformly twenty-two feet wide. The two story lookout tower that provides a fulcrum for the two wings fumishes a visual cue to the visitor entering the site as to the location of the primary entrance. Significant, typical design features include shallow-pitched roofs with overhanging eaves, exterior walls painted the color of the bluffs, and concrete grilled windows set high upon wing walls. The few windows at office spaces are also deep-set but no longer operable.

Upon approach to the Visitor Center entrance the visitor is figuratively squeezed into the arched porch before entering the dark, tall-ceiling lobby space. Passing from the tight space into the larger space imparts a feeling that the lobby is larger than it actually is. Other unique, significant design features within the interior include beamed ceilings in Hall (103) and the Ranger Office (104), and the now-concealed varnished timber trusses in the Landmark and Museum Wings.

To a certain degree the scale of interior rooms is also an important consideration.

The initial design intent to provide above-average ceiling heights within the exhibit rooms imparts a degree of importance to the space, a characteristic that has been lost in part through the addition of suspended ceilings.

While true adobe brick construction is unusual for Nebraska, its partial use in the case of the Visitor Center appears to stem from an economic necessity and not a indigenous design requisite. The dichotomy between the use of brick and adobe in this structure is of minor value as the designers chose to stucco the adobe and paint the entire structure a uniform color to tie the two materials visually.

In summary the principal significant features of the administrative complex include:

r Design integrity, or the sustained adherence to elements of the Spanish colonial style of construction.

. Appearance from the highway in terms of silhouette against the backdrop of the bluffs and continuity of a complex of structures spread into the landscape.

I Sustained design appearance from the bluff lookout.

r Gateway to Scotts Bluff.

o Uniformity of building scale and materials.

The principal significant features of the Visitor Center proper are identified as follows:

o Continuity with Spanish colonial design style.

r Uniformity of wing massing, scale, and balance.

r The use of shallow gable roofs with exposed eaves o Visual cues to the entrance including the tower and arched entrance.

28 Visitor Center (HS-2) r Uniformity in the use of materials including stucco walls, concrete window grills, and deep-set casement windows.

r The Lobby (101) that features a tall boarded ceiling, chandelier and painted brick walls.

. Ranger Office (104) featuring a beamed ceiling and tower stair millwork.

r Beamed ceiling in the Hall (103) r Exposed timber roof trusses within the

Landmark and Museum Wings.

I Interior exhibit hall room scale.

EXISTING CONDITIONS

Site Context

Climate Summers in the area are charucterized as hot and dry with occasional heavy thundershowers late in the season. Winter is usually cold and windy. Winds are usually out of the west passing between the bluffs before reaching the visitor center. These winds can be variable at times, and gusts can exceed 80 miles per hour. Special construction considerations must be taken to insure that the wood roof on the buildings do not blow off.

The average annual precipitation is fourteen inches, with occasional heavy snows in the winter, and hail storms. No lightning strikes have been known to directly strike the complex, but lightning has affected power service on occasion. Tornadoes are a frequent visitor to western Nebraska, but none have been recorded in the immediate vicinity of the complex.

Grade and Drainage Grade in the immediate area of the Visitor Center is relatively flat with a slight sharp decline just north and east of the amphitheater.

Few drainage problems have been recorded around the building. An unusual seven inch rainfall was recalled to have occurred sometime in the 1940s or 1950s that resulted in large flows of water rushing off the bluffs into the surrounding prairie, but no flooding occurred at the visitor center complex.aO

Vegetation Arid conditions of western Nebraska limits natural vegetative growth surrounding the visitor center complex to short prairie grasses, low-lying shrubs, and succulents.

Plantings in the immediate area of the complex are intended to control erosion and wind. Surrounding most of the east, south and west elevations of the Visitor Center are gravel beds with a selection of shrubs.

Between the beds and sidewalks are mown lawns watered by an underground sprinkler system. Immediately to the east of the Visitor Center is a small stand of mature, healthy pine trees.

Pavement All roads, parking lots and sidewalks surrounding the Visitor Center are of concrete. All are in good condition.

Amphitheater surfaces are covered by pea gravel possibly laid over broken asphalt paving. Nearby trails and a short section of walk at the west amphitheater entrance are paved with asphalt. There is a small area of brick paving surrounding the flag pole.

Fencing No adobe walls remain. A small section of six foot garden wall between the Jackson Wing and public restroom building and another wall extending 40 feet north from the restroom building are constructed of

'o From Mattes, 8, 74.

Ron Cockrell interview with Menill J.

in Cockrell, 1983 Administrqtive History, Historic Structure Reoort 29 concrete with a stucco finish. These walls are in fair to good condition. Except for the adobe garden wall, the remainder of the east and north faces of the amphitheater are enclosed with a wooden, vertical plank fence in good condition.

Exterior Seating The only seating available is on the stuccoed masomy, serpentine sign and time capsule pedestal directly in front of the building.

Built in seats flank the entrance porch, but one ofthem is occupied by a pay telephone.

Flag Pole Area The flagpole sits almost directly in front of the primary building entrance.