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Letter from National Park Service on Mines of Spain Inclusion in National Park System_03.07.1971United States Department of the Interior IN "PLY A PEA TO: L58 MWR CS NATIONAL. PARK SERVICE MIDWEST REGION 1709 JACKSON STREET OMAHA, NEBRASKA 68102 MAR 7 1971 Mr. Wayne A. Norman Chairman, Five Flags Civic Center Fund 256 West Tenth Dubuque, Iowa 52001 Dear Mr. Norman: Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to review the information you sent regarding the "Mines of Spain" site relative to its potential for inclusion in the National Park System. Based on that information and some further research on our part, we do not believe the site qualifies as being nationally significant, as we use this term in our Justification to Congress. After receiving the copy of "NPS Criteria for Parklands," you now realize that we must analyze a site or area to insure that it meets the basic criteria for a potential Service area before proceeding with studies or recommending any associated Congressional action. We have based our conclusion on several factors. First, from your description there seems to be a lack of tangible historic remains on this site. Secondly, the existing Julian Dubuque Monument Park does not meet the criteria which excludes burials as being eligible for con- sideration or recognition except in cases of historical figures of transcendent importance. We recognize that this point is debatable relative to Dubuque's importance as a national figure; however, the exception to this criteria has normally been held to former presidents. mast, but quite important, is 'the fact that Cardinal's heroic: contribution to this nation came at St. Louis rather tian at the Mines of Spain location. In other words, it is :7is destination that was important and the ensuing events effected by his arrival. We do, however, have some positive suggestions to offer. We must admit we are intrigued with what could be beneath the surface of the site and its possible national significance. You mentioned in your letter that a Fox Indian Village was located on the 1,300-acre site along with the lead mines. We are not aware of any archeological surveys which might have been conducted to determine what, if anything, might remain of that village or the lead mines. Therefore, we suggest the following course of action which we hope you will seriously consider. Working with the State Historic Preservation Officer, Mr. Adrian Anderson, nominate the site to the National Register of Historic Landmarks, listing it as a site with state significance. When the site is listed on the Register, it will be afforded a measure of protection even though it remains in private ownership. It will also qualify the site for Federal grants under the Historic Preservation Program. Site surveys (in this case archeological surveys), acquisition, and preservation of the site, could be accomplished with Federal grant monies. Site surveys in the form of archeological investigation could reveal nationally significant findings. Hopefully, this would be the case and then new nomination forms could be prepared and refiled under the national significance category. This refiling under national significance automatically triggers National Park Service action, whereby a site evaluation study is programmed. If the site evaluation verifies national significance, the site could then have potential as a National Park System area under the historical category. The Fox Indian Village, Dubuque and the associated V� u Mines of Spain,, along with Cardinals contribution, could -_ -To al f be tied together to form a very important site We realize this would appear to be a somewhat circuitous and involved process; however, the National Park Service has adopted this method to screen the many requests for studies that we receive. In this way, we are able to concentrate our efforts on areas with the most potential. We urge you to work closely with Mr. Anderson if this course of action appeals to you and your colleagues. If we can give you any further advice or be of any assistance, please -2- contact us. We appreciate having the opportunity to become familiar with the site and its possibilities, and we sincerely hope that your future work will produce a site of major national significance. Sincerely yours, .�.rd J. Leonard Volz Director, Midwest Region cc: Mr. Adrian Anderson Assistant State Archeologist University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa 5224o -3-