s at Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, and other parks. By the early 1950s, the crisis had grown to overwhelming proportions. In 1955, the Director of the National Park Service, Conrad Wirth, envisioned a plan to improve conditions at the parks by developing modern conveniences and implementing a system-wide method of educating the visiting public. A key element in the new plan, named Mission 66, was the introduction of the now ubiquitous visitor center.
The visitor center, a familiar building type constructed for use by private corporations and governmental organizations alike, was created during the National Park Service Mission 66 program. Park Service planners, architects, and landscape architects devised the concept to incorporate visitor facilities, interpretive programs, and administrative offices in one structure. In a departure from the rustic-style buildings constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Mission 66 designers embraced a contemporary structural form for the new centers. As the construction program continued, the distinctive and prominently located buildings became emblematic of the massive improvement project and demonstrated the new commitment of the Park Service to interpretation of park resources and accommodation of visitors and personnel.
Contrasting with the reserved residential character of the CCC administrative buildings, the Mission 66 visitor centers conveyed a bold commercial appearance to entice and attract visitors. Prominently sited on major entry roads, the buildings became an instantly recognized feature of the parks, advertising public service, orientation information, and other amenities. Modern materials and design characterized the new park architecture, with open interior spaces and expansive areas of glazing to provide views of nearby natural and cultural resources. The strikingly contemporary buildings in the parks symbolized, for the visiting public and the agency itself, the achievements of the Mission 66 program and a new era in the National Park Service.
Jason Theuer's work focuses on the American Southwest. His dissertation research focused on the dynamics of migration and identity in the 14th century Pueblo world through geochemical analysis of glaze-painted pottery. He served as head Archaeologist for the Petrified Forest National Park from 2007-2011 when he left the position to finish his dissertation. His interest in preservation started while working as a carpenter restoring 18th century New England Whaling Era homes, which translated into positions with the National Park Service preserving both historic buildings and archaeological ruins. His research interests include migration, village formation, identity, and traditional knowledge. His time at Petrified Forest NP and collaborations with traditional elders from the communities of Hopi and Zuni are leading him to look for ways to incorporate traditional knowledge into reconstructing past settlement patterns and engaging Native American youths and traditional elders in public land management practices. Currently, Jay is the Cultural Resource Branch Chief at Joshua Tree National Park overseeing all of the cultural historic sites in the park which includes the prehistoric sites.