high degree of integrity. Within the last fifty years few alterations have been made to the external appearance of the buildings. The important spatial relationships between buildings and their settings have been retained because virtually all modern development on the site has been confined to the addition of new buildings or trailers outside the historic boundary. Over the course of their history many of the buildings have been used for a number of purposes and this continual process of development, gradual change and adaptation characterises the unplanned and sequential nature of the historic site. Despite the relative simplicity of their design, density, form and massing, the buildings at Ganado Mission must have appeared alien to the Navajo, a nomadic people who traditionally lived in small earth and wood hogans in isolated family communities. The buildings seem incongruous within the wider context of their setting and this sense of incongruity, which still pervades the campus today, reinforces its unique character and local distinctiveness. Ironically this incongruity embodies the historical, philosophical and cultural differences between the Navajo and the Anglo. The former lived close to and in harmony with the land,while the latter sought to establish their physical presence permanently, and to manipulate the landscape and its people. Today the area around Ganado is much more populated than at the turn of the last century and Highway 264 has become a busy road through the Navajo Reservation. Relatively recent linear development along the highway has had an impact upon the mission's earlier sense of the remote isolation, which is so apparent in early aerial photographs. Nevertheless the layout of the site, the utilitarian style of architecture, the choice of materials, the scale of the buildings and their sense of unchanged permanence still strongly reflect the era of their construction. The historical character and interest of Ganado Mission campus is reinforced by the physical integrity of the buildings and also through the historical donations from a wider range of public and private sources. State law or local ordinances may affect national historic landmarks but the designation itself does not prohibit under Federal law any new works or alterations that the owner may wish to undertake to property. Indeed, if the owner objects to the landmark designation then the secretary of state for the interior cannot designate the property. The National Park Service may make recommendations to the owner regarding maintenance and repair, but the owner is under no obligation to maintain the building or carry out the recommended work. The reality is that historic landmark designation affords no level of protection to a property, unless the owner of the property has accepted a federal or state grant awarded subject to specific conditions. Until very recently conservation issues have not been a high priority on the Sage Memorial Hospital administration's agenda. However, since my return to England I have heard that the they intend to employ a full-time conservation specialist who will be in charge of researching and recording the 64 buildings, and drawing up a schedule of necessary Shangri-La. Canada. The home of Dr Clarence Salsbury, director of the School of Nursing, built 1.920. associations and continuity of use. Sage Memorial repairs for each of them. If the nomination is reHospital still provides medical care to approximately ceived favourably and sources of financial aid be21,500 Navajo people living within a 1,800 square come available, the future of this important historic mile area. The integrity of the site may be due in site would appear to be secure. Freya Burden is conserualion assistant at South Oxfordshire District Council. part to the enormous expense involved in running a modern hospital, which has meant that there have been limited financial resources available to undertake perceived 'improvements' or alterations to the buildings. The national historic landmark nomination for Ganado Historic Mission will be presented to the National Landmarks Committee in Washington this autumn. If the nomination is successful the potential grant opportunities will secure the proper maintenance and repair of this important site. State and local government often administer small grant and loan programmes to assist with the cost of maintenance and repair of historic buildings. National register listing is normally a condition for qualifying for financial aid. The added cachet of national historic landmark naturally attracts more generous CONTEXT 71 SEPTEMBER 2001 Michael Pearce ARIBA MRTPI FRSA IHBC Chartered Architect and Town Planner Planning, Conservation, and Historic Building Consultant THE LODGE, 52 HOLLOWS CLOSE SALISBURY, WILTSHIRE SP2 8JX TELEPHONE & FAX: OJ 722 334355 25
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