Heritage Documentation Programs
Heritage Documentation Programs administers
HABS (Historic American Buildings Survey), the Federal
Government's oldest preservation program, and companion
programs HAER (Historic American Engineering Record),
HALS (Historic American Landscapes Survey), and CRGIS
(Cultural Resources Geographic Information Systems). Documentation
produced through the programs constitutes the nation's
largest archive of historic architectural, engineering,
and landscape documentation.
Latest News
- HABS Guide to Field Documentation postedThis Field Guide offers step-by-step instructions about how to observe, take field measurements, and create field notes and a short-form report about a historic site or structure to HABS standards. Learn more...
- HDP celebrates African American History MonthHDP features several HABS, HAER, HALS and CRGIS projects that highlight the diversity of the Africean American Experience. Learn more...
- 2013 HALS Challenge Competition announcedPeople from every state are hereby challenged to complete at least one HALS short format history to increase awareness of the role of women in shaping the American landscape. Learn more...
- 2013 Peterson Prize Drawing Competition announcedThe Charles E. Peterson Prize recognizes the best set of measured drawings prepared to HABS standards and donated to HABS by students. Learn more...
- 2013 Holland Prize Drawing Competition announcedThe Leicester B. Holland Prize is an annual competition that recognizes the best single-sheet measured drawing of an historic building, site, or structure prepared by an individual(s) to the standards of the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), Historic American Engineering Record (HAER), or the Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS). Learn more...
- The Visual Legacy of Jack E. BoucherPicture This, the blog for the Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division, which houses the HABS/HAER/HALS collection, remembers legendary HABS photogapher Jack Boucher. The entry highlights some of Jack's best work chosen by Library of Congress staff. Learn more...
- Producing HABS/HAER/HALS Measured Drawings from Laser Scans: the Pros and Cons of Using Laser Scanning for Heritage DocumentationLearn More...
- ARCHITECT: The Magazine of the American Institute of Architects Video Series Ford Peatross, the Director of the Center for Architecture, Design and Engineering at the Library of Congress, discusses the challenges of digital preservation as it relates to architectural collections such as HABS/HAER/HALS. Learn More...
- Library of Congress upgrades their on-line catalog of HABS/HAER/HALS documentation. Learn More...
