2025 HALS Challenge: Landscapes of Roadside America

We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 contest.

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 how to describe and analyze historic landscapes for the HALS Collection can be found in the HALS History Guidelines (pdf).

Prizes

Cash prizes will be awarded to the top 3 entries. Surveys that are funded by the National Park Service; entered into another HDP-administered competition; or created by employees of the National Park Service, American Society of Landscape Architects, or Library of Congress may be submitted to the HALS Challenge but are ineligible for prizes.

How to Enter

• HALS Short Format Historical Report: Use the HALS Short Format Report Template (.docx) to describe the history, significance, and character-defining features of the documented landscape.
• Copyright Release Form: All entries should include a signed Copyright Release Form (pdf) 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 HALS Guidelines for Measured Drawings (pdf); large-format photographs must comply with the HABS/HAER/HALS Photography Guidelines (pdf). Participants should include electronic copies of the drawings or photographs in their submission.

Once complete, email your entry to:

Scott Keyes
e-mail us
Phone: 202-354-2186

Deadline: July 31, 2025

Resources and Assistance

For additional information about HALS documentation and the HALS Challenge, please contact:

• Scott Keyes, acting HALS program manager e-mail us
• Your State ASLA Chapter’s volunteer HALS Liaison (pdf)

We look forward to receiving your entries!