What are National Historic Landmark theme studies?
National Historic Landmarks are often identified through theme studies. Theme studies are an effective way of identifying and nominating properties because they provide a comparative analysis of properties associated with a specific area of American history, such as the fur trade, earliest Americans, women's history, Greek Revival architecture, Man in Space, or labor history. Theme studies provide a national historic context for specific topics in American history or prehistory. In order to make the case for national significance, a theme study must provide that necessary national historic context so that national significance may be judged for a number of related properties.
Theme studies related to the theme 'The Role of the United States in the World Community':
Protecting America: Cold War Defensive Sites: This study provides a basic context for the Cold War and the effects of Cold War politics on the development of weapons systems and defense programs in the United States, and the inherent military challenges faced within this unique context. Property types considered under this study include intercontinental ballistic missile sites, flight training centers, manufacturing facilities, and nuclear weapons test sites, among other site types.
WWII in the Pacific: The purpose of this theme study is to evaluate all resources that relate to WWII in the Pacific and to recommend certain of these resources for designation as NHLs. This context documents considers resources relating to: Japanese Expansion in the Pacific; the United States Home Front; Alaska and the Aleutians; and The United States' Central Pacific Drive.
Last updated: March 21, 2016