What is a Reconnaissance Survey?
A Reconnaissance Survey provides a snapshot of potential historic resources in a particular location at a specific point in time. Often used for planning purposes, it can provide data on broad categories such as property types, architectural styles, basic integrity and overall condition, sorted by historical period, context, or geographic location. It is primarily a visual survey that does not evaluate resources for historical significance. But it can sort non-historic properties from potentially historic resources. Reconnaissance Survey results often become the basis for more intensive surveys. These provide detailed examination of ownership, physical changes, and property adaptations associated with social, cultural or economic patterns over time.