The Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS) is a national program administered by the National Park Service in collaboration with the American Society of Landscape Architects and the Library of Congress. HALS documents historic landscapes through the creation of measured drawings, large-format photographs, and historical reports. Documentation is archived in the permanent collections of the Library of Congress.
The 16th Annual HALS Challenge Competition – Landscapes of Roadside America
The annual HALS Challenge competition encourages landscape architects, students, and other interested parties to document historic landscapes in their communities. To enter the competition, participants must complete a historical report that highlights the history, significance, and character-defining features of the surveyed landscape. This report can be supplemented with optional measured drawings or large-format photographs. All competition entries are archived in the HALS collection at the Library of Congress where they contribute to the nation’s largest repository of documentation on American architecture, engineering, and landscapes.
The theme of the 16th annual HALS Challenge competition is Landscapes of Roadside America. Throughout American history, many unique landscapes have emerged along the nation’s expanding road and highway networks. These landscapes—which include roadside attractions, scenic overlooks, rest stops, service stations, campgrounds, motor courts, and other sites developed to accommodate travelers—are quintessentially American places. However, due to shifts in traffic and commercial patterns, many of these places are now threatened by redevelopment or neglect.
For this competition, we encourage participants to document significant roadside landscapes in their communities and regions. Information on how to describe and analyze historic landscapes for the HALS collection can be found in the .
How to Enter
Complete submissions to the competition should include the following elements:
HALS Short Format Historical Report: Use the  to describe the history, significance, and character-defining features of the documented landscape.
Copyright Release Form: All entries should include a signed  acknowledging that all materials in the submission will be dedicated to the public domain. Since the copyright status of some materials is uncertain, please do not reproduce any graphics in your HALS documentation unless they are covered by a signed copyright release or clearly in the public domain.
Supplemental Measured Drawings or Photographs: While not required, HALS Challenge historical reports can be supplemented with measured drawings or large-format photographs of the documented landscape. Entries that include drawings or photographs receive extra points during judging. Drawings must comply with the requirements of the ; large-format photographs must comply with the . Participants should include electronic copies of the drawings or photographs in their submission.
Entries must be submitted by July 31, 2025, to be included in the competition.
Resources and Assistance
To download report templates, review guidelines, and access other resources, please visit the competition website. For additional information about HALS documentation and the HALS Challenge, you may also email Scott Keyes, acting HALS program manager, or .
