Yes I know but with it comes benifits like tax breaks
My parent owned one, the was a main fort in the french and indian war, it was my grandfathers and when he died, my dad inherited. being designated like it and a offer of money, he sold it to a fort restoration group. Today it is a big draw to the city, they tore the house down and dug, cannons, rifles all kind of stuff behind the house stone foundation. I wanted to tear into the ground myself but could not. They have reenactments every year there and is open all year. My parents had lots of pressure to sell, I also went to a auction 3 years ago for a farm listed on the historical record with 100 acres house barn blacksmith building. It went for 1/4 of what it was appraised because of the restrictions on what you could do to the buildings.
the surrounding properties were along with my grandfathers, we were the last ones there and the rest of the fort surrounded us in the main part. rather than using eminate domain, they agreed to hold out until his death, they offered good money but Richard Mellon was part of the fort restoration and grandfather worked in his coal mines and hated him. We still owned it but could not do anything to it.
and Jason it tells you right in your post :FEDERAL TAX INCENTIVES what do you think that is?
kayak, with all due respect for the answer that that archie-minded historian @ the Natural Park Service gave (which you repeat back here as the answer to the issue) : You've got to keep in mind something, when relying on such replies : Keep in mind the source. If they're of a purist archaeological mindset, then .... what did you expect ?
Example: It would be a little like asking a P.E.T.A. (animal rights wackos) rep: "Hi, can I leave my pet bunny in the car while I run into 7-11 to get a slurpee?" What do you think they would answer? They would shriek: "noooohhhh! You can be arrested for animal cruelty. The bunny could suffer in the hot car. Your car can be confiscated. You can be fined", etc.. etc... Heck, they could maybe even back up their assertions with actual laws about animal cruelty. Right ? But seriously dude, what did you expect coming from an animal rights wacko ? Hence so too do I put little stock into what some archies say/claim.
Good post Jason. I too caught the contradiction there of "private" yet "federal". Huh ?