Former Superintendent's Message,
by Tami
DeGrosky
With
the hills around Big Hole finally turning white with snow, it is once
again time for a report from your parks. The summer and fall were very
busy at Big Hole and Bear Paw. In addition to the annual battlefield
commemorations, Big Hole also played host to the annual Chief Joseph Trail
Ride. Over 170 riders from around the world, plus their support crews
ended a 100 mile trail ride at the park in July. This trail ride which
over the course of a 13 year period retraces the route the Nez Perce took
from Oregon to Bear Paw in 100 mile increments. Tribal elders were on hand
to meet with the riders on the day after the ride ended and they hosted a
missing saddle ceremony with Nez Perce youth leading the way. The park
brought in staff from Nez Perce NHP and Bear Paw to give special programs
and walks to all who did the ride.
Exhibit planning is full swing at Big Hole. Meetings were held in August
in Pendleton and October is Nespelem with our tribal partners. We are
getting very close to a final plan and from there it is on to the bidding
process and install. The Visitor Center is also getting an upgrade in
2010. We are getting a new atrium for the front, a new roof (which has
leaked for many years), fire suppression system, upgrade on our mechanical
upgrade and a paint job. With all of that going on the park is going to
have to close the Visitor Center for 8 to 12 months. But never fear we
will still have something for visitors to do. We are going to convert one
of our duplexes into a visitor contact station, still showing the film,
albeit in a bedroom of the house, still selling books and a place for the
public to meet and talk with park staff. The other half of the duplex will
be our offices. It will be cramped for a while, but we believe it will be
worth it in the end.
Bear Paw played the host unit for the Trails & Rails program on Amtrak’s
Empire Builder two trips a week last summer. Park staff and Volunteers
provided information in the lounge car from Havre to Minot and back. The
program was very well received and will be expanded to 4 total trips a
week in 2010. The staff there is also installing a traveler’s information
radio station for those visitors who arrive at the park after the staff
has left
for the day. It should be a boon for all that visit the park. The
Environmental Assessment for Bear Paw Visitor Facilities is being worked
on and we hope to have that out sometime early next year. It has been a
long project and it not over yet so I do ask for everyone’s patience as we
are trying to make this the best possible.
Next year is also the 100th Anniversary of creation of Big Hole National
Monument. We will have some special 100th items for sale and I will let
you know more about that as they are produced.
My first six months here have been great and I look forward to the coming
years.
Thanks,
Steve
November 2009
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