What Was Lost?

What Was Lost?. Independence National Historical Park. , National Park Service, state, and local officials have always grappled with questions of preservation. What is worth saving? What gets destroyed?, The creation of Independence National Historical Park ensured the preservation of many sites connected to the early history of the United States. But in the process of showcasing those buildings, other architecturally significant structures were lost. Among these were grand office buildings, banks, insurance companies, and publishing houses., Approaches to these questions have changed since the 1950s. Today, the National Park Service aims to work with local communities to maintain and preserve changing neighborhoods and landscapes., [Captions:] , The Brown Brothers Building (1887), southeast corner of 4th and Chestnut Streets. Now open space next to Carpenters' Hall. , Independence National Historical Park, 1951, Noted Philadelphia architect Franklin Furness designed The Guarantee Trust and Safe Deposit Company in 1875. Originally located on Chestnut Street between 3rd and 4th Streets, it is now the site of the Pemberton House. , Independence National Historical Park, 1951, When constructed in 1850 the Jayne Building stood eight stories tall, the earliest "sky scraper" in the United States. It sat at the current site of the Museum in the American Revolution near 3rd and Chestnut Streets. , Library of Congress, 1951, Charles Peterson (right) was a national Park Service architect who advocated against the sweeping demolition of many of these buildings. He was ultimately overruled by higher ranking National Park Service officials. , Independence National Historical Park, 1951