Historic Preservation in Tucson and the United States

The cultural upheaval of the 1960’s resulted in mass destruction of historic buildings and landscapes across the nation under the guise of urban renewal. This prompted the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and provided a legal framework for preservation. Ken Scoville, local historian and preservationist will discuss this as well as earlier efforts to preserve locations and buildings that would be unthinkable losses today. Independence Hall in Philadelphia, for example, was saved in 1816 before the entire block was to be leveled, and Mount Vernon was crumbling before the Mount Vernon Ladies Association got involved in 1853. Closer to home, Casa Grande Ruin was designated the nation’s first archaeological reserve in 1889 and later became a national monument. These national acts for preservation were the cornerstone for historic preservation in Tucson as urban renewal tore through the heart of early Tucson beginning in 1965. The first three historic districts in the state of Arizona were established in downtown Tucson in the early 1970’s. Please note, this lecture will be presented via Zoom.