Statement of Significance (as of designation - February 17, 2006):
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was an initiative of the New Deal Administration, which forever altered the relationship between the Federal Government and the American people. The CCC was a significant New Deal program that had a national impact on the American landscape. The CCC work projects included conservation, disaster relief, historic restoration, and national defense. The CCC camps were the key components in the success of the CCC program, creating the mechanism for executing its initiatives and providing a setting for the training and rejuvenation of the program’s enrollees.

Condition:
Designated a landmark in 2006, Rabideau has three buildings in critical need of work. The primary cause is due to the “temporary” nature of their construction, which included lack of permanent foundations. There is also water damage from roof and window leakage.

Funding was made available in 2006 by the Forest Service to install a permanent foundation under building #6. Additional sources of funding are needed to stabilize and restore buildings # 9 and #10. Other buildings that require roof and/or foundation work include buildings #2, #3, #5, #7, and #13, but their integrity is not threatened at this time. The Forest Service has performed needed maintenance such as patching of roofs and windows on buildings, lead abatement, and re-staining buildings #11 and #13 in the historic color scheme. Minor landscaping has been done to improve water drainage near building #9. The Forest Service has applied for a grant to restore building #7, and that work is in the planning stages pending award before October 1, 2006. Also planned is restoration of the entrance sign and stonework, to be performed by Forest Service staff. Additional funding for 2007 has been requested through the Forest Service Capital Improvement program. The Forest Service is negotiating with a consortium of organizations and has signed a temporary Special Use Permit with the Minnesota Conservation Corps. The organizations are currently (2006) in the planning stages of forming a Youth Conservation Academy. Condition Assessment Reports of buildings or the entire camp would facilitate preservation efforts at the camp, as would erosion control measures.