Conduct Historic Preservation Field School Training and stabilize Skidoo Mill at Death Valley National Park
Project ID: P23AC01548
Federal Agency: National Park Service Partner Institution: University of Vermont and State Agriculture College Fiscal Year: 2023
Initial Funding: $924,267
Total Funding: $1,499,266
Project Type: Education Project Disciplines: Cultural National Park: Death Valley NP Principal Investigator: Porter, Doug Agreement Technical Representative: Selinske, Kimberly
Abstract:
Performance Goals –
The National Park Service (NPS) has pursued the preservation of the Skidoo Mill in Death Valley National Park (DEVA) in two stages. In Stage 1, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Vermont (UVM) completed wood and structural assessments of the mill, resulting in the development of strategies for its stabilization. The work included wood species identification, determination of surviving structural capacity, and conceptual-level recommendations for treatment.
This agreement is concerned with Stage 2 development of conceptual-level recommendations into a detailed treatment plan, and treatment implementation using a field school format that will result in training of students and others in the treatment procedures to be implemented. The mill was originally constructed using early-20th century timber framing techniques that combine traditional pre-industrial joinery with bolted connections and the use of iron elements to manage tensile stresses. UVM will assemble a team specialized in these historic construction technologies, and UVM staff, the NPS, and practicing professionals will work together to train field school participants in the use of these traditional techniques in the treatment of heavy timber structures.
Expected products from this project include: a detailed stabilization plan for the mill; multiple field school sessions focused on training students and mid-career historic preservation professionals in the treatment procedures to be implemented, and a final report that will document the project results. NPS may also create a series of social media posts and/or NPS website content that will disseminate to the public both the historic preservation philosophy that guided the project along with project results.
Project Objectives –
Investigators from UVM and NPS staff will collaborate to accomplish the following
- Using the preservation options resulting from the Stage 1 assessment of the mill, develop a detailed repair plan based on the preservation goals of DEVA and NPS.
- Conduct field schools to provide training in the repair techniques to be implemented in the repair of the Skidoo Mill structure.
- Prepare a report that details the results of the condition assessment and the repairs. The report will include a narrative description of the tasks completed, project goals realized, and project photo documentation.
- Develop web-based informational and educational media content related to the project objectives and results, and post to DEVA’s website.