The VDL Research House II and the original version of Painted Desert Visitors Center, AZ have been chosen with 20 other historic sites by outgoing Secretary of Interior to NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARKS!
This is the highest level of appreciation for important Historic Sites and is a great honor for us here at the Institute!
The program is presided over by the National Park Service and LA This Week did a feature about the designations
Ironically, it was to this same honor that our Gettysburg Cyclorama Visiitors Center (same vintage as Painted Desert; 1960s) was nominated to, about 15 years ago with 20 other candidates. It was the only one NOT chosen at that time to be so honored!
Instead, some years later, the National Park Service presided over its destruction and grinding to powder on its site in 2013!
Check out Dion’s ebook available here about the Cyclorama’s destruction.