In 1969, the Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) was established by the National Park Service, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Library of Congress. The purpose was to document historic engineering and industrial resources. The record includes a wide range of sites and systems such as ships, bridges, railroads, canals, and roadways. These resources reflect our technological heritage and demonstrate growth and change over time.

The New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam was documented for HAER in 2020. The site is significant because of the engineering of the lock and the lift gate technology. Because the site has changed very little, it represents the engineering of the early to mid-1900s. The record includes a history of the site, large-scale film photographs, and measured drawings. The Library of Congress offers digital access to all HAER documentation.