fort union trading post national historic site long-range

Harpers Ferry CenterNational Park ServiceU.S. Department of the Interior

Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site Long-Range Interpretive Plan

October 2010

Prepared byDepartment of the InteriorNational Park Service

Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site

Midwest Region

Harpers Ferry CenterInterpretive Planning

Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site Long-Range Interpretive Plan

October 2010

Plan Highlights

During the next seven to ten years Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site interpretive services will provide visitors with opportunities to increase their understanding and appreciation for the park and its resources; to engage in local educational opportunities; and to participate in nationally significant events.

To provide an active, engaging interpretive program, park staff and partners will work together focused on the following goals:

• Emphasizethefortexperience.

• Improvepersonalservices.

• Hostspecialevents.

• Strengthentribalrelationsandinterpretiveconnections.

• Increasecommunityoutreach.

• Improvetheparkwebsite.

• Developandprovidecurriculum-basededucationprograms.

• Increasethevolunteerprogram.

• Facilitatethedevelopmentandgrowthofexistingandfuturepartnerships.

• Contactavarietyofvisitors.

• Upgradeandimprovesite-specificinterpretation.

The Planning Process

ThisLong-RangeInterpretivePlanoutlinesrecommendationsforfutureinterpretive services, facilities, and media. Park staff, historians, partners, and stakeholders worked together to develop a comprehensive tool that will outline educational and recreational opportunities for visitors to develop intellectual and emotional connections to the natural and cultural resources found within Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site. Our goal is to promote Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site’s resource values through specially planned visitor experiences and excellence in interpretation.

ThisLong-RangeInterpretivePlan(LRIP)recommendsactionsthatshouldoccuroverthenextseventotenyears.Itidentifiesparkthemes,describesvisitor experience goals, and recommends a wide variety of personal and non-personalinterpretiveservicesandoutreachactivitiesthatwillbestcommunicate the park purpose, significance and themes. Developed in concertwiththeparkAnnualImplementationPlanandInterpretiveDatabase,itcompletestheComprehensiveInterpretivePlanforthepark,asestablishedinDirector’sOrders6.Inaddition,thisplanningprocesshasbeencustomizedto meet the needs of Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site, as well as the conditions and special circumstances that exist there. The ultimate product isacost-effective,tightlyfocused,highqualityparkinterpretiveprogramthatachieves management goals, provides appropriate visitor opportunities, and facilitates desired visitor experiences.

TheProjectAgreementwassignedFebruary16,2010.AseriesofFoundationworkshopswereheldDecember15,2009,withover37participantsrepresentingparkstaff,partners,neighbors,andlocalcommunityagencies.ARecommendationsworkshopwasheldMarch30,2010with20participantsrepresentingparkstaff,localcommunitymembers,localtribalmembers,school and university teachers, park partners, and North Dakota Group NPS staff.OnMarch31,2010animplementationstrategysessionwasheldwithpark staff.

Barring legislative changes or major new revelations, the foundational elementsexpressedinthisLRIP–purpose,significance,themes,andvisitorexperiencegoals–willremainconstantoverthelifeoftheplan.Specificrecommendationsaboutmediaandprogramsmayneedtobeupdatedas staffing, funding, technology, or resource conditions change. Further designdocumentsmustbeproducedtoimplementsomeofthegoalsandrecommendations in this plan.

Table of Contents

Foundation for Planning 1

Site Background 1

Enabling Legislation 1

Park Significance 3

Interpretive Themes 4

Management Goals 7

Desired Visitor Experiences 8

Park Visitors 9

Issues and Challenges Affecting Interpretation 11

Existing Conditions 13

Information, Orientation, and Marketing 13

Facilities 14

Interpretive Media 16

Interpretive Media Assets 17

Personal Services 19

Partnerships 22

Recommendations 25

Goals for Interpretive Programming 25

Research and Evaluation Needs 36

Staffing and Training Needs 37

Implementation Plan 38

Appendices 43

Appendix A: The Planning Team 43

Appendix B: Accessibility Guidelines 44

Foundation for Planning

National Park Service 1


Site Background

From1828through1867,FortUnionTradingPostwasthelargestandoneofthemostimportantfur-tradingpostsintheupperMissouriRiverregion.LocatedonthenorthernGreatPlainsneartheconfluenceoftheMissouriandYellowstonerivers,FortUnionwasestablishedin1828byJohnJacobAstor’sAmericanFurCompany.FortUnionwasanimportantfocalpointfortheAssiniboine,Cree,Crow,Hidatsa,Ojibwa,andBlackfeetConfederacytribesaswellastheMétiswhocametotradebisonhidesandotheranimalpeltsforEuro-Americangoods.For39yearsFortUniontradingpostwasacenterofpeacefuleconomicandsocialexchangebetweenPlainsIndiansandEuro-Americanculture.

Enabling Legislation

EachunitoftheNationalParkSystemiscreatedbyCongressandthePresidentoftheUnitedStates.Allparkplanningflowsfromthemissionarticulatedinthepark’senablinglegislation.TheenablinglegislationisthespecificpieceoflegislationthroughwhichCongresscreatedtheparkanddeclareditsintentforthepark.Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site’s interpretive services and program must support this mission andhelpthepublicunderstandthesignificanceofthepark.

PublicLaw89-458(80Stat.211),datedJune20,1966,authorizedtheestablishmentofFortUnionTradingPostNationalHistoricSite“…tocommemoratethesignificantroleplayedbyFortUnionasafurtradingpostontheupperMissouriRiver.”

From 1828 through 1867, Fort Union Trading Post was a focal point for trade with northern Plains Indian tribes.

2 Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site Long-Range Interpretive Plan


Mission, Purpose and Significance

National Park Service Mission

Amissionstatementisavisionforthefutureandarticulates,inbroadterms,theideas that the NPS strives to achieve.

The National Park Service mission is to preserve unimpaired natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The National Park Service cooperateswithpartnerstoextendthebenefitsofnaturalandculturalresourceconservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

Park Purpose

Parkpurposestatementsdescribewhyanareawassetasideandwhatspecificpurposes exist for a park, and are derived from legislation, legislative history, publicparticipation,andpublicrulemaking.

DuringtheMarch2010CriticalOperationsworkshop,parkstaffdevelopedthefollowing purpose statement:

The purpose of Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site is to preserve the resources, and to commemorate and interpret the significant role of Fort Union as afurtradingpostontheUpperMissouriRiver.

Fort Union Trading Post as seen from Bodmer Overlook



Park Significance

StatementsofsignificancedescribeaNationalParkSystemunit’sdistinctivenatural, cultural, and recreational resources and values that are the factual rationale for national recognition of the site.

Accordingtothedraft2003ResourceManagementPlan,FortUnionTradingPostNational Historic Site is significant for the following reasons:

•FortUnionisthebestrepresentationoftheestablishmentandmaintenanceofapermanentpostontheupperMissouriRiverthatcapitalizedonalong-establishedAmericanIndiantradenetworks.

•FortUnionissignificantforitscontributionstothehistory,exploration,transportation, economics, and culture of the American frontier on the upper MissouriRiverduringtheearlyandmiddlenineteenthcentury.

•FortUnion’sarcheological,archival,anddocumentaryresourcesofferacomprehensiverecordofthephysicalsite,providingabundantinterpretiveandeducational opportunities.

•FortUnionepitomizesthemutuallyadvantageousinteractionofAmericanIndianandEuro-Americanculturesassociatedwiththefur-tradingempireontheupperMissouriRiverregionoftheAmericanfrontier.

•FortUnion’slandscaperetainsamoderatedegreeofvisualintegrityandprovides a sense of place for understanding the interaction of American Indianswithinthenaturalecosystemandthesubsequentindustrialdevelopment of the American West.

Bone china plate fragments of British manufacture, found on-site, reveal the type of dinnerware used at Fort Union.



Interpretive Themes

Interpretivethemescapturetheessence of Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site’s significance. They include the most important stories and represent core messages that every visitor should have the opportunity to experience.

While interpretation of any site could touch upon many stories, focused themes increase effectiveness. When well-conceived, themes explore the meanings behind the facts. They open minds to new ideas and perhaps to multiple points of view. When linked to commonly held emotions or universal human experiences, themes encourage visitors to see themselves in Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site’s stories and discover personal relevance.

DuringtheDecember2009Foundation workshop participants identified the stories and discussion topics associated with the four primary interpretive topics listed in the1978GeneralManagementPlan.Four primary themes were drafted andusedduringtheMarch2010Recommendationsworkshop.

A. Located at the heart of the upper Missouri fur trade network, Fort Union Trading Post influenced culture and economics on this continent and abroad.

• The significance of the fur trade in the history of exploration, transportation, settlement, and frontier economics

• Whyhere?MissouriandYellowstone–majorwaterroutes;confluence;theriversare connected to St. Louis and provided transportation to the RockyMountains

• Dominance of the American Fur Company

• Catlin,Bodmer,Kurz,PrinceMaximilian,Audubon,SittingBull-whydidtheycometoFortUnion?

• Firststeamboatcomesin1832

• Whyfurtrade?Influenceofeconomics on this continent and abroad

• Who were the traders? How did they live?

• French British fur trade

• Prehistoric trading network

• WestwardExpansion,DoctrineofDiscovery,andManifestDestiny

• Louisiana Purchase and Jefferson’svisionofnorthwestpassage

• Growth, development, and decline of a major international industry

• Smallpoxepidemicin1837

• MilitarypresenceatFortUnion,1864-1865

• Transition from Fort Union to Fort Buford

• Mondaktownsite

• EuropeansoftodayknowmoreabouttheAmericanWestbecauseofEuro-Americanexplorers/artists/naturalistswhovisited

B. Daily life at Fort Union Trading Post reflects the social and economic relationship between and within American Indian and Euro-American cultures associated with the 19th century fur-trading empire.

• McKenzie-Culbertson-Denig:The3ManagersofFortUnion

• Larpenteur

• Competingfurtradecompanies



• Trade value

–Perception–AmericanIndianversusEuro-Americantraders

–Uniform–trade

–Valuesense

• Variouslifestylesandthesocialhierarchy within the Post: Bourgeois, clerks, traders, craftsmen, hunters, interpreters, and workmen

• Craftsmen:blacksmith,gunsmith,tinsmith,carpenter,boatbuilder,plus a variety of other crafts

–LouisLettelier-example

–Theirimportance

–Background

• Commodityexchange

• Volumeoffurtrade

• Languages spoken at Fort Union

–4differentEuro-American(English,Spanish,French,German)

–9differentAmericanIndian

• Trade operation: exchange of goods and the handling of furs

• Sustenanceandsurvival–hunting,gathering, trading, importing, diet, grooming, recreation

• Whiskey trade

• Family and employees at Fort Unionandthoseleft“backEast”

• AmericanIndianandEuropeaninter-marriage

• Why were there so many French Canadians?

• The impact of disease

• Medicine–AmericanIndianandEuro-American

• Who kept law and order?

• Religiousandburialcustoms

• Archeological discoveries

• ReconstructionofFortUnion

• DeschampsMassacreof1836

• Fort Union provided a perception of a safe haven with facilities and amenitiesthatencouragedbothAmericanIndiansandEuropeansto come

• FortUnionwasadaptableasconditionschanged–e.g.beavertobuffalo,alcohol,keelboatstosteamboats,andchangesinweaponry.

• Rivernavigationcausedopportunitiesforinter-relationshipsthatbroughtculturestogether–intermarriagesandtreaties.

C. The northern Plains Indian tribes were affected materially, socially, and ecologically as a result of the fur trade.

• EverydaylifeofAmericanIndianpeopleintheareabeforeFortUnion and after Fort Union closed

• HowdidtheAmericanIndianscontributetoFortUnion’scommercial success?

• 1807-1865whenbothEuro-AmericanandAmericanIndiancultureswereinbalanceontheUpperMissouriandwhenFortUnionbeganin1828

• Distinct and diverse American Indianculturesdevelopedonthenorthern Plains from prehistoric throughmoderntime.Eachofthese cultures was impacted economically, socially, and physicallybythefurtradeinandaround Fort Union.

• Transition from Fort Union to Fort Buford



• Pre-FortUniontradeinteractions

• Prosandconsoftheinfluencesoffurtradeonthelifewaysoftribes

• HowdoAmericanIndiantribesperceive the historic fur trade now in retrospect?

• Inter-tribaldynamics:howdidtribalrelationsevolve?

• The Light

• WhatweretheAmericanIndians’personal feelings, experiences, perceptions, and reactions to rapid cultural change?

• How did the fur trade and the goods of the fur trade affect the livesofAmericanIndianwomen?

• HowdidtheAmericanIndiansperceive,feelabout,thechangesoccurring to their native environment?

• Crow-Flies-HighVillage

• Archeological discoveries

D. The natural resources including navigable rivers, mature cotton-wood forests, open grasslands, and abundant fur-bearing mammals helped make Fort Union one of the most successful trading posts on the upper Missouri River.

• ConfluenceofMissouri/YellowstonehadamajorroleinAmericanIndiantradeinthearea;LewisandClarkstory–identifiedlocationasstrategicpointtobuilda fort

• EuropeanandAmericanexplorers, artists, and adventurers documented the area for scientific/historicreasonswhileothers came for the fur trade, economic reasons, and military reconnaissance

• FortUnionbroughtanawarenessofthisplaceandareatoEasternU.S.andEuropesparkinglatersettlement and expanding the frontier

• Destination and source for steam-boats;designedforshallowdraftofMissouri,the“YellowStone”wasthefirststeamboatuptherivertoFortUnionin1832

• Deforestationofriverbottomstopowersteamboats;Missouriwasseasonalriver–tradewasinfluencedbyseason

• Createdstabilityandstartingpointfor explorers

• Beaverandbisoninabundance

• Maturecottonwoodforestashabitat,buildingmaterials,andwinterrefugefortribalbands

• Grassland range

• Wide open spaces as cultural draw then and now

• Migratorycorridorforbirdsandmammals

• Wetlandsas‘waterfowlbreedingfactory’

• Hunting as recreation and suste-nance

• Somevertebratespecies,histori-cally present, are now extirpated, threatened, endangered, or extinct

• ThelandscapeandhabitatoftheMissouriRiveranditssurround-ing environs has undergone major changes, yet retains a moderate amount of visual integrity that provides visitors with an experi-enceof“steppingbackintime.”

• Overharvesting played a key role inthedeclineofthebuffalo



Management Goals

2008-2012 Strategic Plans:

InaccordancewiththeGovernmentPerformanceandResultsAct(GPRA)of1993,FortUnionTradingPostNational Historic Site developed a strategic plan and management goals through2012.Thefollowinggoalsaddress recreation, interpretation, and visitor experiences.

The outcomes, or how well the park isachievingitsvisitor-relatedgoals,are measured annually at every unit of the National Park System through surveyformsthataredistributedtovisitorsateachNPSunit.Visitorssendtheir completed survey forms to the UniversityofIdahowherethedataiscollected and compiled for each NPS unit.Thesurveyresultsreflectvisitoropinionabouteachpark’sfacilities,services and recreational opportuni-ties, as well as measures visitor un-derstanding and appreciation of each NPS unit’s significance.

Mission Goal IIa1:

BySeptember30,2012,95%ofvisi-tors to Fort Union Trading Post Na-tional Historic Site are satisfied with appropriate park facilities, services, and recreational opportunities.

The actual percentages for visitor satisfaction(2008-95%and2009–100%)reflectaconsistencyofserviceand satisfaction.

Mission Goal IIb1:

BySeptember30,2012,80%ofFort Union Trading Post National Historic Site visitors understand the significance of the park.

Parkstaffmembersbelievethepercentages(2008–73%and2009–60%)forvisitorunderstandingare

lowbecausevisitorsdonotseemtounderstandthequestionwhenaskedwhat the significance of the site is. The park significance list used to determine visitor understanding was lastupdatedin2004.Thestatementsare similar to, yet not the same as, the significance statements used to developthisLong-RangeInterpretivePlan. One statement out of five relates to the fur trade. The other statements emphasizethecomplementaryrelationshipbetweenAmericanIndiansandEuro-Americans,thedevelopment of the west, and the preservation of history. To effectively evaluate if interpretive services are affecting visitor understanding of the resource, the visitor survey significancestatementsshouldbetteralign with the park significance statements.

Flint knapped stone arrowheads were common on the northern plains before trading posts, such as Fort Union, made metal manufactured items available.



Desired Visitor Experiences

Desiredvisitorexperiencesdescribewhat physical, intellectual, and emo-tionalexperiencesshouldbeavailablefor visitors to Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site. These experi-enceswillbeavailabletothedegreepossibletovisitorsofallabilities,including those with visual, auditory, mobility,orcognitiveimpairments.

• VisitorstoFortUnionTradingPost National Historic Site will have opportunities to:

• Speak with someone in period dresstolearnaboutlifeatFortUnion.

• Explorethetradingposttolearnaboutthehistoryoftheareaandthe significance and meanings associated with the fort.

• Purchasequalitymerchandiseincludingbooksandreplicasofhistoric trade goods.

• Discoverthelandscape–views,wildlife,fort,andriver–thesameway and in the same condition to theextentpossiblethatLewisandClark,Catlin,andBodmerdid.

• Experiencethesounds(orquiet)and open spaces surrounding theFort,asitwouldhavebeenexperienced historically.

• Experiencethesights,sounds,smells, and atmosphere of a working trading post at the height of its importance.

• Hike to the Bodmer Overlook.

• Engageinhands-onlearningopportunities related to trading post activities such as blacksmithing,cooking,tanninghides, making arrowheads, and constructing tipis.

• Have an opportunity to interact withupperMissouritribes.

• Listen to storytellers.

• Seethemigrationofhugeflocksofbirdsandimaginethesightsandsoundsofbuffaloherdsrunningacross the prairie.

• Experiencethefurtradeerafortfrom the river.

• Experiencethesightsofthenightskyasitwouldhavebeenexperi-encedhistorically,unimpairedbylight pollution.

Visitors will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning opportunities such as raising a tipi and blacksmithing.



Park Visitors

Thisisabroaddescriptionofparkvisitorsandtheirneeds–includingcurrent and potential visitors. “Visitor”describesanyonewhouses a park’s interpretation and education services whether in personor“virtually”throughdigitaltechnologies.

Variousvisitorsurveys—includingannualsurveysandonein-depthsurvey—havebeencompletedforFortUnion Trading Post National Historic Site. These surveys help the park judge the effectiveness of their interpre-tive programs as well as track visitor statistics. Two types of visitor profiles are presented here: annual visitation figuresandresultsfroma2007VisitorSurvey Project survey.

Approximately14,000visitorscometo Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site annually. This figure isbasedonafive-yearaverageofmonthlypublicusedatatakenduringcalendaryears2005-2009.Therewasa29%increaseinvisitationfrom2008(12,077)to2009(15,632).

Juneisthepeakvisitationmonth,becausemanypeoplecomefortheannualRendezvous.MorethantwiceasmanypeoplecomeinJunethanJulyorAugust.December,January,andFebruaryreportthelowestvisitation.Ninety-fivepercentofthevisitationoccursbetweenMayandSeptember.

A comprehensive visitor survey was conductedatFortUnionfromJune15–July13,2007bytheParkStudiesUnitoftheUniversityofIdaho.Surveyquestionshelpeddeterminethedemographicmake-upofparkvisitors, as well as what they did or didnotlikeabouttheirexperience.The survey also addressed economic impacts to the region from park visitation. The survey was taken during the peak visitor season which

alsoincludedtheannualRendezvousspecial event. The results were divided to indicate responses from the general publicandthoseattendingthespecialevent.Ofthe629questionnairesdistributedtovisitors,475werereturnedfora75.4%responserate.Some results noted in the survey’s summary concluded that:

• 68%ofthegeneralvisitorgroupswere family groups

• The majority of United States visi-tors were from North Dakota and Montana

• Internationalvisitorswerelessthan1%ofthetotalvisitation

• 51%ofthegeneralvisitorswereages51-70years

• 14%ofthegeneralvisitorswere15yearsoryounger

• Mostgeneralvisitors(80%)werevisiting the park for the first time

• MostRendezvousvisitors(59%)had visited two or more times

• Mostusedinterpretiveservicesbygeneralvisitorsweremuseumexhibits(91%),parkbrochure(77%),andTradeHouse(77%)

During the next ten years park staff will focus on education and youth outreach.



• MostusedinterpretiveservicesbyRendezvousvisitorswererest-rooms(71%),TradeHouse(64%),andmuseumexhibits(60%)

• Mostimportantservicesforgeneral visitors were restrooms (88%),TradeHouse(85%),andmuseumexhibits(85%)

• MostimportantservicesforRen-dezvousvisitorswererestrooms(87%),livinghistoryinterpreta-tion(83%),andinformationdeskassistance(81%)

DuringtheDecember2009Foundation workshop the following groups were identified as currently visitingFortUnionbasedonparticular interests and needs.

Visitor Groups

• Recreationvisitors

• Education

• First-timevisitors

• Returningvisitors

• Organizedgroupsandtours

• Researchers/media

• Off-sitevisits

• Partners

• Accidental tourists

DuringthelifetimeofthisLong-RangeInterpretivePlan,parkstaffwillfocus on providing increased interpre-tiveopportunitiesforfirst-timeandreturning visitors, as well as education groups and park partners.

Northern Plains tribes preferred muskets and rifles and did not often trade for small arms, such as the pepperbox pistol which was preferred by the Euro-Americans working at Fort Union.



Issues and Challenges Affecting Interpretation

Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site has many assets upon whichtobuildaneffectiveinterpretiveprogram, including evocative and compelling stories, outstanding natural and cultural resources, ongoing research, and dedicated staffandsupporters.Italsofacesanumberofchallenges.Well-designedprogramscanbuildoninterpretivestrengths to help overcome these challenges.

• Technology has opened many new avenues to communicate with the publicaboutthepark.Challengesinclude keeping information fresh, current, and relevant.

• Responsibleenergyextractionisvital to our nation’s growth.

• Oil drilling rigs and production facilities have a physical presence on the landscape that does not complement the historic scenery. With good communication betweentheparkandtheoilindustry some negative impacts canbeminimized.

• Since rivers naturally meander it is normalfortheMissouriRivertomeander away from the front gate ofthefortwhereitonceflowed.RiverflowsarefurtherimpactedbyFortPeckDam,upstreamfromthe park. The river was the high-way system while the fort was ac-tive and is a key piece of the park story. As it meanders away from the fort it complicates telling that part of the park story to visitors.

• No major new archeological dis-coveriesareexpected,butsmallartifactscontinuetobeexposedatthe surface of the ground.

• The community desires additional reconstructionofbuildingstobettertelltheparkstory,toofferliving history interpretation, and to provide more working space for park staff and visitors. Additional reconstructions would provide additional space to display artifacts and indoor space for interpretive programs during inclement weather.

• Additional reconstructions would yieldsignificantnumbersofarcheologicalartifacts,butwoulddestroy insitu archeological re-sources.

• Accessibilityinsideandoutsideof the park presents a challenge. The walk from the parking area tothefortcanbeachallengeforthosewhoaremobilityimpaired.The area around the fort remains adirttrailwhichmaybedifficultfor some people to traverse. Better communicationbetweenparkinglot and visitor center is needed toassistthosewhoaremobilityimpaired.

• TheRendezvousre-enactorsarevital to the park’s special event activities.Currentlythereisaloyaland aging group that supports parkactivities.Recruitmentofnewre-enactorswouldbebenefi-cialtobroadenthetellingofourpark story to more people.

• Food and accommodations are 10-25milesfromthepark.Somepeople might stay longer, if there wasanearbyplacetopurchaseameal.

• Social networking is a new phe-nomenon which the park has yet to take full advantage of. Whether it would increase visitation re-mainstobeseenbutitisafunc-tional way to tell the park story and draw interest to the site.


Trade Room

Existing Conditions


The following is a brief and general-ized description of visitor experiences and interpretive services that existed in FY2009. The purpose of this section is to provide a baseline assessment.

Information, Orientation, and Marketing

Marketing

Theparkinformsthepublicofupcoming events and special programs through news releases sent to area newspapers, radio stations, and television stations as well as publicserviceannouncements.

The park receives information requestsonadailybasisvialetters,phonecallsande-mailmessages.Mostrequestsareforbasicinformationabouttheparkand/or directions to the park. Brochure requestsaredecreasing,astheparkwebsitebecomesmorepopular.Aparkrackcardisdistributedtoareamotels.

Park partners, including the WillistonConventionandVisitorsBureau,theFortUnionCooperatingAssociation, and the Friends of Fort Union, promote the park through publications,paidadvertisinginmagazines,andtelevisionads.Thelocal newspapers, television and radiomediaoutlets,andcableTVprovider promote the park through PublicServiceAnnouncements,andcoverage of park events. This coverage servesbothtopromotetheeventandcover them as local news items.

The national parks in North Dakota are an important attraction for the state.ThestateofMontanaandNorthDakotadoahighqualityjobof promoting tourism for Fort Union and Fort Union also promotes their sites.

Signs

The park does not have a master sign plan. There is a need for a sign on ND Highway2justnorthofthepark,fortravelers coming from the east. The North Dakota Highway Department has resisted placing a sign in this location.

Website

Fort Union Trading Post National HistoricSite’swebsite(http://www.nps.gov/fous)islinkedtotheNPSwebsite.Thewebsitetakesonparticular importance for Fort Union due to its rather remote geographic location.Itcreatesinterpretiveopportunities for people who will never have an opportunity for a tangiblevisittothepark.

Virtualvisitorsaccessthewebsitetolearnaboutparkhistory,interpretiveprograms, operating hours, and to find directions to the park. Four different QuickTime movies are availableontheparkwebsiteandin the visitor center. The programs includetheoverviewvideo,MusicofFort Union, a trade house scene, and abuffalorobetanningdemonstration.There is a link to five different videocaststhatareavailabletodownload for no cost from the iTunes website.TheprogramsincludetheMusicofFortUnion,theconfluence,historic firearms, a trade house scene, and the overview video.

Theparkrecognizestheimportanceofthewebsiteasatooltoreach“armchair”visitors,longdistanceresearchers,andasapre-visitinformationopportunity.Interpretivestaffmembersworkcontinuallytoupgrade this medium and plan to develop additional programs.

Existing Conditions


Facilities

AccordingtotheFY2009ServicewideInterpretiveReport,43,648visitorswere contacted at four different locations within the park: Bourgeois House, Trade House, Blacksmith Shop andtheCarpenterShack.

Bourgeois House/Visitor Center

The Bourgeois House is the park’s visitor center. There is a museum featuringexhibitswithartifactsthatdescribelifeatFortUnionfrom1828to1867;aselectionofthreevideoprogramsthatareclosed-captioned;ahands-onfurexhibit;abookstore;athree-dimensionalmodelofthefort;restrooms; and an information desk.

The visitor center, park grounds, and thefortareopendailyMemorialDaythroughLaborDayfrom8:00a.m.to8:00p.m.CentralTimeandfrom9:00a.m.to5:30p.m.CentralTimeduringthe rest of the year. The park is closed onThanksgiving,December25,January1,MartinLutherKingDay,and Presidents Day.

Trade House

The reconstructed trade house is staffedseasonallybyaparkrangerdressedasafurtraderofthe1850s.The reception room is furnished to reflectthe1850seraandthetraderoom is stocked with historic replicas of the goods sold during the post’s operation.Visitorsmaypurchasecertain replica items. During special

Existing Conditions

Located inside the Fort walls, the Bourgeois House is the park’s visitor center.


Existing Conditions

events the clerk’s office is used for interpretive programs.

ThetradehouseisopenMemorialDaythroughLaborDay9:45a.m.to5:45p.m.CentralTimeandinMayandSeptemberasstaffingallows.

The Fort

Between1985and1991,elementsofthe fort were reconstructed with an emphasison,butnotexclusivelytoreflectthe1851timeperiod.Inaddi-tiontotheTradeHouse,ablacksmithshop, carpenter shack, hunter shed, employeequarters,andastoragerangewouldhavebeenhistoricallylocated within the fort. The stor-age range housed a company store, storage room, meat locker, and a fur room.Theseandotherfortbuildingsarerepresentedbywoodentimbersthat indicate their location. At certain timestipismayhavebeensetupinsidethe fort.

TheOfficialParkMapandGuide,aself-guidedtourpublication(MapandGuidetoFortUnionTradingPost),andwaysideexhibitpanelsdescribe

the reconstructed structures and infrastructure that supported fort life from1828to1867.Duringspecialevents and some summer weekends, theblacksmithshop,carpentershack,huntershack,andatipimaybesetupand staffed.

Trails

MissouriRiverOverlookTrailisapartially paved spur of the proposed LewisandClarkLegacyTrail.Visitorscan walk a few hundred feet from the fortandcrossthefloodplaintoaccesstheMissouriRiver.TheLegacyTrailwasintendedtogofromtheconflu-encetoFortUnion,butneverwasfullyestablished.

Bodmer Overlook Trail is located north of the fort across the highway and the railroad tracks. The approxi-matelyone-mile,one-waywalkgoesthroughtheghosttownofMondak,across the mixed grass prairie to the locationnearwhereKarlBodmerpainted“AssiniboineatFortUnion”in1833.

Bothtrailsaregreatforbirdwatching.



Interpretive Media

Audiovisual Presentation

Athree-minuteoverviewvideoisavailableintheBourgeoisHouse.Thevideowasproducedin1987byHarpersFerryCenter.Thecontentis shallow and does not capture the site’sgreatermeanings.InFY2009,over14,000visitorswatchedthevideo. The program has closed captioning.Theaudioscripthasbeenwritten,butithasnotbeenmadeavailabletovisitors.Theparkdoeshave assisted listening devices. Due to the location of the video monitor only five or six visitors may watch the program at a time. Because visitation is modest at any one time, most small groups(familiesandindividuals)havethe opportunity to see it.

Fivedifferentvideocasts/QuickTimemoviesareavailabletodownloadfor free on iTunes and on the park website.TheprogramsincludetheMusicofFortUnion,theconfluence,historic firearms, a trade house scene, abuffalorobetanningdemonstration,and the overview video.

From2007-2009,RussellLarsonfromKXMD-TV,DavidSwensonof

MakocheRecording,andtheparkstaff produced the videocasts. The park is working to get the programs closed captioned. The programs are notaudio-described.

Publications

OfficialParkMapandGuide(2007)–fullcolorbrochureproducedbytheNPS

Site Bulletins FortUnionSocialLife(2004) FortUnion’sArtists(2008) TheMétis(2008) TheAssiniboine(2004) FortUnion’sTradeHouse(2004)RiverTransportation(2004) TheBourgeois(2010)

Booklet BodmerOverlookTrailGuide(2005)–Fourbriefdescriptionsofwhatmaycurrentlybeseenalongthetrailandat the overlook. There is also a pencil drawing indicating the route from the trailhead to the overlook.

BuffaloHideTipi(2003)–Informa-tionalbookletdescribingwhatlifewaslikeinabuffalohidetipi.Thebookletis a companion piece to a historically furnished tipi.

MapandGuidetoFortUnionTradingPost(2004)–Numberedguide,producedbytheFortUnionAssociation,thatdescribesthestructures at the trading post. There arenocorrespondingnumbersonthebuildingsorintheareatoindicatewhichsitesarebeingreferencedintheguide.

Bulletin Boards

Theparkdoesnothaveanybulletinboards.Aletteredboardislocatedbehindthevisitorcenterdesktolistspecial events and daily activities offeredduringRendezvous.

Existing Conditions

The location of the monitor limits the number of visitors who can watch the overview video.


Existing Conditions

Wayside Exhibits

Fourteenwaysideexhibitpanelsarelocated around Fort Union. Originally installedin1988,theexhibitpanelswerereplacedin2004.Mostofthepanelsdescribeanhistoricsettingorstructure.Twoexhibitpanelsarelocated at Bodmer Overlook. One of thepanelsdescribestheprairieandthe natural setting.

The content and images of the way-sideexhibitpanelsarecurrentandaccurate. When the panels have faded due to exposure to sunlight and weather conditions, they are replaced.

Exhibits

TworoomsonthefirstflooroftheBourgeois House contain a series of exhibitsdescribinglifeatFortUnionfrom1828to1867.TheexhibitswereproducedbyHarpersFerryCenterin1988andinstalledin1989.Theexhib-itsfeatureartifacts,maps,hands-ondisplays, and historic photos. One exhibitinsidehasdevelopedacrackand the panels have started to show wear.Afewoftheexhibitshavebeenreplacedtwicesince1995.Thedateofthebeginningofthepostonthetime-lineexhibitneedstobecorrected.

Thereisarotatingexhibitthatchang-esbi-annuallyintheBourgeoisHousethat features resources from the park archeology collection, and inter-pretstherelationshipbetweenwhatwas found archeologically and what is recorded in written history. The exhibitdisplaysitemsandtellsstoriesfrom the museum collection, and is designedbythecurator.ThereisalsoarotatingexhibitintheBourgeoisHouseexhibitroomthatcurrentlyinterprets the Deschamps Family and their demise at Fort Union.

Historic Furnishings

In1993,aHistoricFurnishingsPlan

(HFP)forthetradehousewascom-pletedbyHarpersFerryCenter.Theplan recommended that the trade houseclerk’sofficebefurnishedbasedonthe1851RudolfKurzdraw-ingsofthemeetingbetweenEdwardDenigandCreechiefleToutPiqué.Thereceptionroomisbasedonde-scriptionsinKurz’sJournal.

Based on the direction of the HFP, the furnishings in the trade house werepurchasedbytheFriendsofFortUnion and the Fort Union Association andinstalledin2000byparkstaffus-ing various vendors to construct furni-ture and provide animal mounts.

Junior Ranger/Junior Trader

FortUnionTradingPostcreateda“Ju-niorTrader”JuniorRangerprogram.ChildrenareinvitedtocompletetheJuniorTraderbookletde-signed for ages 8-12.Thechildgoes through the museum, reads the court-yard wayside exhibitpanels,and goes to the Trade House. A badgeispre-sented upon successful com-pletion of the bookletactivi-ties.InFY2009,47childrenparticipatedintheJuniorTraderprogram. The low participation rate is attributedtoinconsistencyamongthestaff to encourage participation.

Interpretive Media Assets

Mediaassetsincludeotherparkre-sourcesavailabletointerpretationthatsupport the design of personal servic-es programs or interpretive media.

Exhibits feature artifacts, maps, and historic photos.


Artifact Collection

The history and archeology collec-tions contain items representing many aspectsofhumanactivityandplant/animal communities at Fort Union from prehistoric times through the turn-of-thecentury.Archeologicalobjectsrepresentingthefurtradeincludebeadsandmanyothertradegoods,tools,foodandbeveragecontainers, recreational and other personalobjects,animalbone,andbuildingmaterials.

Examplesofartifactswithparticularinterpretive potential include:

• Projectilepointsofstone,boneand metal

• Tradebeadsofglass,shell,boneand metal

• Completeorpartialbottlesoncecontainingbitters,wine,ale,toiletries or food

• Inkwells

• Ceramicgorgets

• Bones of animals, now extinct or extirpated

• Blacksmith’s tools and products

• Dominoes, dice, and other game pieces

• PipesofclaycommontoEuro-American cultures and pipes of stonecommontoPlainsIndiantribes

• Ceramicdinnerware

• Children’stoys(marbles,dollpieces)

• Artifacts for grooming and hygiene

For commemorations of the local his-tory of Fort Union Trading Post NHS andnationalcelebrationsoftheNPS,

a small collection of administrative history artifacts and documents is also availableinthecollection.

Archives

Fifty linear feet of archives and manuscriptsareavailableasresearch reference materials for all aspects of interpretation. All original field records associated with the archeological excavations are included in this collection. Of particular interest are the archeologist’s field logs, which often reveal insights related to the discoveries, as well as comments and humorous anecdotes of life during the excavations. Photographs of various stages of excavation and uncoveringofsignificantobjectsalsohave interpretive value. For example, thediscoveryofthefloorboardsintheIndian/Artisan’sHouse,andtheuncovering of the Blacksmith Shop, whose location in the historic journals did not provide a precise location for the structure.

Thearchives/manuscriptcollectionscontain no original documents associ-ated with the fur trade.

Art Work

The collections contain a few origi-nalprintsofpaintingsbyartistswhovisitedFortUnionbetween1832and1853,specificallyGeorgeCatlin,KarlBodmer,JohnJamesAudubon,andJohnMixStanley.

Park Library

Theparklibrarycontainsmicro-films of original fur trade docu-mentsincluding93reelsofFurTradeDocumentsand22reelsofFt.Buforddocuments.Theparkhasbetween3500and4000books,bothmodernand historic, which document the fur trade era.

Existing Conditions

Found in on-site archeological digs, these artifacts shed light on different aspects of life at Fort Union.


Existing Conditions

Personal Services

Education

Frommid-MarchthroughApril2009and2010,oneseasonalinterpreterpresented25off-siteprogramsto1,252kindergartenersthroughsixthgrade students at schools located in nine different communities within a 150-mileradiusofthepark.FourthgradewastargetedbecauseNorthDakotaandMontanahistoryistaughtat that grade level. The programs were notcurriculum-based.

FurTradeLifeProgram:50gradeschoolstudentsfromSidney,MontanaorWilliston,NorthDakota,arebusedto the park the last Saturday in April. Students are separated into six groups of8-10eachandrotatethroughsixhands-onstationsincluding:buffalorobepreparation,atradetransaction,domesticarts,blacksmithing,tipiset-upandIndiangames.Eachstationlasts30minutesbeforerotatingtothenext. After participation the students are fed a ‘traditional meal’ that has beenpreparedoff-site.Theythentrav-elbybustotheConfluenceCenterforatouroftheCenterandFortBuford.Theprogramhasbeenofferedsince2006,andithasnotprovenassuccess-ful with the Williston schools as with the schools in Sidney. While presented to elementary school students, the programsarenotcurriculum-based.

Special Events and Community Programs

Fort Union RendezvousinJune–a19thcenturyfurtradefairincludesupto120re-enactorsinperioddress,adozentradersofperioditemsandfurs,andapproximately20demon-strators of period crafts and music. AmericanIndianparticipationinthis event is limited. The park’s most populareventaveraged5,000visitors

through2003.Therewasadeclineinattendancefrom2004-2008beforereboundingin2009toover4,000visitors. The addition of children’s ac-tivitiesonThursdayandnewflagpoleraisingcontributedtotheincreasedvisitation.

Rendezvous RuninJune–alocalareabanksponsorsthe11Kand5Kruns,a5Kwalk,and1milefurtradersrun/walk.

Indian Arts ShowcaseinAugust–commemorates Northern Plains Indianhistoryandculture,throughmusic, traditional crafts, and lectures bytribalhistoriansandeldersfromUpperMissouritribes.In2008and2009apaneldiscussionwaspresentedatWillistonStateCollegefocusedonthe19thcenturyPlainsIndians.Attendancewashigherin2008than2009duetothenotorietyofpanelmembers.

Fort Buford Encampment in August –FortUnionTradingPostandFortBuford staff support the event held at Fort Buford State Historic Site.

Tipi talks reveal what daily life was like for northern Plains Indians trading at Fort Union.


The encampment commemorates frontier military post that was active from1866to1895.The6thInfantryareare-enactorspresentamilitaryen-campment over the August weekend whichincludesdrillandblackpowderfiringdemonstrations.Initiallyatentcamp, more recently the reenactors havebeenhousedinthenewlyre-constructed(2004)infantrybarracks.Thebarracksisnowfullyfurnishedand provides an excellent stage for interpreting19thcenturymilitarylife.In2009,adutchovencook-offcom-petition and an evening western swing bandwereaddedtotheencampment.

Fort Union Living History Weekend inSeptember–re-enactorsportrayAmericanFurCompanyemployeesandAmericanIndiansofFortUnionTrading Post. Primarily this is a work weekend and encampment for the FortUnionMuzzleLoaders.TheMuzzleLoadersconstructanitemtobeusedininterpretationbyfortpersonnel. Projects have included the two sheds on the interior of the walls, abuffalorobepress,asmallerscrewpress,asmallscaleMackinawBoat,andanumberoffurnishings.

Last Bell tours–Staffandre-enactorsstagea19thcenturyeventthroughacandlelighttour.Thetourstopsat4-5stations where a small portion of the story is told.

Fort Buford Cemetery WalkinOctober–Aghosttourbrings“tolife”someofthedeadtotelltheirstories.Researchindicates that some people originally buriedatFortUnionmayhavebeenre-interredatFortBuford.

Engages ChristmasinDecember–TheMuzzleLoaders(re-enactorgroup)live and interpret life at a fur trad-ing post during the winter the first weekendinDecember.Coffee,cider,pemmican,andbiscuitsareofferedto visitors who attend the weekend event.Currentlytheeventhasbecomearecreationalexperienceforthere-enactors with little visitation.

American Indian Youth Partnership Program –30representativesfromtheHidatsa,Mandan,Assiniboine,andArikaratribesgavelanguageandcultural interpretive presentations to morethan150visitors.Threeseparatetwo-daysessionswereheldduringthesummersof2009and2010.

AccordingtotheFY2009Service-wideInterpretiveReport,114off-sitespeaking engagements were presented to17,926visitorsincludingserviceorganizations,businesses,churchgroups, and scout groups.

Personal Services Programs

The park’s interpretive program emphasizesinformalinterpretationthrough the use of period dress in the Trade House and NPS uniform at the Bourgeois House. Park staff foundthistobeamoreeffectivemethod to contact visitors rather than offering formal programs at a set time.FromMaythroughSeptemberperiod dress interpretation is offered

Existing Conditions

Special events, such as Living History Weekend, bring the trading post to life.


Existing Conditions

daily in the Trade House. Blacksmith demonstrations are offered on Saturdays, holidays, and during special events. As staffing allows, a hunter, carpenter, and clerk may also beportrayed.Demonstrationsfeatureblacksmithingandhistoricweaponsfiring.DuringRendezvousandIndianArts Showcase historic crafts are demonstrated.

Trails and Rails Program–Approximately15volunteersstaffedtravelingexhibits,gaveprograms,andansweredquestionstopeopleridingtheAmtrak“EmpireBuilder”trainthrough northwestern North Dakota andnortheasternMontana.In2009,54programsweredeliveredto16,080train riders.

Summer Series Ranger Talks–Parkstaff present a six program series ofone-hourprogramsattheJamesMemorialArtsCenterinWilliston,NorthDakotaortheMondakHeritageCenterinSidney,Montana.

Fort Union Symposium–ConductedatFortUnionin1990andagainin2000.This conference of fur trade enthusi-

asts consists of formal presentations byfurtradescholars,livinghistoryportrayals, tours of area historic sites, and vendors of material culture items, books,andart.

Elderhostel Program–Amultipledayprogramconductedforseniors(55+)highlighting area attractions with programs presented at several historic sites including the Fort Union and Fort Buford sites and the Fort Ber-tholdandFortPeckIndianReserva-tions. The program was only offered in2001and2002becausetheElder-hostelorganizerschangedthefocusofthe program.

Historic Weapons Program

Historic weapons demonstrations such as musket firing demonstrations, cannon firing demonstrations, and military living history programs are primarily offered as part of special event programs. They are conducted byparkstaffandvolunteersunderthesupervision of NPS certified historic weapons certified personnel accord-ing to NPS policies and guidelines.

All historic weapons programs, including musket firing demonstrations, must follow NPS policies and guidelines.


Staffing:

ChiefRanger,GS-025-11–HistoryInterpretation95%,LawEnforcement5%

ParkRanger,GS-025-9–HistoryInterpretation90%,Safety10%

4-5SeasonalParkRangers,GS-025-5–HistoryInterpretation100%

Curator,GS-1015-9–Collections90%,Interpretation10%

1-2SeasonalMuseumTechnicians,GS-1016-4/5–Collections95%,In-terpretation5%

Asubject-to-furloughGS-025-9ParkRangerpositionwasnotfilledwhentheincumbentleftthepositionattheconclusionoftheLewisandClarkBicentennial commemoration.

Partnerships

Partners

TheFriendsofFortUnion/FortBuford(TheFriends)–Anon-profitorganizationthatsupportsthemanagement of Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site and Fort Buford State Historic Site. The Friendsprovideanaverageof$12,000annually for guest speakers, materials, books,andprojectsthatassistwiththe interpretation, development, and reconstruction of the historic site. The Friends were a catalyst for the partial reconstruction of Fort Union Trading Post.

The Friends of Fort Union are the sponsors of the Fort Union Fellow-ship.$1000isawardedannuallytoaqualifiedresearchertoproduceanarticle or monograph related to Fort Union.

Fort Buford State Historic Site and Missouri-YellowstoneConfluenceInterpretiveCenterworkscooperatively with Fort Union staff in educational programs and specialevents;asrequestedinthe development of archeological and historical research proposals; presentation of the Fur Trade Life program; and conducts orientation and training for employees.

Fort Union Association

The Fort Union Association is the cooperating association for Fort Union Trading Post NHS. Sales items, includingbooks,tradeitems,music,prints, and postcards, address two primarysubjects:FurTradeoftheAmericanWestandUpperMissouriIndianTribes;aswellasthreesecond-arysubjects:LewisandClarkExpe-dition,19thcenturymilitaryhistoryof the area, and natural history and regional studies.

Existing Conditions

Buffalo hide moccasins, decorated in a Northern Plains geometric style, currently on display in the Bourgeois House.


Existing Conditions

Two sales outlets are located within the fort. The Bourgeois House outlet isopenyear-round,andtheTradeHouse is open seasonally. Trade items must replicate those identified in the clerk’sledgerlistsof1848-1851.

InFY2009annualsalestotaled$45,422.Saleshaveaveraged$49,203overthepast5years.Theparkreceives14%ofthesalesin percentage donation funding. The donations provide a Student ConservationAssociationinterntosupport interpretive services, funds the Fur Trade Life program, supports Kid’sDayduringRendezvous,printstwositebulletins,indexesmicrofilm,purchasesbooksfortheparklibrary,purchases living history clothing, and provides refreshments for Trails andRailstraining.Donationshavealsocontributedtotheconservationtreatment of artifacts in the museum collection.

Volunteer Program

AccordingtotheFY2009VolunteerReport,201volunteersprovided6,156hours of service for interpretation.

Over120volunteersprovidedliv-ing history interpretation during the Rendezvous.Frommid-Maythroughmid-September,15volunteerspro-vided58TrailstoRailsprogramsontheAmtrakEmpireBuildingtrain.VolunteerssupportspecialeventssuchastheIndianArtsShowcaseandLiving History Weekend and run the cart from the parking lot providing ac-cess during special events. A volunteer hashelpedwithspecialeventset-upandlibraryorganizationthepastthreeyears.

One volunteer assists the curator withcollectionsmanagementbyidentifyinginvertebratescapturedin the collections integrated pest management program. This volunteer alsoassistsbyphotographinganimal species to document species occurrence within the park. One totwoStudentConservationAssociation interns typically assist with collections management activities such as performing the annual inventory.

Located just inside the Bourgeois House, the Fort Union Association bookstore offers many different sales items.


Recommendations


Recommendations

Interpretiveplanningassessescurrentconditions and formulates recom-mendations that will provide direction and focus to achieve the desired future interpretiveprogram.Along-rangeinterpretiveplananalyzesallneedsand recommends a wide array of in-terpretive services, facilities, programs, and opportunities for partnerships to communicate the park’s purpose and significance in the most efficient and effective way.

TheGoalsforInterpretiveProgrammingaredesignedtorealizethevision,objectives,themes,andvisitorexperiencesdescribedintheFoundation for Planning section. The following principles will apply to all interpretation at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site:

• All interpretation will address physical and programmatic accessibility.

• Wherepossible,interpretationwillusereproductionobjects,documented personal stories, and other interpretive methods to bringthestoryaliveforvisitors.

• Wherepossible,theparkwillpartnerwithneighboringinstitutions to develop programs, media, and share research.

• The park will follow the standards of the National Park Service GraphicIdentityProgramassigns and interpretive media are upgraded.

• Interpretationwillincludeexamples and perspectives from diversepointsofview.Itwillrespond to diverse audiences, varying levels of interest, and different visit lengths.

• Wherepossible,“virtualvisitors”will have opportunities to view key park vistas and access to new re-search, studies, management plans, and historical information.

Goals for Interpretive Programming

Workshop participants identified goals to enhance the effectiveness of the interpretive services within Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site. These goals and associated actions are representative of many ideas generated during the workshop. Action items arelistedbeloweachgoal,andwereusedtocreatetheImplementationPlan located in the next section of this document. Over the next seven to ten years Fort Union Trading Post NHS will focus on the following goals:

Increase Community Outreach

Informingthelocalandsurroundingcommunitiesaboutparkactivitiesandspecial events is an opportunity to cre-ate goodwill with local residents. This canbeinexpensivelydonethroughcontinued use of the local media.

Other community outreach options include:

• Develop“VisitFortUnion”kitsanddistributetothenorthernPlainsIndiantribeswithhistoricconnections to Fort Union, schools,andcivicorganizations.

• Host annual community meetings.

• Continuetoparticipateincommunity events.

• Expand30-secondpublicserviceannouncements presented on cabletelevisionandintheaters.

• Continueroadsidebillboards(paidforbyFortUnionAssociation)in Williston, Sidney, and Watford City.

• Cultivatepresscontactsandincreasenumberofpressreleasessubmitted.

• Send announcements into NPS ParkTips.


• Writeandsubmitarticlestolocalmedia.

Improve Park Website

SinceFortUnionwasestablishedin1966,significantchangesindigi-taltechnology,inDOI/NPSwebstandards, and in social media have occurred. During the life of this plan, park staff will need to continually increase and improve their skills with the technology, monitor and update allweb-basedcontenttomeetthecurrent standard, and remain vigilant aboutwhatispostedviasocialmediasites.

Anever-increasingpercentageofparkvisitorsarewebuserswhovisitFort Union Trading Post National HistoricSite(www.nps.gov/fous)seekinginformation.Manyofthese“virtualvisitors”neveractuallycometothepark,buthavetheirneedsmetsolelythoughthewebsite.Thewebsiteshould highlight the opportunities andexperiencesthatareavailabletobothon-sitevisitorsandvirtualvisitors.

Specific recommendations include:

• Developaweb-basedexhibitofimportant artifacts and stories that isupdatedquarterly.ThisexhibitcouldalsobepostedonsocialmediasitessuchasFacebook.

• Post video segments highlighting special events.

• Developaweb-basedexhibitbasedonitemsinthecuratorialcollection that demonstrate the variety of distinct and diverse aspects of the fur trade. Photo-graphs of the items and accompa-nyingtextdescribewhattheitemis and how it is significant.

• Develop a virtual tour that depicts dailylifeattheFort(ThemeB)andpostonthepark’swebsite.

• Develop guidance on how to use social media.

• Develop and maintain social net-working sites.

• Provideparkstaffwiththeabilityto update Fort Union Association items and prices.

Develop and Provide Curriculum-Based Education Programs

DuringsummerFY2009andFY2010,students representing three northern PlainsIndiantribespresentedculturalandlanguagedemonstrations.Inthefuture,theparkwillslowlybegintoincreasethenumberoftribespresenting demonstrations and also begintoincorporatestate,tribal,andnational curriculum standards into the program. The ultimate goal is to haveninetribesandthreeEuropeanlanguage(Spanish,French,andGerman)classesparticipatinginacurriculum-basedprogram.Throughthe education program students will becomefullyimmersedinthefurtrade experience, and during the summer season represent the diverse roles, languages, and skills found at Fort Union Trading Post.

An effective park education program requiresadequatestaffforplanning,development, implementation, and assessment. The resources and themes of Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site offer great potential for the development of dynamic and pop-ular education program in partnership withareaschools,neighboringparks,historic sites, and affiliated areas.

Awell-designedandwell-runparkeducation program generally depends onestablishinganEducationCoor-dinatorposition.ThisrolehasbeenacollateraldutyassignmentfortheGS-025-09ParkRanger,buttobetrulyeffectiveitneedstobeafull-timeposi-tion. The primary role of the coordi-natorwillbetosecureresourcesto

Recommendations


Recommendations

facilitate the development and growth ofacurriculum-basedprogrambasedonnational,tribal,andstateeducationstandards.

Future growth of the park education program is primarily contingent upon hiringtheEducationCoordinator(seeStaffingsection).Thiswouldallowthepark to:

• Prepare an education plan that would provide overall direction for the education program. Target grades and schools will beidentifiedaswellasfundingsources for transportation and distancelearningequipment.

• Createateacheradvisorygrouptoadvise the park on the most useful ways to offer educational services to local schools and to develop curriculum-basededucationprograms.

• Conductteacherworkshopstoenableteacherstoparticipateinon-sitecurriculum-basedprograms.Teachersmayalsoberecruited to participate in the NorthDakota-approvedpeerteacher program.

• EstablishaTeacher-Ranger-Teach-er program to increase interpre-tiveopportunitieson-siteandintheclassroom.ATeacher-Ranger-Teacher participant could also help develop and implement the education plan.

• Develop history, communication, archeology,libraryscience,and education internships in cooperation with local community colleges.

• ForgradesK-12,developdistancelearningcurriculum-basedpro-grams and lesson plans, Teaching with Historic Places lesson plans, andTeachingwithMuseumCol-lections lesson plans. Special em-

phasisshouldbegiventothefurtrade,northernIndiancultures,and archeology.

• Develop a student workshop on the identification, analysis, and care of archeological artifacts that connects to science and history curricula.

• Developprogramsthatemphasizemath and science curricula includingbuildingofthefort;trading and pricing; putting up thetipi;constructingbullboat;plant identification and traditional uses,identifyingbones,andarcheological mapping.

• CollaboratewiththeEducationSpecialistatKnifeRiverIndianVillagestoplanandimplementaneducation program with that site.

• Host a video contest for high school students on a specific theme that support curriculum. Thebestvideoispostedontheparkwebsiteandisshowninthevisitor center.

• Developanon-site,live-inin-terpretive program, similar to one offered at Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site, where the interpretersandteachersrole-playfigures of the fur trade past to gain academic credit.

Specific recommendations include a focus on how the northern Plains Indiantribeswereaffectedmaterially,socially, and ecologically as a result ofthefurtrade(ThemeC);devel-opingacurriculum-basedtravelingtrunk; developing a secondary school workshoponquillworkandbeadingto demonstrate change in art forms over time; and develop a video pro-gram featuring interviews of north-ernPlainsIndianstalkingaboutthechanges to their way of life following the fur trade.


With a strong program and ties direct-lytolocal,state,tribal,andnationalcurriculum standards, more schools will see the value of using the park tohelpmeettheirneeds.Thiscanbeaccomplishedbyinvolvingeducatorsfrom area schools directly in the de-velopmentofbothgeneralandspe-cific activities and curriculum guides.

Emphasize the Fort Experience

Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site has four primary interpretive themes. During the planning process participants felt that the “daily life at Fort Union Trading PostreflectsthecomplexsocialandeconomicrelationshipbetweenandwithinAmericanIndianandEuro-Americanculturesassociatedwiththe19thcenturyfur-tradingempire”themeshouldbeemphasized.Working with the northern Plains Indianstribes,parkpartners,andlocal schools to provide visitors with opportunities to discover what daily lifewaslikeyear-roundatFortUnionTrading Post is a priority.

Specialeventshavebeentheprimaryways to reveal daily life at the fort. During the lifetime of this plan, the

park will expand interpretive services to include opportunities for visitors to discover the sights, sounds, and perhaps even smells associated with thefurtradeera.Serviceswillbeof-fered inside and outside of the fort. Whilemostpersonalserviceswillbeoffered during the peak summer visi-tor services, a winter experience will bedevelopedtoencouragelocalandrepeat visitors to come to the fort.

Theexperiencewillbuildontheperiod dress interpretation that is currently offered throughout the sum-merattheIndianTradeHouseandperiodically at the Blacksmith Shop. Futurevisitorswillbeabletohearsome of the twelve different languages and engage park staff, volunteers, and the students participating in the futurecurriculum-basededucationprograms,whowillberepresentingthe diverse community of Fort Union Trading Post.

Visitorsmayparticipateinguidedorself-guidedexperiences.Anexpandedpark film will provide opportunities for visitors to discover daily life dur-inginclementweatherandoff-peakseasons.

Site-specificrecommendationsinclude:

Indian Trade House

• Present program using northern PlainsIndianlanguages.

• Continuetoofferinformalinter-pretation in period dress and sell replica trade goods.

• Engagevisitorsinperiod-specificbarteringwhensellingreplicatrade goods.

• Createadisplayoftypicaltradegoods and prices.

• Revealthestoryofthemeatandgreasebricksthatweremadeby

Recommendations

Building on the success of the Rendezvous and other special events, the park will provide more year-round opportunities for visitors to discover what daily life was like.


Recommendations

theAssiniboineusingtheNakoabiJournalssothatvisitorswillbetterunderstand the amount of meat andgreaseconsumedbyasingleperson over time.

Main Gate

• Tell why there is a wicket trade window.

• Continueblackpowderprogramsand historic weapons programs emphasizingtheguntrade.

• Present a guided program or talk that explains how the river was the transportation artery during the furtradeera(ThemeA).

• Talkaboutthealcoholtrade.

Outside of the Fort

• DevelopanorthernPlainsIndiandisplay at the tipis. Researchthepossibilityofhav-ingliveanimalson-sitetofurtherdevelop the daily life experience.

• Constructamock-upsteamboatbytheriverthatvisitorscouldwalk through to discover life on asteamboatandhowitimpactedFort Union.

• Present an ecology walk interpret-ing the prairie; the restoration of prairie; reintroduction of native wildlife; defining features of the land;theinfluenceofthesenaturalelements on daily life at the fort (linkThemesBandD).

• Hostastargazingeventwithstorytelling at a campfire to connectvisitorsto19thcenturystargazingandnavigation.

• Identifymedicinalplantsfoundoutside of the fort. The plants couldbedriedandposterscouldbemade.Theusesoftheme-dicinalplantsshouldbestated.

Examplesofteas,tinctures,andpoulticescouldbeshown.Con-sultationwithAmericanIndiantribeswillbeimportanttoensurethat visitors and resources are protected.

• Plantgardenandintroduceera-appropriate foodways.

Bastion

Furnishthebastiontorevealitspur-poseandfunction(ThemesAandB).

Storage Range

Reconstructionofthestoragerange would provide increased opportunities for park staff to develop temporaryexhibitsandpresentformal programs as well as offer audiovisualprogramsyear-round.This recommendation would only beadoptedwithapprovalprovidedbyanewparkGeneralManagementPlan and completion of all necessary compliance. A policy waiver and

Furnishing the bastion will reveal more about daily life at the fort and the fur trade.


approvalbytheWASOAssociateforCulturalResourcesandtheNPSDirectorwouldalsoberequired.With a policy waiver and approval, a complete archeological excavation of thesitewouldberequired,includingspace and funding to treat, curate, and store the resulting major accession.

Thebuildinghistoricallyincludedacompany store, storage room, meat locker, and a fur storage room with press. The company store room and thestorageroomwouldbelargeenoughtohouseanexhibitareaandanaudiovisual/presentationroom.The park does not currently have a dedicated space for temporary exhibits,presentations,oreducationprograms.Afurpresscouldbeinstalled in the fur storage room and visitors could have the opportunity to experience that aspect of the trade.

Inside the Fort

• Use formal and informal talks as well as cultural and historical demonstrations to reveal trading operations and what a typical daymayhavebeenlikeincludingthe story of how the fort was constructed(materials,labor,cost,andmaintenance);howthenorthernPlainsIndianscontributedtothecommercialsuccess of the fort; and how the engages interacted with different tribalgroups.

• Provide a guided interpretive walk through the fort discussing the dailylifeoffortinhabitantsasifthe visitors were new traders.

• Continuetooffer“LastBell”toursthatre-enactaneventfromFortUnion’s past using drama and luminaries.

Carpenter Shed

• Display more historical replicas of

itemsbuiltbycarpentersandmoretools.

Blacksmith Shop

• Continueperioddressblack-smithing demonstrations.

Improve Personal Services

Interpretersarethebestinteractivetoolinenablingvisitorstoexperience,understand, appreciate, and make personal connections with the resource. Fort Union’s resources and themes present almost limitless opportunitiesforbothstandardandinnovative interpretive activities. As staffing levels permit, and in keeping within the parameters of the interpretive themes and visitor experience goals, volunteers, interns, andinterpretersshouldbegivenahigh degree of creative freedom to explore and experiment with new programs. This will help to maintain a creative edge and attract new and returning audiences.

Fort Union Trading Post National HistoricSitereflectsmorethananisolateddayinhistory.Itrepresentsacontinuum of events associated with thefurtrade.Interpretivetalks,illus-trated programs, and demonstrations willbeusedextensivelytoemphasizethe fort experience. Since personal services and interpretive programs are relatively easy to change, activities shouldbeevaluatedonaregularbasisto discontinue those that are not ef-fective, modify or improve those that requireit,andvalidatethosethataresuccessful.


• Expand“RangerTalks”duringthedayon-siteandexploreothervenues.

• Continuetooffer“RangerTalks”inSidneyandWilliston.Explore

Recommendations


Recommendations

thepossibilityofofferingthetalksinMinot.

• Offer a tour of the collection.

• Develop a project focus for each season such as creating a dugout canoe.

Host Special Events

All special events must relate to the purpose, significance, and themes and provide interpretive opportunities.

Forthe2016NPSCentennialparkstaffwillalsostrivetobeconsistentwithnationalandregionaleffortsbydeveloping appropriate interpretive exhibits,programs,andeventsatthepark as well as working with park partners to create interpretive oppor-tunitiesbeyondparkboundaries.

Facilitate the Development and Growth of Existing and Future Partnerships

Interpretivepartnershipsplayakey role in the delivery of essential programs and can also provide op-portunities for enhanced interpretive products and services. Partnerships are most effective when partners share a common goal and can leverage their efforts to accomplish the goal.


• Improveandincreasecommuni-cationbetweenparkandcurrentpartners.

• Identifyandcontactnearbytour-ism sites including North Dakota Groupparkstosharebrochuresand cross promote NPS passport program.

• Hold partner meetings at the park.

• Work with local community and partnerstoorganizebusservicetothe park.

• Distributeandmaintainbrochurestock at local hotels and restaurants.

• Participate in state tourism promotions.

• Identifypotentialnewpartnersincluding the oil and gas industries documenting areas of mutual in-terestand/orconcern.Determinewhatisthebenefittoparkandthepartnerorganization?Howwillthey support each other?

Strengthen Tribal Relations and Interpretive Connections

Parkstaffmembersarebeginningtodevelop stronger relationships with theninenorthernPlainsIndiantribesthat have the strongest connection to Fort Union Trading Post. The most successfulprogramtodateisacollab-orationbetweenthreenearbytribesandtheparkthatbringsstudentsto

Fort Union has an abundance of artifacts that can be used to reveal the stories of the fur trade era.


present cultural and language dem-onstrations during the peak summer season.

Specific recommendations to further strengthentribalrelationsandinter-pretive connections include:

• ContactGreatPlainsTribalAs-sociationandtheBureauofIndianAffairs.

• ContinuetoofferandexpandthenorthernPlainsIndiantribalcultural and language demonstra-tionstoemphasizethediversityofeachtribe.

• Develop a program that highlights theculture(language,artifacts,stories,traditions,foods)ofoneparticulartribeeachseasonormonth during the season.

• Offer interpretive training oppor-tunities.

• Offer career development training.

• Invitetribalrepresentativestohelpdevelop curricula and plan inter-pretive programs.

• Establishrelationshipswithlocaltribalgovernmentsandcouncils.

• Highlight successful programs accomplished in cooperation with eachtribe.

Increase Volunteer Program

TheVolunteers-In-Parks(VIP)pro-gramcouldbeenhancedwithmorededicated NPS supervision, providing VIPaccommodations,andanincreaseinVIPfunding.Greateroutreachtothose volunteers interested in the historictimeperiodrepresentedbytheparkcouldproducebenefitsinresearchandtheavailabilityofperioddress interpretation. An effort to en-hance and expand the participation of localvolunteerswouldbebeneficialas well.

The park has an active group of vol-unteersthatprovideTrailsandRailsprograms.TheCoordinatorrolehasbeenacollateraldutyassignmentfortheChiefRangerin2010,buttheprogramwillbemoreeffectivewhensupervisedbyanotheremployeeoralong-termseasonalposition.Theprimary role of the coordinator will betofacilitatetheretentionofcurrentvolunteers as well as the development and growth of this program.


• Prepare a volunteer plan to guide the development and enhance-ment of the volunteer program.

• Develop and implement a reten-tion strategy that will include cre-atingandmaintainingadatabase

Recommendations

Strengthening tribal relationships will help the park expand the number of north-ern Plains Indian cultural and language programs offered.


Recommendations

of volunteers; updating position descriptions and determining how many volunteers are needed for each task; communicating the length of assignment when recruitingvolunteerstominimizeturnover; working with partners to reduce competition for vol-unteers; and working with park staff to ensure that there is ad-equateoversightandsupportforvolunteers.Recognizevolunteerachievements.

• Develop a needs assessment for volunteers.Identifyingwhattaskspark staff need volunteer help with will provide the coordinator with the necessary information to successfully recruit. The assessment also would help identify potential individuals or groupskillsthatmightbeneeded.For example, youth groups may beidentifiedwhohaveaninterestandskillindevelopingweb-basedservices. High school students may get academic credit for volunteering.

• Provide more housing for volun-teers perhaps constructing a new trailer pad.

• Createavolunteerpamphlettorecruit new volunteers incorporat-ing appropriate elements from the servicewide volunteer recruiting brochure.

• Establishinternshipswithlocalcolleges.

Contact a Variety of Visitors

Mostinterpretiveservicesaredevel-opedforageneralaudience.Mostvisitors to Fort Union are coming with no specific needs or for any specific reasons.Recommendationsweredevelopedtobestmeettheneedsandopportunities for the following visitor groups to discover the significance of park resources:

Returning Visitors

Offerprogramsuniquetoaparticulartrade or aspect of daily life includ-ing snowshoeing, winter fur trapping skills, and tracking skills.

Encouragelocalfamiliestocontributeto an oral history project and share their stories at the end of summer.

First-time Visitors

• Establishonlineandon-sitetraillogssupportedwithvisitorobser-vations and experiences. Assess visualintrusionpotentialbeforeinstallinglogson-site.

• Develop virtual geocaching sites.

Recreation

• Offer guided hikes to Bodmer Overlook.

• Developariver-basedactivity.

• Offerbirdandwildlifeviewingprograms.

• Hostasummerbirdcountfocusedondiversityandrelativeabun-danceofbirds

• Offer photography classes and photo contest with yearly catego-ries including landscapes, fort, fur trade life, wildlife, weather, night, and winter.

• OfferartworkshopsemphasizingtheworkofBodmer,Catlin,andKurz.

• Enlistvisitorstobecomeengagesand have them participate in park projects.

• Host a series of workshops includ-ingmanyusesofthebison,me-dicinal plants, and traditional food preparation.


Organized Groups and Tours

• DevelopExploritas(Elderhostel)and Friend group service projects.

• Unite all three North Dakota parks via thematic programs (archeology,villagelife,wildlife,rivers).

Youth

• Develop a youth program where the participants make traditional snowshoes, snowshoe on the prairie in the winter; return in summer;andsketchandreflectonchangesobservedbetweensummer and winter visits.

• Develop Boy Scout and Girl Scout badgeprojectsandactivities.

• Encouragealocalscouttroopto“adopt-the-park.”

• ExpandFurTradeLifeprogramtoinclude more towns; more sta-tions; more programs; and mul-tiple age groups.

• Encouragelocalboyandgirlclubsto visit and then to present their version of the early fur trade.

• Increasethenumberoffamily-oriented programs in the daily scheduleincludingaJuniorTraderprogram.

Upgrade and Improve Site-Specific Interpretation

Crow Flies High Village Site

An archeology project recently uncov-eredtheareawhereCrowFliesHighVillagewaslocated.Seekingprotec-tion from the Lakota, the Hidatsa camped close to Fort Buford. Hidatsa descendants and elders live on the FortBertholdReservation.Thesiteoffers an interpretive opportunity for them to share their family stories aboutCrowFliesHighVillageandFortBuford.Aself-guidedprogramtotheareacouldbedevelopedusingthese recorded stories and history.

Missouri River Overlook

TheconnectionoftheupperMissouriRivertothefurtradeandFortUnionistoldprimarilywithinthefort.Itisequallyimportanttotellthestoryator on the river.


• Tell the story of Fort Buford and theConfluenceCenter.

• Usemapsoradigitalmedia-guid-ed program to explore changes to river and how these changes occurred.

• Conductplantstudiestoincludehistoric recording of naturalists andnorthernPlainsIndianinter-pretation.

• Conductacanoetourandwalkin-terpreting various perspectives on the river and the fort.

• UsethemapfromHidatsaRe-source Guide to indicate how the MissouriRiverconnectedthe

Recommendations

Offering more family-oriented programs will provide opportunities for local children to discover what life was like for northern Plains Indian children during the fur trade era.


Recommendations

tribesandthisareaasaglobaltrading center.

• Conductmorningriverbirdwalkduringspring/fallmigration.

• Develop a discovery walk using tools of period naturalist to docu-ment sights and experiences.

Bodmer Overlook

Located across the highway from Fort Union, Bodmer Overlook is reached bywalkingapproximatelyonemileacross the prairie. The town of Mondakislocatedalongthetrail.Dueto the remote location and limited staffavailableinterpretivemediamay

provide the strongest interpretive opportunities for visitors to discover whatinspiredKarlBodmer’spainting.


• Adding an audio component to theexistingwaysideexhibits.

• Developingadigitalmedia-guidedprogram.

• Revisingtheself-guidedbrochure.

• Developing a discovery walk using tools of period naturalist to docu-ment sights and experiences.

• Continueandexpandthenumberofranger-guidedwalks.

The upper Missouri River is an important part of the Fort Union and fur trade story.


Research and Evaluation Needs

Allinterpretiveprogramsandservicesmustbesolidlygroundedinresearch.Inordertofullyaccomplishtheactionsincludedinthisplanandsupporttheinterpretive themes, the park needs research on the following topics:

• Discerning the relative importance and trade activity of the six primary tribesthattradedatFortUnion:Arikara,Cree,Crow,Hidatsa,Ojibway,andBlackfeet.

OneofthepillarsoftheInterpretationandEducationRenaissanceisthe“CultureofEvaluation.”Evaluationalsoisimportantinthedevelopmentofspecificmediaandprogramsandwillbeplannedaspartofallsubstantialmediaprojectsandspecialprogramming.Front-endevaluationwillinformtheprojectteamaboutwhatvisitorsalreadyknowaboutthesitebeforetheycome,whatunderstandingstheymayhaveaboutthesignificanceofthesite,orhowtofulfillthevisitor’sinterest in visiting the site. This type of evaluative study is targeted so that practicalusecanbemadeoftheresults.Formativeevaluationsallowtheteamtogetfeedbackonprojectcontentbeforeitisfabricated.Knowinghowpotentialvisitors react to stories and information or even how the message is displayed can inform and enhance the media product and the overall visitor experience. Summativeevaluationsarevaluableinhelpingtodeterminetheeffectivenessoffinalmedia,facilities,andprograms–i.e.whethertheintendedthemesarebeingcommunicated, if people are actually making use of the information, or if visitor behaviorisaffected.Summativeevaluationmayevenbeanecessaryfollow-upforcertain sources of funding such as foundation grants.

• To improve programs and services, conduct informal types of evaluation such as asking individual visitors why they came to the park and what they expect from their visit.

Recommendations


Recommendations

Staffing and Training Needs

Inordertofulfillthevisionofthisplan,additionalfundingwillberequired.In-creasefundswillenabletheparktohireadditionalinterpretivestaff.StaffneededincludeaneducationspecialistwhowillalsoserveastheTrailsandRailscoordi-nator.TheseadditionalpositionswillallowtheChiefRangertofocusonothermanagementresponsibilitiesandtheParkRangertoprovidemorein-depthinter-pretiveservices.OperationsFormulationSystem(OFS)andProjectManagementInformationSystem(PMIS)fundingrequestswillneedtobesubmittedtoacquirethese additional positions.

ThefollowingtableshowsthecurrentandprojectedstaffingplanrequiredforfullimplementationoftherecommendationsinthisLong-RangeInterpretivePlan.

Training

A trained and motivated workforce is necessary for any successful park operation. Emphasisshouldbeplacedonaccountabilityforinterpretivestandardstobeapplied or adhered to when any park employees or volunteers present interpretive programs,designpublications,media,andexhibits,orpresentcurriculum-basededucationalprograms.EnsurethatallstaffmemberswhoprovideinterpretiveservicesareheldtotheappropriateNPSstandardsasdefinedintheInterpretiveDevelopmentProgramandbetrainedaccordingly.

Because volunteers are an important part of the workforce, interpretive staff membersrequireanappropriatelevelofvolunteersupervisorytraining.

FortUnionTradingPostNationalHistoricSiteinterpretivestaff(paidandvolunteer)willbenefitfromthefollowing:

• Increasedinterpretivetrainingopportunities

• CoachingandtrainingprovidedbytheNPSInterpretiveDevelopmentProgram registered park coach

• General skills training and expanded training opportunities to focus on specific skill sets needed

• Black powder training

• Training to determine and develop a structure for the interpretive program

• Culturalawarenessandsensitivitytraining

Title Grade Type Funded FTE Unfunded

Chief Ranger 11 PFT ONPS 1.0

Park Ranger 9 PFT ONPS 1.0

Park Ranger 5 Seasonal 1040 hours

ONPS 2.5

Education Specialist / Trails and Rails Coordinator

9 PFT ONPS 1.0


Implementation Plan

Themeasureofsuccessofanyplanistheextenttowhichitisimplemented.Initialimplementationofstrategiesneedstobebothrealisticandflexible.Becausefundingopportunitiesandprioritiesoftenchange,park management may need to adjust the implementation strategies to adapt to changing conditions. The parkinterpretivestaffandkeyparkpartnersshouldmeeteachyeartodraftanAnnualImplementationPlanforeachnewfiscalyearbasedonfundingopportunitiesandcoordinationwithotherprojects.Flexibilityisextremely important to allow park staff and partners the opportunity to try new and different interpretive ideas and make adjustments as necessary.

Duringthe2010Recommendationsworkshop,theparticipantsagreedtodividetheactionsnecessarytoimplementtherecommendationsintoshort-term(1-3years),mid-term(4-6years),andlong-term(7-10years)goals.Mostoftherecommendedactionsforcurriculum-basededucationprogramsandpersonalservicesaredependentonthehiringofnewstaff.Otheractionitemscanbeimplementedimmediately,within existing funding and staffing levels.

Emphasize the Fort Experience

Short-term

• Present skills demonstrations.

• Present historic weapons demonstrations.

• ExploreandresearchhowtoincludeanimalsinFortExperienceincludingBent’sOldFort National Historic Site example.

• Putammoboxesandmockriflesinbastionstobeginfurnishingsprogram.

• ContinuetoworkwiththreenorthernPlainsIndiantribestoofferculturalandlanguage demonstrations.

Mid-term

• Offer a summer project that visitors can participate in.

• Plant garden and include foodways in interpretive program.

• Increasebastionfurnishingsprogram.

• Extendtheamountoftimethatthebuffalohidetipiisdisplayed

• Expandtofourthenumberoftribesofferingculturalandlanguage demonstrations.

Long-term

• Develop winter fort experience.

• ExpandtoninethenumberoftribesandforthefirsttimeincludeFrench,German,and Spanish high school classes offering cultural and language demonstrations.

Recommendations


Recommendations

Strengthen Tribal Relations and Interpretive Connections

Short-term

• ContinuetoworkwithfivenorthernPlainsIndiantribestoofferculturalandlanguagedemonstrations.

• Offer interpretive training opportunities.

Mid-term

• Expandtofourthenumberoftribesofferingculturalandlanguagedemonstrations.

• Offer career development opportunities training.

• Invitetribalrepresentativestohelpdevelopcurriculaandplaninterpretiveprograms.

• Increaseinterpretivetrainingopportunities.

• Develop internships in cooperation with local community colleges.

• Establishrelationshipswithlocaltribalgovernmentsandcouncils.AresultoftheserelationshipsmaybetheestablishmentofacouncilofAmericanIndiansthatwouldadvisetheparkoninterpretiveservicesrelatedtoAmericanIndianhistoryandculture.

• Highlight successful programs accomplished in cooperation with all northern Plains Indianstribes.

Long-term

• Expandtoninethenumberoftribesofferingculturalandlanguagedemonstrations.

Increase Training Opportunities

Short-term

• Offer interpretive training opportunities.

• Offer skills training.

• Offerblackpowdertraining.

• Get training in framework development.

• Offer cultural awareness training.

• Build a structure for developing interpretive programs.

• CoachingandtrainingbytheNPSInterpretiveDevelopmentProgramregisteredparkcoach.

Mid-term

• Offer career development opportunities training.

• Expandtrainingopportunitiestofocusonspecificskillsetsneeded.


Recommendations

Improve Personal Services

Short-term

• Offer skills demonstrations.

• Offer historic weapons programs.

• Expand“RangerTalks”duringthedayon-siteandexploreothervenues.

• Continuetooffer“RangerTalks”inSidney.

• Offer natural history walks and tours at the river and Bodmer Overlook.

• Offer a tour of the collection.

• ContinuetoworkwiththreenorthernPlainsIndiantribestoofferculturalandlanguage demonstrations.

Mid-term

• Develop project focus for each season such as creating a dugout canoe.

• Createanarcheologyobjectofthemonthprogram.

• Expandtosixthenumberoftribesofferingculturalandlanguagedemonstrations.

Long-term

• ExpandtoninethenumberoftribesandforthefirsttineincludeFrench,German,and Spanish high school classes offering cultural and language demonstrations.

Develop and Provide Curriculum-Based Education Programs

Short-term

• Createastrongercurriculum-basedprogramwiththeculturalandlanguagedemonstrations.

• Develop an education plan.

• Requestfundingforaneducationspecialistposition.

• Identifytargetgradesandschools.

• Seek distance learning funding.

• Createateacheradvisorygroup.

• UseaTeacher-Ranger-Teacherprogramtoachieveshort-termrecommendations.

Mid-term

• Develop internships in cooperation with local community colleges.


Recommendations

• Recruitandhireaneducationspecialist.

• Develop partnerships within the local education community.

• Develop lesson plans.

• Host teacher workshops.

• Seek transportation funding.

Long-term

• Utilizepeerteacherprogram.

Contact a Variety of Visitors

On-going

• ContinueTrailsandRailsprogram.

• ContinuerelationshipwithWillistonConventionandVisitorsBureauandNorthDakota State Tourism Office.

• Continue30-secondpublicserviceannouncementsoncabletelevision.

Short-term

• Continueroadsidebillboards(paidforbyFortUnionAssociation)inWilliston,Sidney,andWatfordCity.

• Cultivatepresscontactsandincreasenumberofpressreleasessubmitted.

• Send announcements into NPS ParkTips.

• Writeandsubmitquarterlyarticlestolocalmedia.

Mid-term

• Writeandsubmitmonthlyarticlestolocalmedia.

• Develop guidance and expertise on how to use social media.


A beaver felt top hat and a stamped clay pipe were common items owned and used by Euro-American employees working at Fort Union Trading Post.

Appendices


Appendices

Appendix A: The Planning Team

National Park Service

Fort Union Trading Post NHS

Andy Banta, Superintendent

AudreyBarnhart,Curator

DennisBorud,MaintenanceWorker

RobertO.Guderjohn,Volunteer

RandyKane,ChiefRanger

TaraRichardson,Intern

RichardStenberg,SeasonalInterpretiveRanger

LorenYellowBird,ParkRanger

ToniDufficy,InterpretivePlanner(TeamCaptain)

EileenAndes,ChiefofInterpretation,TheodoreRooseveltNationalPark

MaureenMcGee-Ballinger,ChiefofInterpretationandCulturalResources,KnifeRiverIndianVillages,NHS

ValerieNaylor,Superintendent,TheodoreRooseveltNationalPark

Park Partners

RebeccaBrady,ThreeAffiliatedTribesTribalTourism

DoreenChaky,BoardMember,FortUnionAssociation

EarleDodd

MarigeneDodd

DougFlaten,BoardMember,FortUnionAssociation

LaurieFuruseth,BoardMember,FortUnionAssociation

JasonGermundson,formeremployee;assistantprincipalWilliston High School

RolfGjorven,Farmer

KarlaHauk,AdministrativeCounsel,TrentonIndianServiceArea

KenHegge

GregW.Hennessy,Chairman,FriendsofFortUnion

DavidHerring,BoardMember,FortUnionAssociation

ErikHolland,SiteSupervisor,FortBufordHistoricSiteandMissouri-YellowstoneConfluenceInterpretiveCenter

KimHolloway

MarkHolter,BoardMember,FortUnionAssociation

BeckyKallevig,Teacher,Sidney,Montana

FrankP.Keogh,BoardMember,FriendsofFortUnion

AmyKrueger,Director,WillistonConventionandVisitorsBureau

RussellLarson,VideoProduction,KXMDCBS11

RodLassey,BoardMember,FriendsofFortUnion

RoxanneLlewellyn,BoardMember,FortUnionAssociation

RobertMcGee-Ballinger

DonaldB.Miller

GeraldMiller

TonyMoran,Sr.,TribalOperations,TrentonIndianServiceArea

VernNeff,FormerMember,FortUnion-YellowstoneMissouriConferenceCommission

KarenPaetz-SittingCrow,TribalTourismDevelopmentandCurriculumSpecialist,ThreeAffiliatedTribesTribalTourism

ReynaL.Perez,Teacher,BrocktonSchools

LoisRennerfeldt,Treasurer,FriendsofFortUnion

DavidRichter,Coordinator,GreatNorthwestEducationCooperative

NickSmith,Reporter,WillistonHerald

JanSolem,VicePresidentforStudentServices,WillistonStateCollege

DeanStrinden,DirectorEmeritus,FriendsofFortUnion

PatWilson,Chair,FortUnionAssociation

DwightE.Vanatta,neighbor(farmer)

Bernadette Wind, Teacher, Brockton Schools


Appendices

Appendix B: Accessibility Guidelines

Everyattemptwillbemadetoprovidefullaccesstointerpretivemediaandprogramstoensurepeoplewithphysicalandmentaldisabilitieshaveaccesstothesame information necessary for safe and meaningful visits to national parks. This is in compliance with the National Park Service policy:

“…Toprovidethehighestlevelofaccessibilitypossibleandfeasibleforpersonswithvisual,hearing,mobility,andmentalimpairments,consistentwiththeobligationtoconserveparkresourcesandpreservethequalitiesoftheparkexperienceforeveryone.”

NPSSpecialDirective83-3,AccessibilityforDisabledPersons

AllinterpretationwillfollowgeneralstandardsforaccessibilityasdescribedintheHarpersFerryCenterProgrammaticAccessibilityGuidelinesforInterpretiveMediahttp://www.nps.gov/hfc/pdf/accessibility/access-guide-aug2009.pdf.

The Main Gate into Fort Union Trading Post


Both reproductions, these items detail the extensive work and talent a typical Northern Plains Indian possessed. Fletching an arrow or breading an entire knife sheath took practice, diligence, and skill.

All photo credits: National Park Service

Harpers Ferry CenterNational Park ServiceU.S. Department of the Interior

1843 Peace Medal


15550 Hwy 1804Williston, ND 58801701-572-7622

www.nps.gov/fous