For over a century, The National Park Service, private individuals, and small businesses have constructed a variety of structures on Americaa (TM)s national parklands. Some were guided by the architectural style of the day while others looked to the surrounding landscape for inspiration. In The National Park Architecture Sourcebook, architect and longtime preservation advocate Harvey H. Kaiser takes readers on an architectural tour of the remarkable variety of man-made structures that dot the landscape of these spectacular mountains, valleys, deserts, and coastlines.

Organized by region, The National Park Architecture Sourcebook is the first comprehensive guidebook to Americaa (TM)s most significant historic park-based architectural treasures. Author Kaiser takes readers beyond the rustic lodges of Yellowstone and Yosemite found in typical guide books to those special places where history, form, and natural beauty have combined to create moments of architectural magic or enduring symbols of patriotism and heroic action such as the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, the Lincoln Memorial, Fort Sumter, and the USS Arizona. Blending facts, anecdotes, and personal observations based on many thousands of miles of travel, Kaiser evokes the spirit of these places while offering a solid understanding of why National Park architecture occupies a significant and unique place in American history. In one accessible, engaging, and easy-to-use volume, readers can find historical context, directions, factual information, and analytical succinct architectural descriptions for over two hundred places of interest across the United States. Designed in a convenient paperback format, this guidebook is an invaluable resource for the traveler, design professional, student, or anyone interested in learning more about the historic architectural treasures of our national park system.

A Syracuse, New York-based architectural consultant/author of regional architectural guidebooks to the U.S. National Parks tours the significant architectural features of the 216 national parks and monuments. The book is organized by state within seven regions (from the Far West and Pacific to New England). E.g., for Fort Vancouver National Historic Site in Washington state, Kaiser discusses the Indian trade shop and dispensary, main gate, corner bastion, and Hudson Bay Company chief factor's residence. His profiles feature historical and geographical details, b&w photos, basic maps, and a website for each landmark. The sourcebook includes a master list of the sites. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)