The best way to preserve historical buildings is to use them. I'm reminded of Old Town Sacramento, which was in a shambles in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, it's bustling with life and business, attracting wealthy tourists who invest their money in the local economy. One of the great things about Old Town Sac is that one can have a meal or some ale where people a century before dined and imbibed. One can buy clothing in a store that may have sold 19th century clothing.

I have a problem when the NPS takes questionably appropriated money from citizens and then tells them the best way to protect past human habitation and industrial areas is to enshrine them and keep humans from living and working there. If Europe had this same crazy mentality, millions would be living in refuge camps and no one would be able to collect rent or make a profit off historic locations.

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Reform the National Park Service!
http://NPS-reform.blogspot.com