We believe in the power of place to shape our understanding of ourselves, our forebears, and our culture, as well as the culture of others both past and present. We seek to unlock this power of place by understanding how the relationship between the natural world—topography, water, soils, vegetation, wildlife—and the built world—roads, buildings, communities, cultural landscapes—has been shaped by our ever-changing ideals, economies, and technologies. Only through this understanding can the authenticity and integrity of significant places be preserved. And only through this understanding can we arrive at a responsible balance of the protection of natural and cultural resources with recommendations for their future use, development, interpretation, and stewardship. |