Most people think of the Missouri Department of Transportation in terms of our highway system and motor transportation. Others might cite MoDOT's role in the development of harbor facilities, airport improvements, and even light rail transportation. With the large amount of land owned and developed by MoDOT, there comes a responsibility to protect our environment from pollution, noise, loss of natural wetland, and threatened and endangered species. MoDOT is deeply committed to protecting our environment while delivering "Progress as Promised." Few people, however, realize that MoDOT is as committed to the past as it is to the future. Thus, when important cultural resources are threatened by transportation projects, a series of laws and regulations require that we attempt to preserve that resource. These laws mandate that all federal projects or projects which use federal money or require federal permits or licenses must consider the impact of the project on cultural resources. What is a cultural resource ? Cultural resources tend to fall into two broad categories: archaeological sites and historic structures. These are the physical traces of past lifeways and activities. By law, a cultural resource must be fifty years or more in age and either have the ability to make a contribution to our knowledge of the past or is associated with a famous individual or an important event. MoDOT's role in preserving cultural resources Archaeology Architectural History Missouri History Bridge History Frequently Asked Questions