This case study looks at the management of Chaco Culture National Historical Park by the National Park Service. This site was declared a national monument in 1907 and became one of the original units of the NPS when the agency was created in 1916. The long history of CCNHP as a heritage site provides an excellent illustration of how values emerge and evolve with new knowledge, as well as of how they are influenced by changes of values in society. This case also explores how the specific values and circumstances of a site can be respected within the very specific management guidance provided by a complex national agency with responsibility for a large number of sites. Both the emergence and evolution of values and the management of a site as part of a large system provide opportunities to analyze the resolution of conflicts and the impact of management decisions.
The remainder of the case is presented in two parts. First, "Management Context and History of CCNHP" provides general background information about the NPS and the site. It first describes the management context of the NPS, including its place in the government, its organization, and the administrative guidance it provides for managers of the resources under its steward- ship. The discussion then narrows its focus to CCNHP itself, addressing the geographic location of the Park, its history of habitation, and its evolution as a heritage site. The final section of this part describes the Park's features, partnerships, infrastructure, and facilities.
How to Cite this Work
De la Torre, Marta, Margaret G. H. Mac Lean, and David Myers. 2003. Chaco Culture National Historical Park: A Case Study. Los Angeles, CA: Getty Conservation Institute. http://hdl.handle.net/10020/gci_pubs/chaco_culture_park
