Cultural Heritage and the BLM Oregon

The archaeological and historic sites the BLM manages are known as cultural resources. Cultural resources can include a vast range in types of sites and landscapes that result from past human activities. Archaeological sites on public lands in Oregon and Washington include rockshelters, quarries, campsites, village sites, and rock art sites. Historic sites and structures on public lands include lighthouses, ranches and homesteads, railroad logging camps, Civilian Conservation Corps sites and many roads and trails. Some sites have traditional cultural importance to the region’s American Indian tribes and other groups. The locations play an important role in maintaining their cultural heritage. These locations are often of religious significance or where traditional activities are carried out.

It is the responsibility of the BLM to inventory, evaluate, and manage these important but fragile resources for the public. The BLM manages cultural resources in order to conserve their significant cultural, scientific, educational, traditional, and recreational values for present and future generations. More than 1.2 million acres of public lands in Oregon and Washington have been inventoried for cultural resources. Over 10,300 cultural resource sites have been recorded.

The inventory and recordation program has resulted in 19 sites and districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Cultural or historic values associated with 17 designated Areas of Critical Environmental Concern include five segments of the Oregon National Historic Trail, the Snake River Archaeological District, the Sterling Mine Ditch in southwestern Oregon, the Biscuitroot Cultural area in eastern Oregon, the Spanish Gulch Mining District in central Oregon, and the Yakima River Canyon in central Washington. The 52,000-acre Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument established in 2000 contains a rich record of cultural resources.

http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/heritage/index.php