NRHP Elements

All work under the Proposed Action would be performed in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation (see Section 2.4.5, “Project Design Features”) and the SAT grant requirements per consultation between UNLV and SHPO .

Ranch House: The ranch house would be structurally stabilized, rehabilitated and used for interpretation. Its historic exterior and interior features would be retained. An accessible path would be provided through the primary spaces and would require the adaptation of some hardware (e.g., handrails). New mechanical, electrical and fire protection systems would be installed. The garage would be restored to its original configuration and used for public programs and interpretation.

To provide public access to the ranch house, one secondary entrance door would be widened and the courtyard garden would be regraded to provide an accessible path up to the porch. The swimming pool would be covered with a surface that would suggest the nature of its original use.

Barn: The barn, which is currently in a deteriorated, unstable condition, would be completely rehabilitated for use as the site’s visitor center. The barn’s exterior would retain its original configuration and appearance; its unique railroad tie construction would be preserved. Severely deteriorated exterior elements would be replaced with historically appropriate materials.

Overall, the barn’s character would be retained to the greatest extent possible by limiting the following improvements:

New glazed entrances would be installed inside the barn doors for basic security and natural environmental/climate control. Structural and seismic stabilization would require replacement of undersized, missing and deteriorated elements and the installation of a slab foundation. The concrete slab would accommodate ADA accessibility.

Extensive replacement of the severely deteriorated exterior cladding would have a direct adverse impact on the barn. However, with the use of historically appropriate materials, the severity of impact would be minimized. The interior modifications, including the slab floor, would also result in direct adverse effects. Overall, the improvements would ensure that the barn is stabilized and preserved.

Ice House: The ice house would remain in or near its present non-historic location on the site where it would be rehabilitated. A new foundation and electrical system would be installed. The original fittings and equipment inside the ice house would be retained and interpreted.

Water Tank: The water tank would be rehabilitated for continued use for storage of the fire protection water supply. A permanent roof would be added.

Corrals: The historic corrals would be retained. Corral fences, gates, pens, chutes and equipment would be repaired and missing elements would be replaced in-kind.

Some fence sections, outside of the historic core, would need to be removed as required for access on the south part of the site.

A small blacksmith shop, incorporating a space for AV equipment, would be constructed at the corral adjacent to the barn. This structure would be designed and located based on aerial photographs and oral history to best reflect historic conditions. The reconstructed blacksmith’s shop would house a collection of artifacts from the original shop. This new construction would be reversible and compatible with the Secretary’s Standards but would ultimately be distinguishable from other historic structures on the site.

Boundary Fences: Sections of the historic boundary fence would be preserved and maintained and supplemented with new, in-kind fencing and gates to create a complete enclosure of the 40-acre site.

Walking Box Ranch Road: The historic Walking Box Ranch Road would be retained as the access to the historic site; it would be extended to provide direct access to the new academic campus without passing through the historic ranch stead. The road would be regraded and partially paved; stormwater drainage along the road would be improved with minor modifications to existing run-off swales.

Pathways: The site has been impacted by years of uncontrolled traffic by humans, livestock, and vehicles. Within the historic core of the site, this general state would be maintained but somewhat reduced by restoring some areas to native landscape. A concrete ADA accessible path would be created to connect all public areas of the site and an ADA accessible interpretive trail would be created around the perimeter of the 40-acre site.

Historic District: Under this alternative, there would be extensive new construction within the historic district, however, most of this new construction would occur south of the ranch’s historic core and outside of the primary historic viewsheds.

Several non-contributing structures would be removed from the District including the caretaker’s mobile home, a large trailer used for storage, and a tennis court. These areas would be either restored with native vegetation or would be re-used as the footprints for the Proposed Action developments. For example, the general location of the current caretaker’s trailer would be reused as a location of the proposed new research facility.

Other, site-wide or district-wide modifications include restoration of currently denuded areas with native plantings.

The construction of new buildings and modifications in historic corridors (such as the ADA accessible pathways) would have long-term adverse effects within the district. The rehabilitation and/or stabilization of the ranch house, barn, ice house, and water tank, as well as the removal of non-contributing buildings and structures, would ultimately benefit the District by preserving significant structures and returning the ranch stead to a layout more reflective of historic conditions.

Summary

Some of the proposed activities would have direct adverse effects on aspects of the historical buildings and features of the ranch. Collectively, the Proposed Action would ultimately result in the stabilization, enhancement, and long-term preservation of the contributing structures and the Historic District overall.

The intensity or severity of adverse impacts would be minimized with incorporation of the Secretary’s Standards, the SAT grant requirements, and other project design features defined in Section 2.4.5, “Project Design Features”. The majority of new developments would occur south of the historic core of the ranch. New construction and site restoration activities (e.g., plantings, rock gardens, etc.) would be compatible with the existing architecture and elements of the historic district. All rehabilitation actions would be completed with in-kind materials when possible.

Although some long-term adverse effects are anticipated, the net effect of the Proposed Action would be beneficial to the preservation of the District and would not adversely affect the National Register status of the District or its contributing elements.

The geographic scope would be the same as described for the No Action alternative. The effects analysis is limited to the Walking Box Ranch boundary.

With increased permanent human presence at the ranch and rehabilitation of the deteriorated structures, the effects of other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions in the region on cultural resources at the ranch would not be as noticeable as under the No Action alternative. As such, the effects of the Proposed Action would reduce the risk of vandalism, theft, fire, or other destruction of NRHP structures at the ranch. The cumulative effect of the Proposed Action would therefore be beneficial; it would diminish the potential for future losses or intentional destruction of NRHP structures.

Mitigation measures are not recommended for this resource.