Project# 0430.12 Integrated Cultural Resources Management Plant and Phase I Archaeological Survey, Naval Reserve Center Des Moines, IA, 2003 - 2004

HHM prepared an Integrated Cultural Resources Plan (ICRMP) to assist Naval & Marine Corps Reserve Center (NMCRC) Des Moines, Iowa, with the management of significant cultural resources under its stewardship. NMCRC Des Moines is located on lands that have an extensive military tradition dating back to the mid-1800s when the Army located a cavalry unit in the area to protect settlers from American Indian raids. Building 47, which houses NMCRC Des Moines, is a contributing resource within the Fort Des Moines Provisional Army Officer Training School Historic District. The district is listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and is a designated National Historic Landmark (NHL). The ICRMP was prepared in accordance with Department of Defense (DOD) Instruction 4715.3, which requires all DOD installations to develop, implement, and regularly update management plans for significant cultural resources under their stewardship. The ICRMP provided information and tools to aid staff comply with applicable cultural resource regulations, including NHPA, NAGPRA, and ARPA. Major components of the ICRMP included a historic background of the significant events and trends associated with the Center from the early history of Fort Des Moines to the Cold War period; a summary of federal and state cultural resource-related legislation and the Navy’s responsibilities; and a summary of NRHP criteria and NHL programs. The ICRMP also included a detailed architectural description, history, and statement of significance for Building 47 and two ancillary structures. The report also identified Building 47’s salient and character-defining features, potential actions that would affect the integrity of the structure, recommended preservation and cultural resource management procedures and strategies, and preservation and mitigative actions. The ICRMP also included an Inadvertent Discovery Plan in the event that human remains are discovered on the grounds. Besides preparing an ICRMP, HHM was also tasked by the client to undertake limited investigations to asses the potential for significant archaeological deposits within the grounds associated with NMCRC Des Moines and under the stewardship of the Department of the Navy. HHM hired a Milwaukee-based archaeological firm to complete this task, and the recommendations of these investigations were included as an appendix to the ICRMP. Although no known archaeological sites were noted, the archaeological report recommended intensive field investigations prior to any future ground-disturbing activities.