Julia, 

Historic sites have great buildings that were once there. What to do really depends on your budget, if you have the funds to rebuild the original buildings and/or how you want to interpret and explain the site to the public.

For example, at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, Vancouver, WA they actually do archaeological research on the sites, then over the original site reconstructs replica buildings to represent the original buildings from the findings they discover. The reconstructed buildings are actually props, and often the public believes the structures are the original. On areas they do not rebuild a structure over, they put a cement to protect the site. The pad shows the exact shape and that a building once was there. Then with a map and signs the public is able to take a docent-free tour of the area. Tour guides are provided into the reconstructed buildings. 

On the other hand, Whitman Mission (the famous site along the Oregon Trail near Walla Walla, WA) leaves the land untouched without reconstructed buildings on the original site. The NPS provides signage that describes what buildings were there. Although there may be very few foundations exposed, the Park leaves taller/original natural grasses inside where the foundation were to give dimension and shape to form the original building. It actually looks like a building, leaving less to the imagination that stating that "a building once stood here". 

They also use brochures, films and interpreters at their Visitor's Center to give the patrons a welcome and to prepare them for their visit to the site where there are no buildings standing. Slides and art of the original fort also provides the mental picture of what the site originally looked like.

At Fort Bridger (Wyoming), they use both reconstructed buildings and simple signs that say a barrack, officers quarters or galley once stood at this spot. Many areas are wide-open spaces, but you are able to grasp that a huge fort and buildings once was there. 

Leaving the archaeological ruins/site untouched or doing a dig and rebuilding a reconstructed building works. I do not know if this is what you were looking for. If you need a contact to any of these places, let me know. 

John Martinson 

  
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Julia Clark 
  To: [log in to unmask] 
  Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2003 12:44 AM
  Subject: interpretation of vanished elements


  Hi everyone

  We have an extensive 19th century site that is comprised of open expanses of green lawn dotted with the ruins of a small number of the structures which once were here. In its heyday the site was a densely-settled, intensively-used place, including elements of prison, township and industrial complexes. Visitors today have access to a model of the site, ...... (snip)


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