Keeping Time: The History and Theory of Preservation in America (Preservation Press) (Paperback)

by William J. Murtagh (Author) "THE FIRST THING anyone interested in preservation must know is how to talk about the subject..." (more)
Key Phrases: compatible substitute material, overall historic character, false historical appearance, National Park Service, New York, National Register (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Since 1812, when architect Robert Mills drew up plans for rebuilding the steeple of Independence Hall, the impulse to preserve historic American sites and buildings has snowballed. Today tens of thousands of buildings and some 5000 historic districts are recognized by the federally coordinated National Register of Historic Places. In part an illustrated historical survey, in part a handbook for civic activists, this primer by the first Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places traces the shift in the preservation movement from the restoration of isolated landmarks and houses where "Washington slept," to an emphasis on outdoor museums (Old Salem, N.C.; Sturbridge Village, Mass.) and, in recent years, a concern for the neighborhood in which a building stands. Through a case study of the Historic Savannah Foundation, which has saved some 1000 buildings in that city, Murtagh illustrates how the public can treat the built environment as a conservable national resource.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal
This one-volume introduction to the history and philosophy of preservation in America moves from the private sector's early concern for saving patriotic sites to extensive governmental activity and the legal and economic dimensions of a growth industry. Broad-ranging chapters treat terminology, outdoor museums, historic districts, adaptive use, landscape preservation, and case studies for successful programs; appendixes include selections of important federal legislation and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. A recommended short history particularly useful for introductory courses and for laypersons concerned with preservation issues in their communities. Douglas G. Birdsall, North Dakota State Univ. Lib., Fargo
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 246 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; Revised edition (August 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471182400
• ISBN-13: 978-0471182405
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #947,808 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable history of preservation, March 20, 2009

By	Murray Smolens (Chalfont, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Keeping Time: The History and Theory of Preservation in America (Paperback)

An outstanding summary of historic preservation. This was a required text for the online course I took, but it is very readable for the average person. A must-read for those interested in old buildings and their relevance today.

1 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Keeping Time: The History and Theory of Preservation in America, March 19, 2006

By	F. C. Scully (Owings Mills, MD USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Very good review of preservation in the United States. An easy read.