HALS

The Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS) is the federal program responsible for recording historic landscapes in the United States and it's territories. These documented landscapes can vary in size from a small town green to a several thousand-acre national park. They range in character and design from rural to urban, planned to natural and agricultural to industrial. Sites such as estate gardens, cemeteries, quarries, nuclear test sites and suburbs are all considered historic landscapes. Like the HABS/HAER program, HALS also documents sites by producing written and graphic records including measured and interpretive drawings, photographs and histories.

The National Park Service is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the HALS and they work closely with the American Society of Landscape Architects to formulate policies and set standards and guidelines. The Library of Congress division of Prints and Photos maintains the information and it is accessible through their web-site.

For further information, please select from one of the links provided below.

Historic American Landscapes Survey