NEZ PERCE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK

NEZ PERCE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK

LONG-RANGE INTERPRETIVE PLAN

NEZ PERCE NATIONALHISTORICAL PARK

prepared by

National Park Service

Nez Perce National Historical Park

Department of Interpretive PlanningHarpers Ferry Center

LONG-RANGE INTERPRETIVE PLAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1PARK PURPOSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2PARK SIGNIFICANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3PRIMARY INTERPRETIVE THEMES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4THE VISITORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9ISSUES, GIVENS, CONSTRAINTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10VISITOR EXPERIENCE GOALS/ACTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

PARKWIDE VISITOR EXPERIENCE GOALS AND ACTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11IDAHO UNIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Spalding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16White Bird Battlefield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20Heart of the Monster/McBeth House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22Ant and Yellowjacket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23Buffalo Eddy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24Camas Prairie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25Canoe Camp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27Clearwater Battlefield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28Cottonwood Skirmishes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29Coyote’s Fishnet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30Craig Donation Land Claim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31Confluence Overlook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32Fort Lapwai Officers’ Quarters & Northern Idaho Indian Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33Hasotino Village Site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34Lapwai Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35Lenore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Lewis and Clark Long Camp/Asa Smith Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37Lolo Trail and Lolo Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38Looking Glass Camp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40Musselshell Meadow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42Pierce Coourthouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43Saint Joseph’s Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44Tolo Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45Weippe Prairie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46Weiss Rockshelter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

MONTANA UNIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Big Hole National Battlefield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48Bear Paw Battlefield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51Camas Meadows Battle Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54Canyon Creek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

OREGON/WASHINGTON UNIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Dug Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57Joseph Canyon Viewpoint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58Lostine Campsite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59Old Chief Joseph Gravesite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61Nez Perce (Nespelem) Campsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62Nez Perce Cemetery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63

PLANNING TEAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65APPENDIX A-Recommendations Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67APPENDIX B-Media Accessibility Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73

In 1995 the National Park Service issued a com-pletely revised and updated interpretive planningchapter of the Service's Interpretation andVisitor Services Guideline (NPS-6). Thisrevised guideline outlined the components of theComprehensive Interpretive Plan-a park's strate-gic planning document for interpretation andvisitor services. Every park has been encouragedto update their interpretive planning documentsusing this guideline. A key component of theComprehensive Interpretive Plan process is theLong-Range Interpretive Plan.

The Long-Range Interpretive Plan examines apark's purposes and significant resources inorder to establish the park's primary interpretivethemes and visitor experience goals. The plananalyzes the park's current interpretive facilitiesand outlines any changes necessary to facilitateappropriate visitor experiences. The Long-Range Interpretive Plan is a concept plan thatlays the groundwork for subsequent media plan-ning and design. The actions recommended inthe plan are those that the park can reasonablybe expected to accomplish in 7-10 years, the pro-jected life span of the Long-Range InterpretivePlan.

Nez Perce National Historical Park completedits General Management Plan in 1997. TheLong-Range Interpretive Plan will provide theadditional strategic and tactical planning neces-

sary to begin implementing the interpretive andvisitor experience actions prescribed in theGeneral Management Plan.

The park’s interpretation and education programwill be driven by the park’s significance, it’sresources and primary interpretive themes. TheComprehensive Interpretive Plan defines waysthe park can give each visitor the opportunity toexperience the park’s resources and the valuesthey represent, and foster a personal stewardshipethic. Interpretation and education will encour-age dialogue and accept the visitor’s right tohave their own individual point of view. Factualinformation presented will be current, accurate,based on the best available scholarship and sci-ence. Interpretation and education will alsoreach out to park neighbors and communityleaders, to stimulate discussions about the parkand its values in local, regional, and nationalforums. In addition, interpretive and educationalservices will help park employees better under-stand the park’s history, resources, processes,and visitors.

Nez Perce National Historical Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan 1

INTRODUCTION

Park purpose is the reason or reasons for whicha park area was established. Purpose statementsare important to planning because they are basicto all other assumptions about the park and theways in which it should be used and managed.

Nez Perce National Historical Park was estab-lished as a unit of the national park system onMay 15, 1965, by Public Law 89-19. The lawstates that the park was created to "facilitate pro-tection and provide interpretation of sites in theNez Perce Country of Idaho that have excep-tional value in commemorating the history of theNation." A total of 24 sites were designated partof the historical park as a result of the 1965 leg-islation. On October 30, 1992, Public Law 102-576 allowed sites to be designated in Oregon,Washington, Montana, and Wyoming, and spec-ified 14 additional sites in Idaho, Oregon,Washington, and Montana to be included in thepark.

On the basis of provisions in the enabling legis-lation, the 1997 General Management Plan forNez Perce National Historical Park and Big HoleNational Battlefield identified these park pur-poses:

lFacilitate protection and offer interpretationof Nez Perce sites in Idaho, Oregon,Washington, Montana, and Wyoming thathave exceptional value in commemoratingthe history of the United States.

lPreserve and protect tangible resources thatdocument the history of the Nez Perce peo-ples and the significant role of the Nez Percein North American history.

lInterpret the culture and history of the NezPerce peoples and promote documentation toenhance that interpretation.

2 Nez Perce National Historical Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan

PARK PURPOSE

The significance of a park is summarized instatements that capture the essence of the park'simportance to our natural and cultural heritage.Significance statements are not the same as aninventory of significant resources. While theresource inventory is a basis on which signifi-cance is determined, the significance statementsdescribe the importance or distinctiveness of theaggregate of resources in a park. Knowing thepark's significance helps set resource protectionpriorities, identify primary park interpretivethemes, and develop desirable visitor experi-ences. The 1997 General Management Plan forNez Perce National Historical Park and Big HoleNational Battlefield identified these significancestatements for Nez Perce National HistoricalPark:

lThe park preserves a continuum of at least11,000 years of Nez Perce culture. Its archeo-logical record, museum collection, culturallandscapes, and structures are of national sig-nificance. The park contains historical andcultural landmarks that are of legendary sig-nificance to the Nez Perce people. The NezPerce (Nee-Me-Poo) National Historic Trailcommemorates a significant event in the his-tory of the Nez Perce people.

lNez Perce National Historical Park offers aunique opportunity for visitors to gain anunderstanding of present-day Nez Perce cul-ture within and outside the Nez Perce home-land and to learn about important events ofthe past.

lPast and present Nez Perce culture wereshaped by the geography and the rich and var-ied resources of the Nez Perce homeland.

lThe park includes parts of the Lewis andClark National Historic Trail and the LoloTrail, both of which were used by other cul-tures. The Nez Perce country, Nez PerceNational Historical Park sites, and otherNative American cultures overlap but alsodiffer in many ways.

lThe park contains burial sites and sacredsites; it is also a focal point for current NezPerce culture and allows for the continuedtraditional use of resources. The park honorsthe rights retained in the 1855 and 1863treaties and will fully apply all applicablelaws, executive orders, policies, and treatiesrelated to the protection of cultural propertiesand sacred sites.


PARK SIGNIFICANCE

Primary interpretive themes are based on apark's purposes, significance, and primaryresources. These themes are often described asthe key stories or concepts that visitors shouldunderstand after visiting the park. The themesprovide the foundation for all interpretive pro-grams and media developed for the park. Theydo not include everything the park may interpret,but they do cover those ideas that are critical tovisitors' understanding of the park's significantresources.

Sub-themes identify the critical component storyelements necessary for visitors to understandand appreciate the more conceptual idea present-ed in the primary interpretive theme statement.

Primary Interpretive Theme #1

The Nez Perce people developed a distinct cul-ture through more than 11,000 years of interac-tion with the environment and landscape of theirtraditional homeland.

Sub-Themes:

lAlthough the archeological record supportshuman occupancy of the Nez Perce homelandfor at least 10,000 years, the Nez Perce (nottheir own name for themselves) believe thatthey and their ancestors have always in-habited this region.

lA strong family structure, which extends to abilateral kinship of 5-7 generations and

includes some who are not blood relatives, wasand is the basis for traditional Nez Perce society.

lThe Nez Perce homeland-its land forms, itsresources-shaped every aspect of Nez Perceculture; it affected where people lived, theirdiet, their economy, their recreational pur-suits, and their spiritual well-being.

lThe Nez Perce oral history tradition and theNez Perce language provide the human histo-ry record for that part of the country that istheir homeland.

lThe Nez Perce economy was based on home-land resources, included trade with theirplateau neighbors and other more distant cul-tures, and was impacted in fundamental waysby the introduction of the horse.

lThe creative spirit of the Nez Perce people isembodied in their art, literature, music, anddance and demonstrates their unique culturalpoint of view.

lThe spiritual beliefs of the Nez Perce peoplereflected their connection to their environ-ment (both the living things and the physicalobjects) and were totally integrated into everyfacet of their lives.

lThe Nez Perce's own unique values, stan-dards, and processes guided the institutions ofhealth, education, religion, and governmentin Nez Perce communities.


PRIMARY INTERPRETIVE THEMES

Primary Interpretive Theme # 2

The Nez Perce people and their culture haveundergone and continue to undergo manychanges as a direct result of their cooperationand conflict with Euro-American culture and theUnited States government.

Sub-themes:

l One of the most significant impacts of Euro-Americans on Nez Perce people has been inthe area of health; epidemics of smallpox andmeasles, tuberculosis, changes in diet, and theintroduction of alcohol and tobacco are someof the more prominent health issues associat-ed with Euro-American contact.

lIt was impossible for the Nez Perce to main-tain their traditional hunting/gathering econo-my after the loss of their land base throughtreaties, the imposition of individual landownership through the Dawes Act, and theircoerced dependence on the cash economy ofthe Euro-American culture. These economicchanges profoundly affected the Nez Perce'svalue system, the roles of men and women,and other basic elements of their culture.

lBeginning with their trade with the fur trap-pers, the Nez Perce acquired manufacturedgoods that impacted their way of life, such as,the rifle which made it easier to hunt and pro-

foundly changed warfare, or glass beads whichthey incorporated into their decorative arts.

lSince its introduction by 19th century mis-sionaries, Christianity has been a powerfulforce in the lives and culture of the Nez Percepeople.

lToday, as the Nez Perce struggle to maintainmany of their traditional lifeways, there is arenewed interest in those lifeways from bothinside and outside the Indian community.This causes the Nez Perce concern aboutexploitation and expropriation of their her-itage by people who do not share or under-stand the cultural or spiritual context of thoselifeways.

lAs a result of actions and policies of theUnited States government, the Nez Perce livein three distinct groups on three differentreservations governed by three autonomoustribal governments.

lThe Nez Perce recognize the essential rolenatural resources play in preserving their sto-ries, values, and traditional culture, and theirtribal governments are working to restore,maintain, and preserve those resources.

lSome of the prejudice and racism that the NezPerce and other Native American cultures suf-fer is the result of the stereotypes of Indianpeople presented in American popular culture.



lThrough their literature, art, cultural events,traditional place names, traditional lifeways,etc., the Nez Perce continue to influence theculture and identity of their homeland region.

Primary Interpretive Theme #3

The treaty of 1855, the treaty of 1863, and thewar of 1877 had severe consequences for theNez Perce people, and they illustrate the difficulthistorical relationships between the UnitedStates and the indigenous cultures of NorthAmerica.

Nez Perce National Historic Trail PrimaryInterpretive Theme

The Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) National HistoricTrail symbolizes the dramatic collision of cul-tures which shaped the region's past and contin-ues to change the region and its people today.This Trail parallels the lives of all people whostrive for peace, homeland, wealth, security,spiritual freedom and a chosen way of life.

Sub-themes:

lDuring the 1877 War, the four Nez Percebands, their ally-the Husishusis Kute band ofPalouse, and their leaders faced not only theconstant threat of battle with the U.S. Army,but also the enormous challenge of providingfor the health and welfare of their familieswhile moving them and their belongingsacross 1,200 miles of rugged landscape.

lFor reasons that included their religious affil-iation and the impacts of the 1863 Treaty ontheir particular band, the majority of the NezPerce people remained on the reservation andwere not part of the 1877 War.

lThe three key battles of the 1877 War wereWhite Bird-the war's first battle, Big Hole-theNez Perce decide to flee to Canada, and BearPaw-the war's last battle.

lThe discovery of gold in the Nez Perce home-land was a major factor in the United State'sdesire for the 1863 Treaty; the mining culturewas more hostile to the rights of the NezPerce than previous settler groups had been.

lAll of the 1877 War battlefields are verysacred places to the Nez Perce people; theyare cemeteries where the pain of the tragicloss of Nez Perce lives is very intimately felt.

lThe 1877 War continues to impact the day-to-day lives of the Nez Perce-especially thoseNez Perce on the Colville Reservation whoare still exiled from their traditional home-land.

lThe 1863 Treaty, which divided the NezPerce into "treaty" and "non-treaty" groups,reduced the size of the Nez Perce reservationby 90% and fostered much of the hostilitythat led to the 1877 War.



lThe 1855 Treaty established a relationshipbetween the Nez Perce people and the UnitedStates which was based on Euro-Amercanlegal conventions, erroneously established theconcept that a single "head chief" could speakfor the Nez Perce, and established definiteboundaries for the Nez Perce nation. Thetreaty's use of the term "Nez Perce" resulted inits use as the legal name for this plateau nation.

lThe 1877 War crossed several tribal politicalboundaries; the response and involvement ofthose other tribal nations in the war provideother voices and perspectives on the war andits history.

lThe United States' Indian policy and itsresponse to the Nez Perce in 1877 were theproducts of the country's political and eco-nomic climate at the time and the effects ofsuch recent events as the Civil War and the1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn.

lDuring the 1877 War, both the Nez Perce andthe pursuing military largely followed cen-turies old trails (i.e., Bannock, Lolo, Imnaha,Bighole) that were created by NativeAmericans for seasonal hunting and gather-ing trips and trade between tribes and regions;Euro-Americans, also, knew these trails andhad used them for travel and commerce fordecades.

lAlthough both the Army and the Nez Perceunderstood the rigors of travel associatedwith the trail and its topography, life on thetrail was distinctly different for each groupbecause of their different cultural back-grounds, and their different roles in and per-ceptions of the conflict.

lThe 1877 War was a tragic event and an epicstory of the endurance and survival of twogroups of people who traversed vast dis-tances-as much as 1,700 miles in fivemonths-while under the stress of war.

lThe 1877 War is just one example of the con-flicts which occurred between NativeAmerican cultures and the nascent Euro-American culture of the United States, andlike those other conflicts, each side in the1877 War was composed of many factionsand voices with opinions on what actionsshould be taken to best serve their people.




THE VISITORS

Nez Perce National Historical Park presentsquite a challenge for visitors and park interpreta-tion. There is no single collective “park”; nomanaged entry and exit experience; no centrallylocated visitor center providing basic parkwidethematic and wayfinding orientation; and, nopark managed system of roads and trails todeliver vistitors to significant interpretive loca-tions. Instead, there are 38 sites dispersed over 4states with more than a 1,000 highway milesbetween the two most distant sites. Few visitorswill ever visit all 38 sites and most of the park’svisitation occurs at only a handful of sites. Themajority of visitors discover Nez Perce sites asthey travel to and from other destinations.

Over 300,000 people do visit Nez Perce NationalHistorical Park annually. The most recent visitorprofile information for Nez Perce NationalHistorical Park was compiled from a VisitorServices Project survey conducted the week ofJuly 17-23, 1994. Visitors were surveyed at thefollowing locations: Spalding Visitor Center andpicnic area, White Bird Battlefield, Old ChiefJoseph’s Gravesite, Big Hole Battlefield, BearPaw Battlefield, U.S.F.S. Lolo Pass VisitorCenter, Heart of the Monster, and Canoe Camp.

The survey found that 32% of visitors werebetween 41 and 55 years old and 21% were 20years old or younger. Fifty percent of visitorscame in groups of 2, 32% in groups of 3 to 5,

10% in groups of 6 or more, and only 8% cameto the park alone. Visitors were most often infamily groups (69%). The majority of visitors(79%) were coming to the park for the first timeand over half (54%) of visitors surveyed came tothe park from one of the four states (Idaho,Oregon, Montana, and Washington) with parksites. Only 4% of visitors were international inorigin, with over half of those coming fromeither Canada or Germany.

Most (69%) visitors reported their length of stayat the park site where they were surveyed as 1hour or less. Thirty-six percent reported havingreceived no information about the park beforetheir visit. Almost two-thirds (64%) of the visi-tors cited learning Nez Perce history as a reasonfor visiting the park. The most used serviceswere the visitor center exhibits (75%), parkbrochure/map (63%), and information from parkemployees (51%). The most used facilities werethe highway historical signs (71%), highwaydirectional signs to park sites (65%), andrestrooms (63%). The educational subjects visi-tors reported they would most like to learn aboutwere: the history of the Nez Perce, the Lewis andClark Expedition, the Nez Perce War of 1877,and pioneers/settlers. Half of those surveyed(50%) said they would like more contact withthe Nez Perce tribe/people in the future.


THE VISITORS

This section identifies areas impacting the park'sinterpretive program that interpretation has littleor no capacity to change, but must acknowledgeand work with to accomplish the park's interpre-tive and visitor experience goals. Those issuesinclude:

lall but a small number of the 38 sites areowned by private citizens or a public agencyother than the National Park Service, makingit difficult or impossible for the park to ade-quately protect significant resources or tooffer visitors the opportunity to experiencethe significant resources that support parkthemes.

lmost park sites are managed through cooper-ative agreements that may limit the amount ofinfluence the park can have on the interpre-tive efforts of cooperative partners. All ofthese agreements are not in place and thismay impact the plan as it is implemented.

linterpretive actions are often constrained bythe time and effort the three Nez Perce groupscan devote to consultation.

lpeople/groups mistrust that agents of the fed-eral government can adequately and accurate-ly tell "their" story.

lvarious stories, sites, and practices have sen-sitive spiritual/religious values that are notconsidered "commons" property to be shared

with the public.

lthe traditional history of the Nez Perce cul-ture is kept through the oral tradition; infor-mation has been lost forever when eldershave passed away without the opportunity topass on their knowledge.

lseveral park sites are cemeteries (includingbattlefields) and there are cultural sensitivityissues about inviting the public to them.

linterest in the Nez Perce story is expandingand people are putting an ever-increasingdemand on the park to provide more andmore in-depth information.

lpersonal names or images used in interpretivemedia may be controversial.

lbecause the park's 38 sites are so dispersed, itis difficult or impossible to provide even amodest amount of personal services interpre-tation at the majority of sites, and park inter-preters have a difficult time coming togetherto share and develop their professional skillsor work on parkwide projects.

ltwo different cooperating associations oper-ate within the park.


ISSUES, GIVENS, CONSTRAINTS

Visitor experience goals are statements thatdescribe those fundamental visitor experienceopportunities that a park, through its visitor ser-vices and interpretive program, most want tofacilitate. Visitors cannot be required to havecertain experiences, but the park identifiesimportant experiences that should be available tovisitors. In planning facilities, exhibits, trails,wayside exhibits, activities, personal services,outreach, and publications, the park will work tocreate and enhance opportunities for these expe-riences.

Because Nez Perce National Historical Parkencompasses 38 sites spread over 4 states, visi-tor experience goals have been identified foreach of those sites as well as for the park as awhole. Paired with each set of visitor experiencegoals is a set of proposed actions that when com-bined with the site's current interpretive programwill help facilitate successful attainment of thosevisitor experience goals and visitor understand-ing of the park's interpretive themes.


VISITOR EXPERIENCE GOALS/ACTION PLAN

PARKWIDE VISITOR EXPERIENCE GOALS AND ACTIONS

Visitor Experience Goals.

Visitors will:

lunderstand and appreciate the significance ofthe park and its resources.

lbe satisfied with their experience at the park.

lhave a safe park experience.

lhave the opportunity for an emotional experi-ence at the battlefields.

lhave the opportunity for a personal, reflec-tive, contemplative experience.

lleave feeling glad about NEPE being anational park area.

lunderstand that the Nez Perce culture is aliveand well.

l appreciate and value the Nez Perce culture asrepresentative of other Native American cul-tures' experience.

lhave the opportunity to hear the voices ofpeople involved in the story. Note: throughuse of primary documentation, quotes,images, oral history, etc.

lunderstand how any given site fits into thebigger story.

lbe able to easily find park sites.

l visit multiple sites.



Nez Perce National Historical Park is 38 sites in four states.

lknow the park is managed by the NationalPark Service.

lhave opportunities to receive interpretiveinformation about park stories beyond what isavailable at the park.

lunderstand their role in resource preservation.

ltribal visitors have a greater sense of owner-ship in the park.

lhave the opportunity to learn about culturalconflict and interaction.

lhave the opportunity to appreciate and valueother cultures through their experience withNez Perce culture.

Actions:

When sites are as dispersed as they are at NezPerce National Historical Park, it is difficult toprovide park visitors and the general public aconsistent understanding and appreciation of thesignificance of park resources and the nationalheritage they embody. The proposed actionsaddress this problem as well as the visitor expe-rience goals listed above.

lThe park will produce two, 15-20 minuteaudio-visual presentations to be presented atall of the park's visitor centers and contactstations. These presentations will be availablefor the use of park partners in their facilitiesand available for loan to schools, civic

groups, and other public and private institu-tions. Both presentations will be packaged asstand alone sales items for the cooperatingassociation to help generate income andrecover some of the costs of producing them.

One presentation will provide an introductionto the continuum of the culture and history ofthe Nez Perce people. It will give the viewera basic understanding of the Nez Perce cul-ture, their homeland, their neighbors, andtheir status in the region prior to the arrival ofthe euro-americans. Starting with Lewis andClark, then the missionaries, and finally thegovernment of the United States, the presen-tation will outline the major influences andimpacts the euro-american culture has had onthe Nez Perce culture, as well as other nativeamerican cultures. Finally, it will show theNez Perce culture as it is today-working tomaintain its cultural identity while embracingmodern technology and lifestyles.

The second presentation will tell the story ofthe 1877 Nez Perce War. Because the war andits aftermath covers great distances and timeup to and including the present, it is difficultfor visitors, even those who visit several sitesassociated with the war, to gain an under-standing of the entire story of the war and itscontinuing impacts on the Nez Perce people.This presentation will provide a completesynopsis of the 1877 war-from its beginnings



in early treaties, to the progression of battlesfrom White Bird to Bear Paw, and finally thecontinuing aftermath. It won't provide an in-depth blow-by-blow of each battle and skir-mish, but will provide context and insightinto what happened and why.

lThe park will work with the PublicationsDepartment of Harpers Ferry Center to re-issue an updated version of the Nez PerceNational Historical Park Handbook. Out ofprint for several years, this handbook provid-ed park visitors with an affordable publica-tion that presented a good, short but wellwritten summary of Nez Perce culture andhistory.

lThe park will work with the PublicationsDepartment of Harpers Ferry Center toredesign the park's current unigrid park fold-er. Because the park is spread over four statesand 38 sites it is difficult for the park folder tofunction as the primary wayfinding device forpark visitors. Maps drawn to a scale toencompass the entire park can't show thelevel of detail necessary to identify localhighways and landmarks. The unigrid folderwould be a valuable tool to orient park visi-tors to the park in general-identify the 38 sitesand their significance to the park's themes,give the visitor an idea of what to expect in

the way of park experiences, and provide vis-itors with an interpretive piece to take homeor read at their leisure.

lThe park will work with the cooperatingassociation or other partner to produce aguidebook to the park's 38 designated sitesand other related sites. The guidebook willprovide easy to follow directions to each site,suggest various tour sequences that wouldenhance the appreciation of a particulartheme or idea, and provide a level of contex-tual detail that would be impossible or inap-propriate to on-site wayside exhibits. Theguidebook could be used as an activity plan-ning device as well as a reference for sites"discovered" while en route to other destina-tions. Some suggested theme related toursmight include: War of 1877 sites (both parkand non-park sites), legend sites (both parkand non-park sites), and Lewis and Clarksites (both park and non-park sites).

lAs detailed in the park's 1999 WaysideExhibit Proposal, the park will maintain aconsistent design look to its wayside exhibits"to achieve consistency, to communicate NPSidentity, and to link the widely separate NezPerce sites." This design will be fully compli-ant with any system-wide standards estab-lished through the NPS Messaging Project. In



addition the park will produce a series ofparkwide orientation panels that will berepeated at key sites throughout the park.These orientation panels will be identicalexcept for the placement of "You Are Here"locators which will be placed to indicate thecurrent site.

lThe park will construct an expanded web siteto include more information on individualpark sites and park themes. Visitors to theweb site will be able to get trip and activityplanning information, learn about parkresources and the park's management and

preservation efforts, and link to other compat-ible and appropriate web sites to receive thelevel of detailed information on park storiesthey desire.

lThe park will develop curriculum-based edu-cation programs that link park themes tonational standards and state curricula.Professional educators and teachers will beinvolved in planning and development ofthese programs.



The Spalding site is the most visited site in thepark. Located here are the park's major visitorcenter, park headquarters, the park library, thepark's primary museum collection, and thesecultural resources: three cemeteries, IndianAgent's Residence, Spalding Homesite, IndianAgency Cabin, Watson's Store, memorialarboretum, and the Spalding PresbyterianChurch.

The Spalding visitor center is divided into threeareas-the main reception space, the museum, andthe auditorium. Visitors enter the visitor centerinto a large room with an information desk,exhibits, and book sales area. Exhibits in this ini-tial space discuss the traditional Nez Perce year

and things which mark its coming and going,display a traditional Nez Perce canoe and fishingimplements, display artifacts from the WeissRock Shelter excavation, and one table invitesvisitors to touch various artifacts from the park.The triangle-shaped information desk is central-ly located in the room and can be approachedfrom any side.

The auditorium can seat 85-90 visitors. A 23-minute movie, "Nez Perce: Portrait of a People,"is shown on request. The movie looks at the con-tinuum of Nez Perce culture from pre-Euro-American contact to today. The walls of theauditorium display a photo exhibit of historicNez Perce portraits and sites. A space at the rearof the auditorium is used for temporary andrevolving exhibits.

The museum displays an incredible collection ofNez Perce cultural artifacts. Each of the elevenexhibits displays a collection of artifacts unifiedby theme. Some of the themes are: the role ofwomen in traditional Nez Perce culture, the roleof men in traditional Nez Perce culture, NezPerce celebrations, horses and the Nez Perce,and contact with Lewis and Clark.

The visitor center's interpretive staff conductsinterpretive tours of the museum, provides avariety of interpretive programs, and manages anextensive education program for school groups.



IDAHO UNITSPALDING

Visitor Experience Goals

Visitors will:

lunderstand why Nez Perce tribal groups arelocated on three different reservations.

lreceive orientation to the entire park- orienta-tion to all major interpretive themes, parksites, and other Nez Perce related sites.

lreceive basic orientation to the Nez Percehomeland and the continuum of Nez Perceculture.

lunderstand that the Nez Perce people sharedin the same larger experience as all NativeAmerican groups-boarding schools, loss oflanguage, loss of culture, loss of land, etc.

lunderstand that the Nez Perce and their cul-ture continue to this day.

lwalk through the historic area to better under-stand the site and its history.

lunderstand Henry and Eliza Spalding's differ-ent roles at the mission and their individualrelationships with the Nez Perce people.

lunderstand the cultural landscape of theSpalding site over time to the present.

lhave the opportunity to be aware of contem-porary resource programs/issues that thetribes are involved with and interested in,

and the importance of these resources to thetribes' future.

lunderstand the mission movement and itsimpacts on the Nez Perce and other NativeAmerican cultures.

lwill understand the Indian agency period andits impacts.

lreceive a strong preservation message thatfocuses on their responsibilities in preservingthe site's cultural resources.

Actions

Spalding Visitor Center.

lProduce an outdoor orientation exhibit nearthe visitor center entrance, either along thewalkway from the parking lot or near thefront doors. This exhibit will include at leasttwo panels. One will be the standard orienta-tion panel to Nez Perce National HistoricalPark. The second will orient visitors to theresources and activities available at theSpalding Site. This orientation exhibit will beavailable to visitors anytime the park is open,even if the visitor center is closed.

lInside the visitor center orientation will con-tinue with exhibits that reinforce the informa-tion given on the outside panels, but withmore of a focus on activity planning. Theseexhibits will suggest to visitors how they can



maximize their enjoyment of the park andwill take into consideration such variables asinterest level, time available, and group typeand size. The suggestions will not be limitedto just park resources, but will also includepark partners and neighbors where experi-ences are available that further park goals andvalues.

lRelocate the current information desk fromthe center of the display area to a positionnear the entrance and along the wall. Thiswill improve the visitor's reception experi-ence by giving the staff person working thedesk a more immediate and more intimateopportunity to personally greet the visitor andthe visitor will be able to better see who isgreeting them (the current location of thedesk presents the visitor with an impersonalsilhouette against a wall of bright glass.)

lIn the auditorium/multi-purpose room, boththe new parkwide audio-visual presentationswill be shown. The new Nez Perce culturalcontinuum presentation will take the place ofthe now outdated "Nez Perce: Portrait of aPeople" presentation. The second presenta-tion on the Nez Perce War of 1877 will givevisitors an opportunity to learn about thisimportant park story without taking up limit-ed and premium exhibit space in the visitorcenter.

lThe exhibit and museum space will beenlarged (per 1997 Nez Perce NationalHistorical Park General Management Planand the May 1996 Spalding Unit DesignCharette). The old, outdated exhibitry will bereplaced with exhibits designed to providevisitors a focused, coherent overview experi-ence of the Nez Perce cultural continuum.The new exhibits will give visitors the oppor-tunity to appreciate the Nez Perce culture as aliving, evolving culture with more than10,000 years of history and heritage intricate-ly bound to the landscape and environment ofthe homeland. The exhibits will also showhow the Nez Perce culture has been and con-tinues to be impacted and influenced by theEuro-American culture and how the NezPerce experience is both representative ofand different from the experience of otherNative American cultures. Wherever possibleand appropriate the exhibits will use artifactsfrom the park's extensive collection and willlink the cultural tradition or historical eventbeing interpreted to the relevant park site(s).

Part of the exhibit space will be reserved forexhibits that can be changed by park staff.These exhibits will allow park staff to inter-pret current research findings, preservationefforts, showcase newly acquired artifacts, orhighlight something that is taking place incontemporary Nez Perce culture.



lWith the support provided by the new exhibi-try and audio-visual presentations, the per-sonal services programs will be able to focuson more in-depth and intimate details of theNez Perce culture.

Spalding Historic Area

The Spalding Historic area offers visitors theopportunity to immediately connect the interpre-tive experience in the visitor center with real tan-gible park resources.

lBetter orientation both inside and outside thevisitor center will increase the number of vis-itors who use the historic area for its cultureand history values rather than the purelyrecreational experience provided by the pic-nic area and shaded green space.

lImplement the wayside exhibit actions out-lined in the 1999 Wayside Exhibit Proposal.These actions include rehabilitating andupdating all of the current wayside exhibits in

the historic area and relocating/re-orientingseveral to enhance the view across the panelto the resource. Define and harden a trailthrough the historic resources to bring visitorsto each individual resource and its waysideexhibit panel.

lDevelop exhibits for the Indian Agency Cabin.This cabin, with its restored exterior façade,represents the Indian Agency period atSpalding that spans the years between 1860-1902. Exhibits will be produced for the build-ing's interior to interpret this critical initialperiod of the Nez Perce's formal relationshipwith the United States government. Theseinterpretive exhibits will be designed to with-stand years of ambient temperature andhumidity conditions and unattended publicuse.

lDevelop and print a site bulletin on thecemetery.



White Bird Battlefield is the largest park-ownedsite. The first battle of the 1877 Nez Perce Warwas fought here and prior to the war, a NezPerce village was located along White Bird Creek.

Most of the formal interpretation at this siteoccurs at the large pullout area on U.S. Route 95above the battlefield. In the parking area thereare two interpretive signs: one is titled "NezPerce War" and very briefly describes the battlefrom the military's point of view, and the other istitled "White Bird Grade" and gives a briefdescription of the old highway, now replaced byUS 95. An interpretive shelter overlooks the bat-tlefield. Inside the shelter a series of waysideexhibit panels discuss the events leading to the

battle, provide a summary of the battle's action,present a Nez Perce and an Army perspective onthe battle, and discuss the aftermath of the battle.

Visitors can also hike a short interpretive trail onthe battlefield. The trailhead is on old Highway95 and there is a trail guide keyed to numberedstops.


Visitors will:

l understand this was a village site and the NezPerce people were fighting for their homes.

lhave an opportunity for a contemplativeexperience.

lunderstand how different groups viewed thisbattle and reported on it-the different docu-mented stories, by whom, and the differentviewpoints.

lunderstand the events leading up to the battlein the context of the Nez Perce perspective-loss of sovereignty, the injustice to the NezPerce under the euro-american legal system.

lunderstand the differences between how theNez Perce were organized for war versus howthe military organized for war. (Example: theNez Perce were self-supporting/the military wassupported from the outside by supply lines.)



WHITE BIRD BATTLEFIELD

lunderstand the events leading to the battle,the battle, the role the landscape and vegeta-tion played in the battle, the opportunity forpeaceful resolution before the battle, and theimpact the battle had on the 1877 War.

lbe aware of the misunderstandings andstereotypes about this battle.

lunderstand the events in the context of theentire war. Especially, those battles/skirmish-es that happened nearby and on the prairie.

lunderstand the skill level of the Nez Percewarriors.

l be aware that this and other events of the wartook place near settled areas, not in a far offwilderness.


Actions:

lConstruct the visitor contact facility as calledfor in the 1997 Nez Perce National HistoricalPark General Management Plan. The facilityshould be large enough to contain an infor-mation desk, exhibit space, a small audio-visual space or theater, and a small cooperat-ing association sales area. Exhibits would

provide both site orientation and orientationto the park as a whole, introduce visitors tothe Nez Perce people's long term occupancyand use of the area, explain the major factorsleading up to the battle, and discuss the out-comes of the battle for both the Nez Perce andthe Army. The audio-visual space would beused to show the two parkwide videos-theNez Perce cultural continuum and the 1877Nez Perce War.

Several of the goals for this site can most effi-ciently be reached through the level of in-depth interpretation provided by personal ser-vices interpretation. Currently the site has noplace where groups of visitors can collect tomake it possible and profitable to offer walksand talks on a regular basis. The visitor con-tact station will provide those opportunities.

lImplement the wayside exhibit actions out-lined in the 1999 Wayside Exhibit Proposal.These actions include: rehabilitating the pan-els at the U.S. Highway 95 overlook shelter,installing one of the parkwide orientationpanels at the shelter, and producing a series ofwayside exhibits for the battlefield's interpre-tive trail including a trail orientation panel atthe trailhead.



Heart of the Monster (also referred to as EastKamiah) is a 53-acre park-owned area that pro-tects and interprets two Nez Perce legend land-scape features. The McBeth House and FirstIndian Presbyterian Church are less than half amile south of this site.

The site has an interpretive shelter with twoexhibits and an audio program. One panel usesgraphics and text to give the visitor backgroundinformation on the role of legends in Nez Perceculture. The second panel tells a part of the"Coyote and the Monster" legend both in a pho-netic representation of the Nez Perce languageand English. By pressing a button to the left ofthe panel visitors can hear the legend told in Nez

Perce. The shelter looks out onto the "Heart ofthe Monster" landscape feature.

A short trail leads to the "Heart of the Monster"feature and a small semi-circle of seating. Anaudio program tells the "Coyote and theMonster" legend in English.


Visitors will:

lunderstand the role of stories and legends inthe Nez Perce culture.

lhave the opportunity to hear the "Heart of theMonster" story and understand its signifi-cance to the Nez Perce people.

lreceive an introduction to Nez Perce culture.

lunderstand the site's use as a traditional, andgeographically significant, Nez Perce gather-ing place and crossroads.

lunderstand the role of the McBeth Mission inthe missionary era of Nez Perce history.

lunderstand the Dawes Act and its impact onthe Nez Perce.

lunderstand the role Alice Fletcher played inthe allotment process.

lreceive orientation to other park sites.



HEART OF THE MONSTER/McBETH HOUSE

Actions:

lConstruct the visitor contact facility as calledfor in the 1997 Nez Perce National HistoricalPark General Management Plan. This facilitywould be small with space for an informationdesk, exhibit area, and small cooperatingassociation sales area. The exhibits willexplain the role of legends in Nez Perce cul-ture, discuss the use of the area by the NezPerce as a traditional gathering place, intro-duce the Dawes Act and the allotmentprocess, and explain who Alice Fletcher wasand the role she played in the allotmentprocess. In-depth interpretation of the storiesrepresented by the site's resources will bethrough personal services programs. The visitor

contact station will provide the focal pointnecessary to attract and hold enough visitorsto make regularly scheduled programs feasi-ble and profitable.

lInstall two orientation panels just outside thecontact station (or in a visually prominentlocation near the current parking area untilthe contact station is constructed.) One ofthese panels will be the parkwide orientationpanel and the other panel will orient visitorsto the Heart of the Monster site including thenearby McBeth House.

lInstall a wayside exhibit panel at the McBethHouse to interpret its connection to both mis-sionary efforts among the Nez Perce and theallotment period.



ANT AND YELLOWJACKET

A basaltic rock arch, along U.S. Highway 12,that is associated with an important Nez Percelegend. There is a large wooden interpretive signat this highway pullout on Route 12 that tells theNez Perce legend associated with distinctive for-mation resembling two insects locked in combat.


Visitors will:

lbe able to easily find the feature associatedwith the legend.

lbe aware of other nearby legend sites.

lunderstand that Nez Perce legends may be fam-ily specific and not necessarily culture-wide.

lunderstand the importance of the Nez Perceoral tradition and how legends were used topass on important cultural information.

lunderstand how Nez Perce legends illustratethe close relationship the Nez Perce have withthe land.

Actions

lAs called for in the 1997 Nez Perce NationalHistorical Park GMP, work with the IdahoTransportation Department and the IdahoHistorical Society to remove the large inter-

pretive sign that is currently on the site.

lInstall a wayside exhibit that is properly ori-ented to the feature that explains the Ant andYellowjacket legend.

lExhibits at the Spalding Visitor Center andHeart of the Monster will explain the role leg-ends play in the Nez Perce culture.

lThe guidebook called for in the parkwideactions section will briefly explain the role oflegends in the Nez Perce culture and link thissite with others in the region.

lA seperate site bulletin on the legend siteswill be produced.



BUFFALO EDDY

Clusters of petroglyphs and a few pictographs onrock outcroppings on either side of the SnakeRiver 20 miles south of Lewiston, Idaho. TheAsotin County side is accessible by car; the rockart on the Idaho side is only accessible by boat.Currently the only interpretation at the site is thatprovided by the Snake River tour boat operators.


Visitors will:

lreceive a strong resource protection messagethat emphasizes their role in protecting thesevaluable resources.

lappreciate the fact that the rock art was pro-duced over a period of time rather than all atonce.

lunderstand the relationship of the petroglyphsand pictographs to the Nez Perce people.

lappreciate how the rock art certifies theancient use of this area.

lunderstand that all of the art is special, butsome are sacred and some are not.

lget a consistent message about the rock art inthe area from all the agencies which managerock art sites.

Actions

lWhen cooperative agreements and road con-struction are complete on the Asotin Countyside, produce and install a wayside exhibit that

interprets the significance of the petroglyphsand the importance of their preservation.

lWhen and if cooperative agreements are inplace with the owners of the Idaho side of theriver, produce and install one or two waysideexhibits. Because the two audiences on eitherside of the river are likely to be distinct, onepanel will be a duplicate of the one on theAsotin County side and the other panel maydiscuss the differences between petroglyphsand pictographs.

lWork with the Snake River outfitters and theU.S. Forest Service to provide interpretivetraining for the jetboat guides. The training willaddress other significant cultural sites along theriver in addition to Buffalo Eddy and will havea strong resource preservation focus.



CAMAS PRAIRIE

The Camas Prairie site is a large expanse ofprairie viewed from a highway pullout on U.S.Highway 95. Another park site, Tolo Lake, isalso visible from the same pullout. There is onelarge interpretive sign at the roadside pulloutthat identifies camas as a traditional food of inte-rior Northwestern Indians, points out Tolo Lakein the distance, and mentions the outbreak of theWar of 1877.


Visitors will:

lappreciate the size of the prairie.

lunderstand the importance of camas-both asfood and the importance of all foods assacred.


lunderstand the impact of both the physicalloss of camas resources and the loss of accessto traditional camas areas.

lreceive orientation to nearby park sites-1877sites, Tolo Lake.

lbe aware of the events on the prairie that ledup to the 1877 War and those events thatoccurred here during the war.

lbe aware of the continuum of use for prairieresources-from camas gathering to today'sagricultural uses.

Actions

lWork with the Idaho TransportationDepartment and the Idaho Historical Societyto remove the large interpretive sign that iscurrently on the site. The sign doesn't meetNational Park Service standards or values forsite development, viewshed preservation, orinterpretation.

lDesign and produce one or two waysideexhibits which interpret the extent of theprairie, its role as a traditional camas harvest-ing site for the Nez Perce, the importance ofcamas to the Nez Perce-historically andtoday, and the current agricultural use of theprairie.

lThe guidebook called for in the parkwideactions section will provide more detail onthe prairie, link it to other root gathering sites,and briefly outline the events of the NezPerce War of 1877 that took place on theprairie.



Adjacent to the Clearwater River, this is the sitewhere in 1805 the Nez Perce helped Lewis andClark build five canoes for their journey downthe Columbia River watershed. There are sixwayside exhibits at the Canoe Camp site spacedalong a short interpretive trail. They interpretthe story of the initial meeting between Lewisand Clark and the Nez Perce, the Nez Perce rolein the building of five canoes on this site byLewis and Clark's group--this wayside is posi-tioned in front of a reproduction of one of thosecanoes, the mission of the Lewis and Clark expe-dition, and the Nez Perce historic use of the area.


Visitors will:

lreceive basic orientation to the Lewis andClark expedition.

lunderstand that the site, and other nearby sites,was occupied by the Nez Perce for generationsbefore the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

lappreciate how skilled the Nez Perce menwere in canoe building and fishing.

lreceive orientation to other points of interest inthe area.

lappreciate the contribution of the Nez Percecanoe builders to the Lewis and Clark ex-pedition.

lunderstand, from the Nez Perce perspective,the impact of the Lewis and Clark expeditionon the Nez Perce and other Indian people.

Actions

lImplement the 1999 Wayside ExhibitProposal. This includes adding a site orienta-tion panel, an area orientation kiosk, relocat-ing and replacing some of the existing way-side exhibits, and adding panels to interpretthe pit house and nearby historic village siteand the significance of what happened here tothe success of the Lewis and Clark expedition.



CANOE CAMP

The Clearwater Battlefield on Battle Ridge is onprivate property and inaccessible to the public. Asmall interpretive pullout on Idaho Highway 13near the town of Stites identifies the significanceof the battle to the 1877 Nez Perce War. The onelarge interpretive sign at the pullout gives a verybrief description of the Clearwater Battle.


Visitors will:

lreceive basic orientation to events of the battle.

lunderstand that the battle takes place withinreservation boundaries.

lunderstand the role the battle played in the1877 War.

lhave a limited number of opportunities toexperience the battlefield site.

lbe aware of the nearby village site.

Actions

lThe current interpretive pullout is in a loca-tion that is unsafe due to poor sight lines andthe nature of the highway in that location, andthere is no direct visual connection to any ofthe resources which represent the battle story.Remove the signs and relocate an interpretivepanel discussing the battle to a site with avisual connection to the battlefield or at leasta safer location near the battlefield.

lWork with the landowners to provide guidedinterpretive tours of the battlefield.

lThe audio-visual presentation on the 1877Nez Perce War called for in the parkwideactions section will discuss this battle and itssignificance.



CLEARWATER BATTLEFIELD

The Cottonwood Skirmishes site commemoratesa series of military engagements that occurred justafter the White Bird Battle in which several sol-diers, volunteers, and one Nez Perce were killed.The designated site, a one-acre undeveloped reststop on U.S. Highway 95, contains no tangibleresources associated with the skirmishes and noneare recognizable within the viewshed.

There are four large signs at this location. Oneprovides a large picture map of the area indexedby number to side panel explanations of areaattractions; another gives a very brief account ofthe Cottonwood Skirmishes, detailing armycasualties and giving the impression that the NezPerce went directly to Montana after these skir-mishes; one discusses the Lewis and ClarkExpedition; and a sign that explains what theWeiss Rockshelter is and gives very minimaldirections on how to get there.

A stone memorial erected by the Idaho CountyPioneer Association lists the names of all seven-teen soldiers involved in the skirmishes.


Visitors will:

lunderstand the skirmishes in the context ofthe entire war.

lunderstand that the skirmishes took place inseveral nearby locations.

lreceive orientation to the Weiss Rockshelter.

lreceive orientation to other nearby significantsites-White Bird, Tolo Lake, and ClearwaterBattlefield.

lreceive a strong preservation message thatfocuses on their responsibilities in preservingthe park's cultural resources.

lknow that the first Nez Perce fatality of the1877 War occurred during the CottonwoodSkirmishes.

Actions

lBoth the parkwide audio-visual presentationon the 1877 Nez Perce War and the parkwideguidebook will place the skirmishes in thecontext of the entire war and link them toWhite Bird and Clearwater Battlefields.

lIf the site is developed as U.S. 95 rest area, thepark will install an orientation kiosk that pro-vides wayfinding and thematic orientation.



COTTONWOOD SKIRMISHES



COYOTE’S FISHNET

Coyote's Fishnet is a Nez Perce legend site con-sisting of two surface geological features onopposite sides of the Clearwater River about 7miles east of Lewiston, Idaho.

There are three large interpretive signs at thispullout. One provides a map of the ClearwaterCanyon region with points of interest identified;one discusses a nearby Nez Perce village archae-ological site; and the third briefly tells the NezPerce legend of Coyote's Fishnet.


Visitors will:

lbe able to easily find the sites.

lbe aware of other nearby legend sites.

lunderstand that Nez Perce legends may be

family specific and not necessarily culture-wide.

lunderstand the importance of the Nez Perceoral tradition and how legends were used topass on important cultural information.

lunderstand how Nez Perce legends illustratethe close relationship the Nez Perce havewith the land.

Actions

lAs called for in the 1997 Nez Perce NationalHistorical Park General Management Plan,work with the Idaho TransportationDepartment and the Idaho Historical Societyto remove the large interpretive sign that iscurrently on the site.

lInstall a wayside exhibit that is properly ori-ented to make the features easy to locate andidentify, and that explains the Coyote'sFishnet legend.

lExhibits at the Spalding Visitor Center andHeart of the Monster will explain the rolelegends play in the Nez Perce culture.

lThe guidebook called for in the parkwideactions section will briefly explain the role oflegends in the Nez Perce culture and link thissite with others in the region.



CRAIG DONATION LAND CLAIM

A pullout on the west side of U.S. Highway 95,about 8 miles south of Lapwai, Idaho commem-orates William Craig's friendship with the NezPerce, and his being the first settler in Idaho toobtain title to a farm through the OregonDonation Land Act. There are two interpretivesigns here which relay those two facts.


Visitors will:

lknow who William Craig was and what kindof relationship he had with the Nez Percepeople.

lunderstand Craig's special status in the 1855Treaty.

lbe able to contrast Craig's relationship withthe Nez Perce with the relationship the NezPerce had with later settlers.

Actions

lWork with the Idaho TransportationDepartment and the Idaho Historical Societyto remove the large interpretive sign that iscurrently on the site. The sign doesn't meetNational Park Service standards or values forsite development, viewshed preservation, orinterpretation.

lWork with the Idaho TransportationDepartment to make the pullout safer byenlarging it and providing better signage;then produce and install a wayside exhibit tointerpret William Craig and his status in the1855 Treaty.

lThe guidebook called for in the parkwideactions section will provide more detail aboutWilliam Craig, his friendship with the NezPerce, and his special status in the 1855Treaty.

This is a large pullout near the top on LewistonGrade on U.S. Highway 95 that overlooks theconfluence of the Clearwater and Snake Rivers.The panoramic view takes in many square milesof the original Nez Perce homeland. This sitewas formerly the Donald MacKenzie's PacificFur Trading Post site.


Visitors will:

lreceive an introduction to the Park and thearea.

lreceive their initial orientation to the NezPerce homeland.

At a location closer to the Donald MackenzieTrading Post, visitors will:

lbe introduced to the fur trade.

llearn why fur traders were not very success-ful in engaging the Nez Perce in the fur trade.

lunderstand the influences-marriages, tradeitems, art/material goods-the fur trade had onthe Nez Perce.

Actions

lWork with the Idaho TransportationDepartment and the Idaho Historical Societyto remove the large interpretive sign onDonald Mackenzie that is currently on thesite.

lInstall the parkwide orientation panel.

lProduce and install a wayside exhibit intro-ducing visitors to the Nez Perce homeland.

lInterpretation of the fur trade and its influ-ences upon Nez Perce culture will be handledboth through the parkwide audio-visual pre-sentation and exhibits at Spalding VisitorCenter on Euro-American cultural influencesand impacts on Nez Perce culture.



CONFLUENCE OVERLOOK

Two of the few remnants of Fort Lapwai inLapwai, Idaho. The officers' quarters dates from1883 and Northern Idaho Indian AgencyBuilding from 1904. There is one waysideexhibit in front of the Officers Quarters whichidentifies the building and Fort Lapwai.


Visitors will:

llearn about the meeting in 1877 withToohoolhoolzute and other Nez Perce leaders.

lappreciate what life was like for soldiers sta-tioned at the fort.

lunderstand why the fort was established-toprotect the Nez Perce.

lunderstand the role Ft. Lapwai played in the1877 Conflict, its place in a regional series offorts, and the Redheart Band story.

lget a basic understanding of federal Indianpolicy.

lunderstand the relationship between the mili-tary and the Indian bureau.

lunderstand the basics of the Nez Perce tribalgovernment organization and its relationshipwith the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

lunderstand the reservation era and itsimpacts.

lbe aware of how today's Nez Perce feel aboutthe fort.

lunderstand contemporary Nez Perce feelingstoward war veterans and their roles.

Actions

lRemove the orientation wayside located atthe turn off from U.S. Highway 95.

lReplace the current officers' quarters waysidewith a new updated panel.

lThe Nez Perce War of 1877 audio-visual pre-sentation will address the role Fort Lapwaiplayed in the war.

lThe guidebook called for in the parkwide



FORT LAPWAI OFFICERS' QUARTERS & NORTHERN IDAHO INDIAN AGENCY

actions section will discuss the NorthernIdaho Indian Agency and provide the linkwith the original Indian agency at Spalding.

lProduce a site bulletin on the Fort that sum-marizes its history, its role in the Nez PerceWar of 1877, and its relationship withNorthern Idaho Indian Agency.

lThe park will work with the Nez Perce Tribeand the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Lapwai tofind other appropriate venues to interpret his-toric and contemporary relationships betweenthe Nez Perce and the Bureau of IndianAffairs.



HASOTINO VILLAGE SITE

Hasotino Village is an archeological site of oneof the largest Nez Perce villages along the SnakeRiver. The village was occupied until the late19th century. Hasotino Village and the NezPerce are interpreted in a small display in thevisitor center of the adjacent Hell's Gate StatePark.


Visitors will:

llearn the original Nez Perce name for the siteand what it meant.

lunderstand the physical size of the villagesite/gathering place.

lunderstand the social structure of the siteprior to euro-american contact.


llearn about the traditional eel fishery at thesite.

lunderstand the relationship to Old ChiefLooking Glass to the site.

Actions.

lWork out a cooperative agreement with theadjacent Hell's Gate State Park to provide

them with technical and production assis-tance to more fully incorporate the HasotinoVillage interpretive goals into their exhibitsas those exhibits are replaced as part of theirnormal exhibit rehabilitation cycle.

lWayside exhibits, which will attract attentionto the site and specific site resources, will notbe installed on this site because they wouldundermine the park's preservation goals forthe site.



LAPWAI MISSION

This site commemorates Henry and ElizaSpalding's first mission attempt. The actual siteof the mission is unknown. There is one largeinterpretive sign here that briefly describes thehistory of Henry Spalding's first mission.


Visitors will:

lunderstand why the site was selected as thefirst mission site and the site's relationship tothe Spalding Site.

lbe aware of the nearby pre-contact villagesites.

llearn the significance of the site's being thefirst incidence of agriculture within the NezPerce homeland.

Actions

lThe guidebook called for in the parkwideactions section will provide more detail onthe mission, the nearby pre-contact villagesites, and the story of the first European agri-culture in the Nez Perce homeland.

A known archeological site, Lenore was inhabit-ed by the Nez Perce and their ancestors for aslong as 10,000 years. The site is now a highwayrest area on U.S. Highway 12 and has two inter-pretive panels--one discusses the village thatonce stood here and gives a brief description ofwhat the houses in the village looked like, andthe other welcomes visitors to Idaho andincludes a map that describes some of theregional points of interest.


Visitors will:

lbe able to visualize what the village lookedlike.

lunderstand the reason the Nez Perce located avillage here and how long the village wasoccupied.


lbe able to connect this site to other docu-mented village sites in the area.

llearn the Nez Perce name for the site and thename's meaning.

Actions

lWork with the Idaho Department ofTransportation and the Scenic Byway groupto remove the current panel on the village andenlarge the kiosk to include more interpreta-tion of the village, its choice location on theriver, and the fishing that went on there.

lInstall one of the parkwide orientation panels.

lThe guidebook called for in the parkwideactions section will connect this village site toother known village sites along the river(Heart of the Monster, Hasotino Village,Lapwai Creek confluence, etc.).



LENORE

This site commemorates the brief period of mis-sionary work by Rev. and Mrs. Asa Smith in theKamiah area and the nearly one month stay at acamp site along the Clearwater River by Lewisand Clark during their return trip in 1806. Thereare no resources at the current roadside pullouton U.S. Highway 12 connected to either of theseinterpretive stories.

This highway pullout has seven very large inter-pretive/informational signs and little view ofanything else. Four of the signs provide orienta-tion to sites and activities in the Clearwaterregion. The other three signs discuss the LoloTrail and use by Lewis and Clark and later theNez Perce in 1877, Lewis and Clark's longencampment at a nearby site, and Asa Smith'smissionary effort.


Visitors will:

lunderstand the Asa Smith story and its rela-tionship to Utsinmallikan (chief at Kamiah).

lappreciate Asa Smith as part of the largerMissionary effort (in context).

lappreciate, from a Nez Perce perspective, theimpacts of the prolonged contact betweenLewis and Clark and the Nez Perce people atthis site.

lappreciate the site in the context of the wholeexpedition and receive information on otherLewis and Clark sites.

Actions

lWork with the Idaho TransportationDepartment and the Idaho Historical Societyto remove the large interpretive signs that arecurrently on the site. These signs don't meetNational Park Service standards or values forsite development or interpretation. The lackof site-specific resources and general ambianceof the highway pullout provide no opportunityfor a quality interpretive experience.



LEWIS AND CLARK LONG CAMP/ASA SMITH MISSION

lThe interpretive exhibits at Spalding on theimpacts of the missionary period on the NezPerce people will include the Asa Smithmissionary effort.

lWork in partnership with the U.S. ForestService to include the Lewis and Clark longcamp story in the exhibits at their ranger sta-tion in Kooskia.

lIf and when the park can acquire a pullout atthe actual sites for either of these stories,wayside exhibits will be produced andinstalled.



LOLO TRAIL AND LOLO PASS

The Lolo Trail is an ancient trail across theBitterroot Mountains. The Nez Perce and othernative peoples used the trail for thousands ofyears. In historic times the Lewis and ClarkExpedition and the fleeing Nez Perce during theNez Perce War of 1877 used the trail. Lolo Trailis a national historic landmark, part of the Nez

Perce National Historic Trail, the Lewis andClark National Historic Trail, and Nez PerceNational Historical Park.

The Lolo Pass Visitor Information Center has anexhibit area with nine flat panel exhibits, aninformation desk, and book sales area. Two ofthese exhibits interpret the history of the LoloTrail; three exhibits discuss the Nez Perce--briefly who they are, the 1877 flight, and whowere their leaders during the 1877 flight; oneexhibit discusses the Lewis and Clark expedi-tion; two panels introduce the U.S. ForestService; one panel provides a regional map withsites and activities marked.


Visitors will:

lbe able to locate the trail.

lreceive comprehensive interpretive messageson the Lolo Trail at Lolo Pass rather thandraw people to the trail.

lreceive interpretive messages that are consis-tent in quality and format no matter whichagency or group produces the interpretiveproduct.

lbe able to contrast and compare traditionalnative trade routes and economics and currenttrade routes and economics.

lreceive orientation to NEPE and the Trail.

lhave the opportunity to experience a smallsection of the ancient trail.

lunderstand the use of the trail before the 1877War, use of the trail during the war, and use ofthe mountain environment prior to the horse.

lreceive strong resource protection messages.

lunderstand the complex logistical challengesthe Nez Perce and the military had to facecrossing the trail and the pass.

lhave an opportunity to have a contemplativeexperience when they are on the trail.

lbe able to contrast the historic use of the trailand its resources with the trail's role in the1877 conflict.

lrecognize Highway 12 as modern expressionof the trail and its importance to the region.

lappreciate the impact the BitterrootMountains had on the native cultures of theregion as a geographic barrier and obstacle totransportation and trade.

lunderstand the sadness of the four Nez Perceand one Polouse bands as they traveled thetrail in 1877 not knowing if they would everreturn to their homeland.

lhave the opportunity to personally experiencethe "sense of place" of the Lolo Trail andLolo Pass.

lreceive orientation to the entire spectrum ofwhat there is to see and do on the trail andwithin the trail corridor.

lunderstand the traditional relationship of theNez Perce people to the Bitterroot Valley.

Actions

lContinue to partner with the U.S. ForestService to provide consistent, high qualityinterpretive products on the trail. Work withthe Clearwater National Forest to insure thatas many of the visitor experience goals aspossible can be met through new and expand-ed interpretive exhibits at the Lolo PassVisitor Center when it is rehabilitated.

lProvide the Lolo Pass a copy of both park-wide audio-visual presentations when theyare completed.



lThe guidebook called for in the parkwideactions section, links significant sites alongthe trail thematically to either Nez Perce tra-ditional culture, Lewis and Clark, or the NezPerce War of 1877.

lInstall one of the parkwide orientation panelsat an appropriate location at Lolo Pass.



LOOKING GLASS CAMP

The site of Looking Glass's Camp is part of theU. S. Fish and Wildlife's Kooskia National FishHatchery. Here the Looking Glass Band of NezPerce was attacked while within the Nez PerceReservation; this attack caused Chief LookingGlass to join the Nez Perce War of 1877. Thereis one large interpretive sign at the roadside pull-out on U.S. 12 across the Clearwater River from

the fish hatchery. The sign very briefly describesthe incident that brought Looking Glass and hisband into to the 1877 War.


Visitors will:

llearn about the attack on Looking Glass atthis location and that attack's impacts on the1877 War.

lunderstand who Old Looking Glass andYoung Looking Glass were.

llearn about the McWhorter monument and itshistory.

lunderstand that the site is ancient and exten-sive archeology has been done here.

lappreciate the relationship between ChiefJoseph and Young Looking Glass during theNez Perce War of 1877.

lunderstand Looking Glass's influences on thedecisions of the 1877 War.

lappreciate Looking Glass Band's daily life atthe site-gardens/agriculture.

l understand this was a village site and the NezPerce people were fighting for their homes.

Actions

lWork with the Idaho TransportationDepartment and the Idaho Historical Societyto remove the large interpretive sign that iscurrently on the U. S. Highway 12 pulloutsite. The sign doesn't meet National ParkService standards or values for site develop-ment or interpretation. The lack of site spe-cific resources on that side of the river, thegeneral ambiance and safety of this highwaypullout provides no opportunity for a qualityinterpretive experience.

lProduce and install a wayside exhibit at anappropriate site along the trail at the fish

hatchery to interpret the attack on theLooking Glass's camp and the unintendedconsequences of this action.

lWork with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serviceto develop a site bulletin for the site to pro-vide additional information about LookingGlass's camp, the band's gardens, the attackand its effect, and the archeology showinglong term, continued use of the site by theNez Perce.

lThe audio-visual presentation on the NezPerce War of 1877 called for in the parkwideactions section will address this attack and itsimpacts on the war.

lWork with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serviceto develop a wayside exhibit that interpretesthe McWhorter Monument.



Musselshell Meadow has been used by the NezPerce people as a place to gather and harvestcamas roots for thousands of years. There is onewayside exhibit at Musselshell Meadow thatdescribes camas roots as an important foodsource of the Nez Perce and includes a graphicof a pit oven and a description of how it wasused to bake camas.


Visitors will:

lidentify the site as a traditional camas gather-ing area that all Nez Perce bands used.

lunderstand the significance of how the camasgathering camps were organized.

lunderstand the meadow's relationship to the1877 War.

lunderstand there is continued traditional useof the meadow today.

Actions

lThe guidebook called for in the parkwideactions section will provide more detail onthe site's traditional use as root gathering siteand link the site to other park sites where thecamas harvesting is interpreted.

lThe guidebook could also introduce the site'sconnection to the Nez Perce War of 1877.



MUSSELSHELL MEADOW

Pierce Courthouse is the oldest building in Idahoand represents the gold mining period and itsimpact on the Nez Perce people-ultimately lead-ing to the treaty of 1863. There is one waysideexhibit on the outside of the courthouse thatbriefly summarizes the impact of gold mining onthe Nez Perce leading to the reduction of theirreservation by the Treaty of 1863. Inside thecourthouse a display of eight graphic panelsdetails the history of the area and one panel,"The Children of the Coyote" expands on theinformation given on the outdoor panel about theimpact of gold mining on the Nez Perce. At thenorth end of Pierce, there is a large interpretivesign titled "Pierce Courthouse" which gives abrief history of the courthouse building.


Visitors will:

lunderstand the purpose and significance ofthe building as it related to the Nez Perce(why it’s part of the Park).

lunderstand the impact of the discovery ofgold on the Nez Perce and the discovery's rolein the 1863 Treaty.

lbe able to easily find the building.

Actions

lWork with the town of Pierce and the IdahoTransportation Department to provide ade-quate signs that make it easy for visitors tofind the building.

lReplace the current wayside exhibit with anew updated one.

lContinue to work with the Idaho StateHistorical Society and the Pierce HistoricalSociety Logging Museum to update theexhibits inside the courthouse, as funds areavailable.



PIERCE COURTHOUSE

Saint Joseph's Mission is a semi-active RomanCatholic Church that was built in 1874 in the for-mer community of Slickpoo, Idaho. The siteexemplifies the renewed missionary activityamong the Nez Perce that began in the 1870s.

There are two wayside exhibits at the site. One onSt. Joseph's Mission, gives a brief history of themission. The other panel is on the village ofSlickpoo and its relationship to the mission. Thepark has produced a brochure on the history of themission. The Mission is open to the publicThursdays-Mondays, Memorial Day to Labor Dayand guided tours are given. An annual Mass, isheld on the first Sunday of June.


Visitors will:

lunderstand the entire complex of sites at thislocation.

lunderstand that the cultural landscape at thesite is incomplete-elements are missing.

lunderstand what life was like in the village ofSlickpoo.

lunderstand the influence of a second mission-ary era and connect the mission to other mis-sions in the region.

lrecognize Jackson Sundown as a worldchampion rodeo performer in roping andhorsemanship.

Actions

lWork with the Saint Joseph's MissionHistorical Society to revise and update thetwo wayside exhibits.

lRevise the current site bulletin on this site toinclude additional information on both themission and the community of Slickpoo.

lThe guidebook called for in the parkwideactions section will provide additional infor-mation and link the site to the other missionsites in the park.



SAINT JOSEPH'S MISSION

Tolo Lake, the largest natural body of water onCamas Prairie, is an ancient rendezvous site theNez Perce used for gathering roots and for meet-ing neighboring bands. In early June of 1877while several bands were camped here prior tomoving on the reservation, several Nez Perceyoung men participated in two raids on whitesettlers; these raids are seen as events which pre-cipitated the beginning of the Nez Perce War of1877. There is currently no interpretation at ToloLake.


Visitors will:

lunderstand the site's role as a traditional ren-dezvous point for the Nez Perce on the CamasPrairie.

llearn that the Nez Perce oral history supportsthe discovery of the Mammoth's bones.

lunderstand the events that happened at ToloLake that precipitated the battle at White Birdand the beginning of the 1877 War.

llearn the story of the person, Tolo.

lunderstand why the bands were gathered atTolo Lake in the days prior to the outbreak ofthe 1877 War.

Actions

lWork with Idaho Department of Fish and

Game to develop an information kiosk thatwill provide orientation to the site for therecreational visitors and provide an introduc-tion to the site's cultural significance.

lDevelop a site bulletin on the Nez Perce useof the site including the events leading to theNez Perce War of 1877. This site bulletinwill be distributed at the Spalding VisitorCenter, the White Bird Battlefield visitor con-tact station (when completed), and by otherlocal park partners.

lThe audio-visual presentation on the NezPerce War of 1877 called for in the parkwideactions section will address the events at ToloLake that led up to the war.



TOLO LAKE

Weippe Prairie is a traditional Nez Perce root-gathering site and is the location where the NezPerce first met Lewis and Clark. There are twolocations associated with this site. The first isencountered on Idaho Route 11 and consists of aroadside pull off and two large signs. One sign isa large, color graphic depicting the meeting ofthe Nez Perce and Lewis and Clark and the textis simply "Welcome to Weippe-Where the NezPerce Indians met Lewis & Clark in 1805." Theother sign "Lewis and Clark" briefly describesthat first meeting. A directional sign identifiesthe other site as being 3 miles away. There is alsoa small granite "National Historic LandmarkMonument" commemorating the Lewis andClark Expedition. The second location is a pulloff on a gravel road with one informational sign.

This sign tells the story of the first meeting in alittle more detail and includes a long passagefrom William Clark's journal.


Visitors will:

llearn about the first contact between the NezPerce and Lewis and Clark.

lunderstand the traditional use of the prairie asa camas gathering area.

lunderstand the role of the site as the begin-ning of the trail to buffalo country.


lappreciate the long and continued use of thearea by the Nez Perce.

Actions

lProduce and install a wayside exhibit to inter-pret the first contact between the Nez Perceand Lewis and Clark.

lInstall the parkwide orientation panel.

lThe guidebook called for in the parkwideactions section will provide more detail onthe prairie, the Lewis and Clark contact, andlink the site to both other root gathering sitesand Lewis and Clark sites in the park.



WEIPPE PRAIRIE

Weiss Rockshelter is an archeological site thatwas inhabited by Nez Perce peoples from morethan 8,000 years ago until about 600 years ago.The site was excavated in 1962.

There is one wayside exhibit at the site and itdiscusses in very little detail: the excavation ofthe shelter by archaeologists during the early1960's; the ancient Nez Perce and historic NezPerce housing; and pictures some of the kinds ofpoints found at this site.


Visitors will:

lunderstand how the site fits into the biggerpicture of Nez Perce cultural continuum andother prehistoric sites of that same time peri-od.

lbe able to find the site more easily.

lunderstand that Wiess Rockshelter was livedin and used by ancestors of the Nez Percepeople.


Actions

lWork with the Idaho TransportationDepartment to provide better highway direc-tional signs to the site.

lReplace the current wayside exhibit with anupdated one that emphasizes the human occu-pation of the site over thousands of years.

lThe guidebook called for in the parkwideactions section will provide more detail onthe cultural and archeological significance ofthe site and manage visitors' expectations ofthe site and the experience of locating it.



WEISS ROCKSHELTER

Big Hole Battlefield commemorates one of themost important battles of the Nez Perce War of1877. The Nez Perce had been camped here sev-eral days when on the morning of August 9th theircamp was overrun by Colonel John Gibbon'stroops. The Nez Perce were able to regroup andkept the soldiers pinned down on the hillsideabove the camp while their families escaped. Thesiege lasted nearly 24 hours. Numerous casualtieswere suffered by both sides, and included NezPerce women and children.

The National Park Service owns 655 acres of thebattlefield. The park's second largest and secondmost visited visitor center is located here. Thevisitor center is divided into three interpretivespaces: main reception room, an exhibit space,

and an auditorium. The main reception areaincludes-an information desk, book sales area, amap exhibit which shows the sequence of eventsof the 1877 War, and mountain howitzer exhibit.The formal exhibit room contains 23 black andwhite portrait photographs of individuals whotook part in the battle and nine large Plexiglascases displaying Nez Perce and U.S. Army arti-facts. The auditorium seats about 35 visitors andis set up to show both a 20-minute video on theNez Perce National Historic Trail and a 12-minute show on the Big Hole Battle. The audito-rium has a wall of windows, which look out onthe battlefield, and there are two waysideexhibits mounted on the outside of the windowsshowing the positions of the Nez Perce and theArmy and the flow of the battle. There is a spot-ting scope set up in front of the windows for vis-itors to use and interpreters use the view to dointerpretive talks. A deck on the west side of thevisitor center has two wayside exhibits identicalto those on the auditorium windows.

There are two self-guiding trails. One, the "NezPerce Camp Trail", goes from the lower parkingarea out to the area where the Nez Perce werecamped when they were attacked. The othertrail, "Siege Area Trail", goes from the lowerparking lot up onto the hill overlooking the NezPerce camp where the Nez Perce besieged thesoldiers for nearly 24 hours while their families



MONTANA UNITBIG HOLE NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD

escaped. Park staff gives formal guided walks onboth trails. A short spur trail leads to an over-look of the camp and has a wayside exhibit. Thelocation of the howitzer capture is also accessi-ble by trail and has a replica howitzer and way-side in place.


Visitors will:

lunderstand the battle and its relationship tothe 1877 Nez Perce War.

lunderstand how the relationship between NezPerce and the Crow changed during and afterthe 1877 War.

lunderstand the role of other tribes in the 1877War.

lunderstand the differences between how theEuro-American and Nez Perce cultures com-memorate the battle and the battlefield.

lunderstand how the Nez Perce feel todayabout the site.

lrecognize that six soldiers receivedCongressional Medals of Honor for their actsof bravery in rescuing their fallen comrades atthe Battle of Big Hole.

lunderstand that the seventh infantry and vol-unteers killed women and childern as well asNez Perce warriors.

lunderstand that the Nez Perce won the battledespite their losses.

lhave the opportunity to see how the press, in1877, reported the events of the war and battle.

lrecognize the impact of the Battle of the LittleBighorn on the 1877 War.

lunderstand the role civilians in the areaplayed in the battle and its aftermath.

lrecognize that the battle was a "turning point"for the Nez Perce, changing both their per-ception of the war and their tactics.

lunderstand the role Nez Perce women andchildren played in this battle and in the con-flict as a whole.

lunderstand that the battlefield is a cemeteryfor the men, women, and children killed hereand should be accorded the respect of asacred burial ground.

lunderstand everyone's responsibility in pre-serving the site's cultural resources.

lunderstand the relationship of the U.S. Armyto the Indian Bureau in controlling the dispo-sition of Indian tribes and placement ontoreservations.

lunderstand the U.S. Army served as aninstrument of American Indian Policy in the19th century.



lunderstand the role the U.S. Military Officersand 7th Infantry played as individuals in thisbattle and in the conflict as a whole.

lunderstand the role of Nez Perce chiefs andwarriors played as individuals in this battleand in the conflict as a whole.

lrecognize the role of the natural landscapeand how it contributed to the events thatoccurred on August 7-10, 1877.

lrecognize the Battle of the Big Hole is a well-documented event in the history of theAmerican West, including the role of L. V.McWhorter in documenting the Nez Perceviews of the battle.

lrecognize the Big Hole Battlefield is a placefor commemoration in honor of all who diedfrom this battle.

lunderstand how this battle was one of themost devastating battles in the Indian Warera.

lunderstand the integrity of the landscapetoday aids in understanding the events thatoccurred in 1877.

lunderstand the Indian Policies of 19th centu-ry still have a profound effect on the way theNez Perce live their lives today.

Actions

lImplement the 1996 Big Hole NationalBattlefield Design Charette. The expansion of

the visitor center outlined in this plan willprovide the additional exhibit space neces-sary to interpret the complexity of the BigHole Battle reflected in the visitor experiencegoals. The new audio-visual theater/meetingroom will provide a much better environmentfor viewing the park's audio-visual presenta-tions than the current multiple use space withits ambient noise and light and small seatingarea. The current auditorium space with itsview of the battlefield will be used for inter-pretive talks (especially valuable when theweather is bad or staffing is limited.)

lComplete the new 20-minute audio-visualpresentation on the Big Hole Battle.

lBoth of the audio-visual presentations calledfor in the parkwide actions section will beavailable here.

lImplement the actions called for in the 1999Wayside Exhibit Proposal for Big HoleBattlefield. These actions include a three-panel trailhead kiosk for the trailhead parkinglot and redesign and updating of several exist-ing wayside exhibits.

lRevise the existing trail guide to be moreengaging and site-specific.



Bear Paw Battlefield, a national historic land-mark, is about 16 miles south of Chinook,Montana. This battlefield is the site of the attackupon, siege, and eventual surrender of the non-treaty Nez Perce at the end of their 1877 flight.The White Bird Band succeeded in escaping toCanada, but after Chief Joseph's surrender, therest of the Nez Perce were exiled first to Kansasand later to Oklahoma.

The Blaine County Museum in Chinook, MT hasdevoted one of their exhibit rooms to the BearPaw Battle. Exhibits include artifacts from thesite, a 1936 map, portraits of Chief Joseph, CowIsland photographs, other memorabilia. TheMuseum also has a sophisticated audio-visualpresentation on the War of 1877 in their audito-rium. The scope of this 20-minute presentation isthe entire war, but emphasis is given to the BearPaw Battle and surrender.

At the battlefield site, a series of nine lowmounted wayside exhibits dispersed around thesite's one mile long interpretive trail outline thebattle's story. These waysides, which were pro-duced by the state of Montana when the site wasa state park, are outdated and inaccurate.Locations where Nez Perce died in battle aremarked by a series of metal stakes with brasscaps and identifying inscriptions. A self-guidingtrail guide with text keyed to numbered stops

along the trail is also available. During the sum-mer months ranger guided walks are provided.


Visitors will:

lunderstand the battle and its relationship tothe 1877 War.

lunderstand the significant role communica-tions--the telegraph and military couriers--played in the battle.

lunderstand the reason the Nez Perce selectedthe campsite and why they stayed rather thancontinue to Canada.

lunderstand the relationship between the land-scape and the battle.



BEAR PAW BATTLEFIELD

lunderstand that the battle was the end of thecampaign, but not the end of the story.

lunderstand how the story after the battle con-tinues today.

lappreciate the roles played by various indi-viduals and groups in preserving the story.

lbe aware that the soldiers who died here areburied in Custer National Cemetery.

lunderstand what happened to the Nez Perceleadership before, during, and after the battle.

lbe aware of the different tribes involved, theirrelationships' and their roles.

llearn what happened to the Nez Perce andtheir possessions after the battle was over.

lunderstand the "surrender" as a strategy forsurvival-to save the people, bring them backtogether.

lunderstand the role of Chief Joseph as leaderbefore, during, and after the battle.

lunderstand that the surrender decision wasbased, in part, on promises from the U.S. gov-ernment that they later failed to keep.

lunderstand that American popular culturemaintains many misconceptions and stereo-types about the Bear Paw Battle.

lunderstand that many Nez Perce made it toCanada.

lbe aware of what happened at Cow Island andCow Creek and the implications of thoseevents.

lunderstand the self-sacrifice of those that"surrendered" so that others could go on.

lbe able to contrast the military's treatment ofChief Joseph with the Nez Perce treatment ofLieutenant Jerome.

lunderstand the relationships and conflictswithin the military.

lunderstand that the battlefield is a cemeteryfor the men, women, and children killed hereand should be accorded the respect of asacred burial ground.

lunderstand that the area around the battlefieldhas a history of use by native people for gen-erations prior to the battle of 1877.


Actions

lContinue to work with the Blaine CountyMuseum to provide interpretive exhibits andaudio-visual presentations that meet the inter-pretive goals and values of the park. The parkwill continue to facilitate visitors using themuseum to get interpretive services the parkcan not provide at the present time. When thetwo audio-visual presentations called for in



the parkwide actions section are completed,they will be made available to the museum toshow in their theater.

lIf a visitor facility at or near the battlefieldsite is found to be feasible and the planningfor that facility enters the design stage, ade-quate exhibit space will be planned to allowfor interpretation of the events leading up tothe Bear Paw Battle (including the course ofthe 1877 War, the impact of the Little BighornBattle, U.S. Indian Policy, Treaty/Non-treatyNez Perce, etc.), and the aftermath of the bat-tle (Oklahoma, exile, Nez Perce tribal divi-sions, Canada, etc.). Other exhibits will pro-vide orientation to the battle and battlefieldresources to enhance the visitor's experienceand understanding as they interact with thoseonsite resources and interpretive media. Asmall theater space might be included to showboth of the parkwide audio-visual presenta-

tions-one on the continuum of Nez Perce cul-ture and the other on the Nez Perce War of1877-when they are produced.

lImplement the actions called for in 1999Wayside Exhibit Proposal. These actionsinclude removing all of the current waysideand exhibits and replacing them with waysideexhibits that provide more accurate informa-tion, are sited to take advantage of onsiteresources and trails, and meet National ParkService standards.



Camas Meadows Battle Sites in southeasternIdaho consist of General Oliver O. Howard'sCamp Calloway and about 3 miles away,Captain Randolph B. Norwood's encounter site.These two skirmish sites represent GeneralHoward's unsuccessful attempt to capture thefleeing Nez Perce less than 2 weeks after the BigHole Battle. The sites are in a sparsely populat-ed, rural area, accessed by a seasonal unpavedroad east of Interstate Highway 15, and are diffi-cult to find.

At the rest stop on Interstate 15 there is an inter-pretive sign entitled "Nez Perce War" whichvery briefly summarizes the events of the 1877War which happened in this area. There is no

interpretive media at the Howard's Camp site,but a simple white headstone marks the grave ofbugler Bernard A. Brooks. At the Norwoodencounter site a large interpretive sign at theentry gate to the site just off County Road A-2gives a brief summary of the siege of CaptainNorwood's group by the Nez Perce. At the siteitself there is a concrete monument with aninterpretive plaque entitled "Flight of the NezPerce Indians-Camas Meadows Battle". Thisplaque gives a summary of the 1877 War and adetailed account of the Camas Meadows battle.


Visitors will:


lunderstand the story from multiple points ofview and the impact of these events specifi-cally on the military.

lbe able to put in perspective the rumors in thecommunities near the flight path and the fearthose rumors caused.

lrecognize that the Nez Perce crossed othertribes' territories during their flight and eachof those tribes reacted in different ways.

lunderstand the events that occurred at"Camas Meadows" and how the skirmish



CAMAS MEADOWS BATTLE SITES

relates to the overall 1877 Nez Perce War.

Actions

lWork with the Idaho TransportationDepartment and the Idaho Historical Societyto redo the interpretive panel at the I-15 restarea near Dubois, Idaho and to install one ofthe parkwide orientation panels.

lThe audio-visual presentation on the NezPerce War of 1877 called for in the parkwideactions section will include the story of thesetwo skirmishes.

lThe guidebook called for in the parkwideactions section will link this site chronologi-cally with other Nez Perce National HistoricTrail sites.



CANYON CREEK

The September 13, 1877 battle at Canyon Creekdelayed the fleeing Nez Perce for a day and con-tributed to the opportunity Col. Miles wouldhave at Bear Paw to stop the Nez Perce fromgetting to Canada. Harassment of the Nez Perceby the Crow after the initial skirmish indicatesthe complexities of inter-tribal relations.

A roadside pullout with a stone monument andbronze plaque erected by the YellowstoneHistorical Society marks the skirmish site. Theplaque lists the number of calvary casualties,commanding officer, and gives a brief summaryof other Nez Perce encounters in the area. InLaurel, Montana at the Chamber of Commercevisitor center, there is a statue of Chief Josephwith a plaque that mentions the "Battle ofCanyon Creek" having taken place seven milesnorth of town.


Visitors will:

lunderstand the events of the skirmish andhow it relates to the overall 1877 Nez PerceWar.

lrecognize the skirmish as a victory for theNez Perce.

lappreciate the impact the Battle of the LittleBighorn had on this skirmish.

lrecognize that at this point in the war, thepress was very involved in reporting the latestdevelopments.

lappreciate the Nez Perce were traveling witha sense of urgency since departingYellowstone.

lreceive basic orientation to the whole 1877Nez Perce War story.

lrecognize that Nez Perce were now inCrow/Cheyenne Territory and very far fromtheir own home.

lunderstand the changing relationship of theNez Perce with the Crow after they weredenied help.


Actions

lDesign, produce, and install the two waysideexhibits and the parkwide orientation panelcalled for in the 1999 Wayside ExhibitProposal. One wayside will interpret theopening phases of the battle in terms of thevisible terrain; the other will interpret theconclusion of the battle, the Nez Perce escaperoute, and the consequence of the delay thebattle caused in the Nez Perce's flight toCanada.

lThe park will continue to work with theFriends of Canyon Creek to develop an inter-pretive site at the battle site that providesinterpretation consistent with park interpre-tive standards and goals.

lThe audio-visual presentation on the NezPerce War of 1877 called for in the parkwideactions section will include the Canyon Creekbattle. The presentation will be made avail-able to the Laurel Chamber of Commerce foruse in their visitor center.



Located in Hells Canyon National RecreationArea, this is the site where the Chief JosephBand crossed the Snake River in route to the NezPerce Reservation to comply with GeneralHoward's order. The crossing was difficult, withmen, women, children, elderly, and the band'slarge herd of livestock struggling to cross thespring runoff-swollen Snake River. The NezPerce War of 1877, which began a few weekslater, prevented the band from ever returninghere to their homeland.

On the western side of the Dug Bar eddy, theU.S. Forest Service has erected a large interpre-tive sign titled "Nez Perce Crossing". The textbriefly describes why the Nez Perce were cross-ing the Snake River, the crossing experience, thebeginning of the War of 1877 and where the warended. The sign is meant to be read from theriver by passing boaters.


Visitors will:

lunderstand how much the Nez Perce leftbehind, and why they left it, as they traveledto the reservation in 1877.

lappreciate the difficulty of moving the entireband and their possessions across the river inhigh water.

lunderstand the reason the band was crossingthe river at that time of year.

lappreciate that the Nez Perce were nevergoing to return to Wallowa-this is the lasttime they saw their homeland.

lunderstand how the Nez Perce were able tocross the river.

Actions

lWork with the U.S. Forest Service to con-struct an interpretive kiosk near the boat land-ing. The kiosk will include panels that orientvisitors to the site-its facilities and trails, andintroduce visitors to the site's cultural and his-toric features and the stories they support.



OREGON/WASHINGTON UNITDUG BAR

lWork with the U.S. Forest Service to removethe large interpretive sign at the Dug Bareddy and replace it with a more aestheticallypleasing marker which can be easily identi-fied from the river and a wayside exhibit tointerpret the crossing story.

lThe audio-visual presentation on the NezPerce War of 1877, called for in the parkwideactions section, will discuss the Dug Barcrossing as part of the events leading up to thewar.



JOSEPH CANYON VIEWPOINT

The site is a highway pullout and overlook onOregon State Route 3, 30 miles north ofEnterprise, Oregon. The view of Joseph Canyonprovides an example of the canyon-bottom envi-ronment where the Nez Perce people traditional-ly lived in winter. There is currently no interpre-tation at the site.


Visitors will:

lreceive orientation to the park, the Nez PerceTrail, and other sites in the Wallowa Valley.

lunderstand Nez Perce traditional use of thearea.

llearn about the actions Howard took to pre-vent the Nez Perce from returning to the areaafter they had left for the reservation.

llearn how the area is used today.

lunderstand the seasonal economies of theNez Perce.

lhave the opportunity to experience the land-scape and appreciate why the Nez Percemade their homes here.

Actions

lContinue to partner with the U.S. ForestService as they implement their site develop-ment plans. This includes providing one of theparkwide orientation panels for a cluster ofsuch panels-one on the Nez Perce NationalHistoric Trail and another on the Wallowa-

Whitman National Forest, and wayside exhibitpanels on the Nez Perce traditional use of thecanyon to be installed on a new viewing deckconstructed below the brow of the hill.

lThe site will be included in the guidebookcalled for in the park actions section.



LOSTINE CAMPSITE

The site, at the historic junction of the Lostineand Wallowa Rivers, represents the traditionalsummer campsite of the Wallowa Band of NezPerce. Near here Old Chief Joseph established aboundary line to identify the band's ownershipof the valley to the white settlers.

Currently the confluence area is an Oregon StateWildlife Refuge, but there is no development orinterpretation associated with the refuge. Anearby site to the north of the town of Wallowaand along the Wallowa River is being developedto provide the Nez Perce with a place to practicesome of their traditional cultural activities andinterpret their history in the valley. WallowaBand Nez Perce Trail Interpretive Center, Inc.will build a small visitor contact station at thesite.


Visitors will:

llearn about the previous Oregon treaties andhow they were nullified by the StevensTreaty.

llearn how the Nez Perce people made theirliving in the Wallowa Valley.

lunderstand the Nez Perce frequently traveledfrom the Wallowa Valley to buffalo country.

lunderstand the Nez Perce's relationship to thesettlers-both positive and negative.

lbe able to identify the original territory thatbelonged to the Chief Joseph Band as wasmarked by Old Chief Joseph.

lunderstand where Nez Perce people livetoday and why.

lbe aware of the traditional religion of theChief Joseph Band and the rest of the non-treaty bands.

lunderstand the relationship of the ChiefJoseph Band of Nez Perce on the CovilleReservation to other Nez Perce bands andother Indian nations in the region.

lunderstand how returning to the WallowaValley would signify the closing of the circlefor the Chief Joseph Band.

lunderstand who Old Chief Joseph was.

lunderstand the historic continuum of the NezPerce and other tribes in that area.

lunderstand how, even after over a century ofexile, their traditional homeland continues tobe a sacred and spiritual place to the ChiefJoseph band.

lunderstand why the Chief Joseph Band con-tinues to identify itself with Chief Joseph.

Actions

lThe park will continue to work with theWallowa Band Nez Perce Trail InterpretiveCenter, Inc. (WBNPTIC) and provide inter-pretive media planning, design, and produc-tion expertise upon request and to the degreefunding allows. The visitor contact stationwith interpretive exhibits and an audio-visualspace will provide an excellent opportunityfor both the community and the park to worktogether to reach their shared interpretive andvisitor goals.

lWhen completed, both audio-visual presenta-tions called for in the parkwide actions sec-

tion will be made available to the WallowaBand Nez Perce Trail Interpretive Center, Inc.to show in their visitor contact facility.

lDesign, produce, and install a wayside exhib-it panel near the confluence site once anappropriate location is found.

lInstall one of the parkwide orientation panelsat the gravel pullout on Highway 82 near thetop of Minam Grade or other appropriatelocation.

lDesign, produce, and install wayside exhibitsat the Wallowa Band Nez Perce TrailInterpretive Center, Inc. site to interpret theindividual cultural landscape features of thesite and the view of the Wallowa Valley fromthe trail overlook near the summit of TickHill.



The Old Chief Joseph Gravesite is a 5.1-acrecemetery with an 8-acre buffer to the northwest.After Old Chief Joseph's original grave was van-dalized, his remains were reinterred at this site in1926. The cemetery is a national historic land-mark.

A single wayside exhibit on the site interpretsOld Chief Joseph's gravesite and affirms thesacred and sensitive nature of the site to theColville Nez Perce, Nez Perce Tribe, andUmatilla Tribe.


Visitors will:

lrecognize the cemetery and the area as asacred, spiritual place to the Nez Perce.

lidentify the Nez Perce people as an integralpart of this landscape.

llearn Old Chief Joseph's Nez Perce names.

llearn the correct date (1872) of Old ChiefJoseph's death.

llearn how Old Chief Joseph's remains and themonument came to be here.

lunderstand that this location was not the pri-mary place where Nez Perce lived in the val-ley.


Actions

lBecause of the sensitive and sacred nature ofthe site no other interpretive media will beplaced at the site. Interpretation on Old ChiefJoseph will be done at the Wallowa Band NezPerce Trail Interpretive Center, Inc. location.

lDesign and produce a site bulletin for thissite.



OLD CHIEF JOSEPH GRAVESITE

The two Nez Perce campsites have been identifiedas the last homesites on the Colville Reservation ofthe exiled Chief Joseph the Younger. The exactboundaries and locations of these sites have notbeen determined. They were selected because theyillustrate the perpetuation of the traditional season-al movement from high to low ground, in spite ofthe fact that the climate and geology of the Colvillearea did not require such movement for survivalsuccess. The cultural landscape in Nespelem area isfull of historic and more current structures that por-tray the continuing culture of the Chief JosephBand’s exile on the Colville Reservation. There iscurrently no formal interpretation of the ChiefJoseph Band's exile in Nespelem.


Visitors will:

lunderstand who the Chief Joseph Band peo-ple are and how and why they are here.

lunderstand the sacredness and sensitivity ofthe cemetery at Nespelem.

lunderstand the relationships within theColville Confederated Tribes.

lunderstand that Nez Perce culture continuesin Nespelem.

lunderstand that Chief Joseph Band is still inexile from their homeland.


Actions

lThe Joseph Band is currently working withthe Colville Confederated Tribes to establisha cultural center for the band. Nez PerceNational Historical Park will provide, asrequested by the band and as funding willallow, technical expertise in planning inter-pretive media for the cultural center.

lWhen completed, both of the audio-visualpresentations called for in the parkwide



NEZ PERCE (NESPELEM) CAMPSITES

actions section will be made available to theNespelem cultural center, The TribalMuseum in Coulee Dam, and the GrandCoulee Dam Visitor Arrival Center in GrandCoulee.

lDesign, produce, and install the waysideexhibit interpreting the historic Nez PerceLonghouse in Nespelem as called for in the1999 Wayside Exhibit Proposal.



NEZ PERCE CEMETERY

The Nez Perce Cemetery is an active, tradition-al Nez Perce cemetery in Nespelem that containsthe remains of several participants in the NezPerce War of 1877, including Chief Joseph theYounger and Yellow Wolf. This is a very sacredand sensitive site.

Nearby on State Route 155, the WashingtonState Highway Commission has erected a largehistoric marker that eulogizes Joseph as a mili-tary genius and a peacemaker in the Nez PerceWar of 1877 and mentions the band's exile onthe Colville Reservation.


lVisitation to the cemetery by the public willnot be encouraged by the park.



PLANNING TEAMNez Perce National Historical Park

Bob Chenoweth, CuratorArthur Currence, Park RangerDoug Eury, SuperintendentTim Fisher, Park RangerDan Foster, Resource Management SpecialistOtis Halfmoon, Idaho Unit ManagerJon James, Superintendent, Big Hole Battlefield Diane Mallickan, Park RangerMarie Marek, Chief of InterpretationTim Nitz, Washington/Oregon Unit ManagerKevin Peters, Park RangerFrank Walker, former Superintendent

Confederated Tribes of the Colville ReservationFrank AndrewsRodney CawstonSheilah ClevelandWes (Stretch) ClevelandAnne C. GeorgeCharlie MosesKeith (Soy) RedthunderJohn SiriosLeRoy (Chas) Williams

Nez Perce Tribe

Allen P. Slickpoo, Sr.

Nez Perce (Nee Me Poo) National Historic Trail

Keith Thurlkill, Region I

U.S.D.A. Forest Service

Dave Clark, Wallowa Whitman National ForestSandi McFarland, Clearwater National ForestAllan V. Pinkham, former Tribal Liaison

Harpers Ferry CenterDon Kodak, Interpretive Planner



APPENDIX ARECOMMENDATIONS SUMMARY


APPENDIX A

APPENDIX A



APPENDIX A

APPENDIX A



APPENDIX A


APPENDIX B

Special Populations:Programmatic Accessibility

Guidelines for Interpretive Media

National Park Service

Harpers Ferry Center

June 1999

Prepared by

Harpers Ferry Center

Accessibility Task Force

Contents:Statement of Purpose

Audiovisual Programs

Exhibits

Historic Furnishings

Publications

Wayside Exhibits

Statement of Purpose

This document is a guide for promoting fullaccess to interpretive media to ensure that peo-ple with physical and mental disabilities haveaccess to the same information necessary forsafe and meaningful visits to National Parks.Just as the needs and abilities of individualscannot be reduced to simple statements, it isimpossible to construct guidelines for interpre-tive media that can apply to every situation inthe National Park System.

These guidelines define a high level of pro-grammatic access which can be met in most sit-uations. They articulate key areas of concernand note generally accepted solutions. Due tothe diversity of park resources and the varietyof interpretive situations, flexibility and versa-tility are important.

Each interpretive medium contributes to thetotal park program. All media have inherentstrengths and weaknesses, and it is our intent tocapitalize on their strengths and provide alter-natives where they are deficient. It should alsobe understood that any interpretive medium isjust one component of the overall park experi-ence. In some instances, especially with regardto learning disabilities, personal services, that isone-on-one interaction, may be the most appro-priate and versatile interpretive approach.

In the final analysis, interpretive design is sub-jective, and dependent on aesthetic considera-tions as well as the particular characteristicsand resources available for a specific program.Success or failure should be evaluated byexamining all interpretive offerings of a park.Due to the unique characteristics of each situa-tion, parks should be evaluated on a case bycase basis. Nonetheless, the goal is to fullycomply with NPS policy:

"...To provide the highest level of accessibilitypossible and feasible for persons with visual,hearing, mobility, and mental impairments, con-sistent with the obligation to conserve parkresources and preserve the quality of the parkexperience for everyone."

NPS Special Directive 83-3, Accessibility forDisabled Persons

Audiovisual Programs

Audiovisual programs include video programs,and audio and interactive programs. As a mat-ter of policy, all audiovisual programs producedby the Harpers Ferry Center will include somemethod of captioning. The Approach used willvary according to the conditions of the installa-tion area and the media format used, and willbe selected in consultation with the parks andregions.


APPENDIX B

The captioning method will be identified asearly as possible in the planning process andwill be presented in an integrated setting wherepossible. To the extent possible, visitors will beoffered a choice in viewing captioned or uncap-tioned versions, but in situations where a choiceis not possible or feasible, a captioned versionof all programs will be made available. Parkmanagement will decide on the most appropri-ate operational approach for the particular site.

Guidelines Affecting Visitors with MobilityImpairments

1. The theater, auditorium, or viewing areashould be accessible and free of architecturalbarriers, or alternative accommodations willbe provided. UFAS 4.1.

2. Wheelchair locations will be providedaccording to ratios outlined in UFAS4.1.2(18a).

3. Viewing heights and angles will be favor-able for those in designated wheelchair loca-tions.

4. In designing video or interactive compo-nents, control mechanisms will be placed inaccessible location, usually between 9" and48" from the ground and no more than 24"deep.

Guidelines Affecting Visitors with VisualImpairments

1. Simultaneous audio description will beconsidered for installations where the equip-ment can be properly installed and main-tained.

Guidelines Affecting Visitors with HearingImpairments

1. All audiovisual programs will be pro-duced with appropriate captions.

2. Copies of scripts will be provided to theparks as a standard procedure.

3. Audio amplification and listening systemswill be provided in accordance with UFAS4.1.2(18b).

Guidelines Affecting Visitors with LearningImpairments

1. Unnecessarily complex and confusingconcepts will be avoided.

2. Graphic elements will be chosen to com-municate without reliance on the verbalcomponent.

3. Narration will be concise and free ofunnecessary jargon and technical informa-tion.


APPENDIX B

Exhibits

Numerous factors affect the design of exhibits,reflecting the unique circumstances of the spe-cific space and the nature of the materials to beinterpreted. It is clear that thoughtful, sensitivedesign can go a long way in producing exhibitsthat can be enjoyed by a broad range of people.Yet, due to the diversity of situations encoun-tered, it is impossible to articulate guidelinesthat can be applied universally.

In some situations, the exhibit designer has lit-tle or no control over the space. Often exhibitsare placed in areas ill suited for that purpose,they may incorporate large or unyielding speci-mens, may incorporate sensitive artifacts whichrequire special environmental controls, androom decor or architectural features may dictatecertain solutions. All in all, exhibit design is anart which defies simple description. However,one central concern is to communicate the mes-sage to the largest audience possible. Everyreasonable effort will be made to eliminate anyfactors limiting communication through physi-cal modification or by providing an alternatemeans of communication.


Note: The Americans with Disabilities ActAccessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) is the stan-dard followed by the National Park Service and

is therefore the basis for the accessibility stan-dards for exhibits, where applicable.

1. Height/position of labels: Body copy onvertical exhibit walls should be placed atbetween 36" and 60" from the floor.

2. Artifact Cases:

a. Maximum height of floor of artifact casedisplay area shall be no higher than 30" fromthe floor of the room. This includes vitrinesthat are recessed into an exhibit wall.

b. Artifact labels should be placed so as tobe visible to a person within a 43" to 51"eye level. This includes mounting labelswithin the case at an angle to maximize itsvisibility to all viewers.

3. Touchable Exhibits: Touchable exhibitspositioned horizontally should be placed nohigher than 30" from the floor. Also, if theexhibit is approachable only on one side, itshould be no deeper than 31".

4. Railings/barriers: Railings around anyhorizontal model or exhibit element shallhave a maximum height of 36" from thefloor.

5. Information desks: Information desks andsales counters shall include a section madeto accommodate both a visitor in a wheel-chair and an employee in a wheelchair work-ing on the other side. A section of the


APPENDIX B

desk/counter shall have the following dimen-sions:

a. Height from the floor to the top: 28 to 34inches. (ADAAG 4.32.4)

b. Minimum knee clearance space: 27" high,30" wide and 19" deep of clearance under-neath the desk is the minimum spacerequired under ADAAG 4.32.3, but a space30" high, 36" wide and 24" deep is recom-mended.

c. Width of top surface of section: at least 36inches. Additional space must be providedfor any equipment such as a cash register.

d. Area underneath desk: Since both sides ofthe desk may have to accommodate a wheel-chair, this area should be open all the waythrough to the other side. In addition, thereshould be no sharp or abrasive surfacesunderneath the desk. The floor space behindthe counter shall be free of obstructions.

6. Circulation Space:

a. Passageways through exhibits shall be atleast 36" wide.

b. If an exhibit passageway reaches a dead-end, an area 60" by 78" should be providedat the end for turning around.

c. Objects projecting from walls with theirleading edges between 27" and 80" above

the floor shall protrude no more than 4" inpassageways or aisles. Objects projectingfrom walls with their leading edges at orbelow 27" above the floor can protrude anyamount.

d. Freestanding objects mounted on posts orpylons may overhang a maximum of 12"from 27" to 80" above the floor. (ADAAG4.4.1)

e. Protruding objects shall not reduce theclear width of an accessible route to lessthan the minimum required amount.(ADAAG 4.4.1)

f. Passageways or other circulation spacesshall have a minimum clear head room of 80".For example, signage hanging from the ceilingmust have at least 80" from the floor to thebottom edge of the sign. (ADAAG 4.4.2)

7. Floors:

a. Floors and ramps shall be stable, level,firm and slip-resistant.

b. Changes in level between 1/4" and 1/2"shall be beveled with a slope no greater than1:2. Changes in level greater than 1/2" shall beaccomplished by means of a ramp that com-plies with ADAAG 4.7 or 4.8. (ADAAG4.5.2)

c. Carpet in exhibit areas shall comply withADAAG 4.5.3 for pile height, texture, pad


APPENDIX B

thickness, and trim.

8. Seating - Interactive Stations/Work Areas:The minimum knee space underneath a workdesk is 27" high, 30" wide and 19" deep,with a clear floor space of at least 30" by30" in front. The top of the desk or worksurface shall be between 28" and 34" fromthe floor. (ADAAG 4.32, Fig.45)


1. Tactile models and other touchable exhibititems should be used whenever possible.Examples of touchable exhibit elementsinclude relief maps, scale models, raisedimages of simple graphics, reproductionobjects, and replaceable objects (such as nat-ural history or geological specimens, culturalhistory items, etc.).

2. Typography - Readability of exhibit labelsby visitors with various degrees of visualimpairment shall be maximized by using thefollowing guidelines:

a. Type size - No type in the exhibit shall besmaller than 24 point.

b. Typeface - The most readable typefacesshould be used whenever possible, particu-larly for body copy. They are: TimesRoman, Palatino, Century, Helvetica andUniverse.

c. Styles, Spacing - Text set in both caps andlower case is easier to read than all caps.Choose letter spacing and word spacing formaximum readability. Avoid too much italictype.

d. Line Length - Limit the line length forbody copy to no more than 45 to 50 charac-ters per line.

e. Amount of Text - Each unit of body copyshould have a maximum of 45-60 words.

f. Margins - Flush left, ragged right marginsare easiest to read.

3. Color:

a. Type/Background Contrast - Percentage ofcontrast between the type and the back-ground should be a minimum of 70% .

b. Red/Green - Do not use red on green orgreen on red as the type/background colorcombination.

c. Do not place body copy on top of graphicimages that impair readability.

4. Samples: During the design process, it isrecommended that samples be made forreview of all size, typeface and color combi-nations for labels in that exhibit.

5. Exhibit Lighting:

a. All labels shall receive sufficient, even


APPENDIX B

light for good readability. Exhibit text inareas where light levels have been reducedfor conservation purposes should have aminimum of 10 footcandles of illumination.

b. Harsh reflections and glare should beavoided.

c. The lighting system shall be flexibleenough to allow adjustments on-site.

d. Transitions between the floor and walls,columns or other structures should be madeclearly visible. Finishes for vertical surfacesshould contrast clearly with the floor finish.Floor circulation routes should have a mini-mum of 10 footcandles of illumination.

6. Signage: When permanent building sig-nage is required as a part of an exhibit pro-ject, the ADAAG guidelines shall be con-sulted. Signs, which designate permanentrooms and spaces, shall comply withADAAG 4.30.1, 4.30.4, 4.30.5, and 4.30.6.Other signs, which provide direction to orinformation about functional spaces of thebuilding, shall comply with ADAAG 4.30.1,4.30.2, 4.30.3, and 4.30.5. Note: When theInternational Symbol of Accessibility(wheelchair symbol) is used, the word"Handicapped" shall not be used beneath thesymbol. Instead, use the word "Accessible".


1. Information presented via audio formatswill be duplicated in a visual medium, suchas in the exhibit label copy or by captioning.All video programs incorporated into theexhibit, which contain audio, shall be opencaptioned.

2. Amplification systems and volume con-trols should be incorporated with audioequipment used individually by the visitor,such as audio handsets.

3. Information desks shall allow forTelecommunication Devices for the Deaf(TDD) equipment.


1. The exhibits will present the main inter-pretive themes on a variety of levels of com-plexity, so people with varying abilities andinterests can understand them.

2. The exhibits should avoid unnecessarilycomplex and confusing topics, technicalterms, and unfamiliar expressions.Pronunciation aids should be provided whereappropriate.

3. Graphic elements shall be used to com-municate non-verbally.


APPENDIX B

4. The exhibits shall be a multi-sensoryexperience. Techniques to maximize thenumber of senses used in the exhibits shouldbe encouraged.

5. Exhibit design shall use color and othercreative approaches to facilitate comprehen-sion of maps by visitors with directionalimpairments.

Historic Furnishings

Historically refurnished rooms offer the publica unique interpretive experience by placing vis-itors within historic spaces. Surrounded by his-toric artifacts visitors can feel the spaces "comealive" and relate more directly to the historicevents or personalities commemorated by thepark.

Accessibility is problematical in many NPS fur-nished sites because of the very nature of his-toric architecture. Buildings were erected witha functional point of view that is many times atodds with our modern views of accessibility.

The approach used to convey the experience ofhistorically furnished spaces will vary from siteto site. The goals, however, will remain thesame, to give the public as rich an interpretiveexperience as possible given the nature of thestructure.


1. The exhibit space should be free of archi-tectural barriers or a method of alternateaccommodation should be provided, such asslide programs, videotaped tours, visual aids,dioramas, etc.

2. All pathways, aisles, and clearances shall(when possible) meet standards set forth inUFAS 4.3 to provide adequate clearance forwheelchair routes.

3. Ramps shall be as gradual as possible andnot exceed a 1" rise in 12" run, and conformto UFAS 4.8.

4. Railings and room barriers will be con-structed in such a way as to provide unob-structed viewing by persons in wheelchairs.

5. In the planning and design process, fur-nishing inaccessible areas, such as upperfloors of historic buildings, will be discour-aged unless essential for interpretation.

6. Lighting will be designed to reduce glareor reflections when viewed from a wheel-chair.

7. Alternative methods of interpretation,such as audiovisual programs, audio descrip-tion, photo albums, and personal serviceswill be used in areas which present difficultyfor visitors with physical impairments.


APPENDIX B


1. Exhibit typefaces will be selected forreadability and legibility, and conform togood industry practice.

2. Audio description will be used to describefurnished rooms, where appropriate.

3. Windows will be treated with film to pro-vide balanced light levels and minimizeglare.

4. Where appropriate, visitor-controlledrheostat-type lighting will be provided toaugment general room lighting.

5. Where appropriate and when proper clear-ance has been approved, surplus artifacts orreproductions will be utilized as "hands-on"tactile interpretive devices.


1. Information about room interiors will bepresented in a visual medium such as exhibitcopy, text, pamphlets, etc.

2. Captions will be provided for all AV pro-grams relating to historic furnishings.

Guidelines Affecting the Visitors with LearningImpairments

1. Where appropriate, hands-on participatory

elements geared to the level of visitor capa-bilities will be used.

2. Living history activities and demonstra-tions, which utilize the physical space as amethod of providing multi-sensory experi-ences, will be encouraged.

Publications

A variety of publications are offered to visitors,ranging from park folders, which provide anoverview and orientation to a park, to morecomprehensive handbooks. Each park foldershould give a brief description of servicesavailable to visitors with disabilities, list signif-icant barriers, and note the existence of TDDphone numbers, if available.

In addition, informal site bulletins are oftenproduced to provide more specialized informa-tion about a specific site or topic. It is recom-mended that each park produce an easily updat-able "Accessibility Site Bulletin" which couldinclude detailed information about the specificprograms, services, and opportunities availablefor visitors with disabilities and to describe bar-riers which are present in the park. A templatefor this site bulletin will be on the Division ofPublications website for parks to create withease, a consistent look throughout the park ser-vice. These bulletins should be in large type, 16points minimum and follow the large-print cri-teria below.


APPENDIX B


1. Park folders, site bulletins, and sales liter-ature will be distributed from accessiblelocations and heights.

2. Park folders and Accessibility SiteBulletins should endeavor to carry informa-tion on the accessibility of buildings, trails,and programs by visitors with disabilities.


1. Publications for the general public:

a. Text

(1) Size: the largest type size appropriatefor the format. (preferred main body of textshould be 10pt)

(2) Leading should be at least 20% greaterthan the font size used.

(3) Proportional letterspacing

(4) Main body of text set in caps and lowercase.

(5) Margins are flush left and ragged right

(6) Little or no hyphenation is used at endsof lines.

(7) Ink coverage is dense

(8) Underlining does not connect with the

letters being underlined.

(9) Contrast of typeface and illustrations tobackground is high (70% contrast isrecommended)

(10) Photographs have a wide range of grayscale variation.

(11) Line drawings or floor plans are clearand bold, with limited detail and mini-mum 8 pt type.

(12) No extreme extended or compressedtypefaces are used for main text.

(13) Reversal type should be minimum of 11point medium or bold sans serif type.

b. The paper:

(1) Surface preferred is a matte finish. Dull-coated stock is acceptable.

(2) Has sufficient weight to avoid "show-through" on pages printed on both sides.

2. Large-print version publications:

a. Text

(1) Size: minimum16 point type.

(2) Leading is 16 on 20pt.

(3) Proportional letterspacing

(4) Main body of text set in caps and lowercase.


APPENDIX B

(5) Margins are flush left and ragged right.

(6) Little or no hyphenation is used at endsof lines.

(7) Ink coverage is dense.

(8) Underlining does not connect with theletters being underlined.

(9) Contrast of typeface and illustrations tobackground is high (70% contrast isrecommended)

(10) Photographs have a wide range of grayscale variation.

(11) Line drawings or floor plans are clearand bold, with limited detail and minimum14 pt type.

(12) No extreme extended or compressedtypefaces are used for main text.

(13) Sans-serif or simple-serif typeface

(14) No oblique or italic typefaces

(15) Maximum of 50 characters (average)per line.

(16) No type is printed over other designs.

(17) Document has a flexible binding,preferably one that allows the publication tolie flat.

(18) Gutter margins are a minimum of

22mm; outside margin smaller but not lessthan 13mm.

b. Paper:

(1) Surface is off-white or natural with mattefinish.

(2) Has sufficient weight to avoid "show-through" on pages printed on both sides.

3. Maps:

a. The less clutter the map, the more visitorsthat can use it.

b. The ultimate is one map that is large-printand tactile.

c. Raised line/tactile maps are somethingthat could be developed in future, using our

present digital files and a thermaformmachine. Lines are distinguished bylineweight, color and height. Areas are dis-tinguished by color, height, and texture.

d. The digital maps are on an accessible website.

e. Same paper guides as above.

f. Contrast of typeface background is high.(70% contrast is recommended)

g. Proportional letterspacing

h. Labels set in caps and lower case

i. Map notes are flush left and ragged right.


APPENDIX B

j. Little or no hyphenation is used as ends oflines.

k. No extreme extended or compressed type-faces are used for main text.

l. Sans-serif or simple-serif typeface.

4. The text contained in the park foldershould also be available on audiocassette,CD and accessible web site. Handbooks,accessibility guides, and other publicationsshould be similarly recorded where possible.

5. The official park publication is availablein a word processing format. This could betranslated into Braille as needed.


1. Park site bulletins will note the availabili-ty of such special services as sign languageinterpretation and captioned programs.


1. The park site bulletin should list any spe-cial services available to these visitors.

2. Publications:

a. Use language that appropriately describespersons with disabilities.

b. Topics will be specific and of general inter-est. Unnecessary complexity will be avoided.

c. Whenever possible, easy to understandgraphics will be used to convey ideas, ratherthan text alone.

d. Unfamiliar expressions, technical terms,and jargon will be avoided. Pronunciationaids and definitions will be provided whereneeded.

e. Text will be concise and free of long para-graphs and wordy language.

Wayside Exhibits

Wayside exhibits, which include outdoor inter-pretive exhibits and signs, orientation shelterexhibits, trailhead exhibits, and bulletin boards,offer special advantages to visitors with disabil-ities. The liberal use of photographs, artwork,diagrams, and maps, combined with highlyreadable type, make wayside exhibits an excel-lent medium for visitors with hearing and learn-ing impairments. For visitors with sightimpairments, waysides offer large type and highlegibility.

Although a limited number of NPS waysideexhibits will always be inaccessible to visitorswith mobility impairments, the great majorityare placed at accessible pullouts, viewpoints,parking areas, and trailheads.

The NPS accessibility guidelines for waysideexhibits help insure a standard of quality thatwill be appreciated by all visitors. Nearly


APPENDIX B

everyone benefits from high quality graphics,readable type, comfortable base designs, acces-sible locations, hard-surfaced exhibit pads, andwell-landscaped exhibit sites.

While waysides are valuable on-site "inter-preters," it should be remembered that the parkresources themselves are the primary thingsvisitors come to experience. Good waysidesfocus attention on the features they interpret,and not on themselves. A wayside exhibit isonly one of the many interpretive tools whichvisitors can use to enhance their appreciation ofa park.


1. Wayside exhibits will be installed ataccessible locations whenever possible.

2. Wayside exhibits will be installed atheights and angles favorable for viewing bymost visitors including those in wheelchairs.For standard NPS low-profile units the rec-ommended height is 30 inches from the bot-tom edge of the exhibit panel to the finishedgrade; for vertical exhibits the height of 6-28inches.

3. Trailhead exhibits will include informa-tion on trail conditions which affect accessi-bility.

4. Wayside exhibit sites will have level, hardsurfaced exhibit pads.

5. Exhibit sites will offer clear, unrestrictedviews of park features described in exhibits.


1. Exhibit type will be as legible and read-able as possible.

2. Panel colors will be selected to reduceeyestrain and glare, and to provide excellentreadability under field conditions. Whiteshould not be used as a background color.

3. Selected wayside exhibits may incorpo-rate audio stations or tactile elements such asmodels, texture blocks, and relief maps.

4. For all major features interpreted by way-side exhibits, the park should offer non-visu-al interpretation covering the same subjectmatter. Examples include cassette tapetours, radio messages, and ranger talks.

5. Appropriate tactile cues should be provid-ed to help visually impaired visitors locateexhibits.


1. Wayside exhibits will communicate visu-ally, and will rely heavily on graphics tointerpret park resources.


APPENDIX B

2. Essential information included in audiostation messages will be duplicated in writ-ten form, either as part of the exhibit text orwith printed material.


1. Topics for wayside exhibits will be specif-ic and of general interest. Unnecessarycomplexity will be avoided.

2. Whenever possible, easy to understandgraphics will be used to convey ideas, ratherthan text alone.

3. Unfamiliar expressions, technical terms,and jargon will be avoided. Pronunciationaids and definitions will be provided whereneeded.

4. Text will be concise and free of long para-graphs and wordy language.


APPENDIX B



Documents

NEZ PERCE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK