Heritage Documentation Programs
Heritage Documentation Programs administers
HABS (Historic American Buildings Survey), the Federal
Government's oldest preservation program, and companion
programs HAER (Historic American Engineering Record),
HALS (Historic American Landscapes Survey), and CRGIS
(Cultural Resources Geographic Information Systems). Documentation
produced through the programs constitutes the nation's
largest archive of historic architectural, engineering,
and landscape documentation.
Latest News
- HDP presents animated fly-throughs of historic sites Heritage Documentation Programs has produced videos fly-through of a number of historic sites recently documented, including the U.S.S. Cairo at Vickburg National Military Park and the historic stairs at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Learn more...
- From the vaults!Heritage Documentation Programs recently re-discovered HABS formal guidelines from 1935. Although technology has dramatically changed the way HABS records buildings today, it is great to see how little has changed. “It is the purpose of the Historic American Buildings Survey to study, measure, and draw up the plans, elevations and details of the important antique buildings of the United States… they should not pass into unrecorded oblivion.” Learn more...
- HABS Guide to Field Documentation postedThis Field Guide offers step-by-step instructions about how to observe, take field measurements, and create field notes and a short-form report about a historic site or structure to HABS standards. Learn more...
- 2013 HALS Challenge Competition announcedPeople from every state are hereby challenged to complete at least one HALS short format history to increase awareness of the role of women in shaping the American landscape. Learn more...
- Producing HABS/HAER/HALS Measured Drawings from Laser Scans: the Pros and Cons of Using Laser Scanning for Heritage DocumentationLearn More...
