Editor’s Note: David McKinney is an architectural historian and retired museum administrator. He directed the statewide arts network in Virginia, served as the director of the U.S. Interior Department Museum and subsequently as chief of cultural resources in the Office of the Secretary of Interior. McKinney has taught at Virginia Commonwealth University and at Goucher College, where he also served on the Historic Preservation Curriculum Committee. McKinney has consulted with organizations and local governments on preservation issues. He is also the author of numerous articles on art, architecture, and history. McKinney has a Ph.D. in architectural history from the University of Virginia. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own.
