Sustaining Place-Identity in Historic Mining Cities of the US Rocky Mountain West

Sustaining Place-Identity in Historic Mining Cities of the US Rocky Mountain West

Wendy R. Mcclure 

College of Art and Architecture, University of Idaho, USA

Page: 
287–299
|
DOI: 
https://doi.org/10.2495/DNE-V8-N4-287–299
Received: 
N/A
| |
Accepted: 
N/A
| | Citation

OPEN ACCESS

Abstract: 

In the case of 19th century mining towns, inherited morphology as exhibited in residual layers of urban (built) fabric provides a tangible connection to authentic mining culture amidst the current era of development and change. This paper will discuss the relative successes of varying approaches to preserving mining-era morphol-ogy of two former silver mining towns that have been adapted as bustling downhill skiing and recreational amenity towns. Planning and preservation strategies used to guide development in Park City, Utah, will be compared with policies guiding development in Telluride, Colorado, which enjoys National Landmark status. Each town has taken a different view of its cultural heritage and is guided by different principles concern-ing adaptation and preservation of inherited context. Philosophical differences inherent to planning policy and preservation guidelines are clearly legible in each community’s respective urban form. Resulting loss of historic continuity and regional identity suggests a need for a deeper interpretation of authenticity than is afforded by most policies guiding community development and historic preservation.

Keywords: 

Design guidelines authenticity, historic preservation, mining heritage, place-identity, urban morphology

  References

[1] Colman, R. & McCoy, D., The R.G’s Story, 2: Telluride, Pandora and the Mines Above, Sundance Publications: Denver, pp. 23–33, 2002.

[2] Fetter, R. & Fetter, S., Telluride: From Pick to Powder, Caxton Press: Caldwell, pp. 24–26, 2001.

[3] Reps J., The Forgotten Frontier: Urban Planning and the American West University of Missouri Press: Columbia & London, 1980.

[4] Fetter, R. & Fetter, S., Telluride: From Pick to Powder, Caxton Press: Caldwell, pp. 161–173, 2001.

[5] Winter & Company and The telluride community, Design Guidelines for Building in Telluride, Town of Telluride: Telluride, Colorado pp. IN-1-IN12, 1997.

[6] Winter & Company and The telluride community, Design Guidelines for Building in Telluride, Town of Telluride: Telluride, Colorado pp. WC-1-WC-8, 1997.

[7] Winter & Company and The telluride community, Design Guidelines for Building in Telluride, Town of Telluride: Telluride, Colorado pp. AC-1-AC-10 &EWT-1-EWT-8, 1997.

[8] Moudon, A., Urban morphology as an emerging interdisciplinary field. Urban Morphology, 1(1), pp. 3–10, 1987.

[9] Conzen, M. (ed). Thinking About Urban Form: Papers on Urban Morphology 1932–1998, Peter Lang: Bern & New York, p. 253, 2004.

[10] The Planning Department, Park City General Plan, Park City Municipal Corporation: Park City, pp. 11–19, 1997.

[11] The Planning Department, Park City’s General Plan (Draft), Park City Municipal Corporation: Park City, pp. 165–168, 2013

[12] Williams-Blaes, D., Bowen Studios, Jameson, T., Guidelines for Historic Districts and Historic Sites Park City, Park City Municipal Corporation: Park City, pp. 4–15, 2009.