Fort Clatsop Administrative History

With its creation as a national park unit in 1958, the site of Fort Clatsop began the evolution from a privately-owned historic site to a functioning unit of the National Park Service. This transition included the establishment of visitor facilities, an administrative staff, and park goals to guide the memorial after the completion of site development. During the first few years of operation, the memorial staff included a park superintendent, a park historian, an administrative staff position, one full-time ranger position, one full-time maintenance person, and one or two seasonal positions. Between 1970 and 1990, the permanent staff grew sporadically, while the seasonal staff grew steadily. Currently, the park supports eleven full-time staff positions and nine seasonal positions.

At Fort Clatsop, management primarily deals with park interpretation, park infrastructure and maintenance, natural and cultural resources, and visitor safety. Historically, management emphasis was placed on the development of interpretation programs, routine infrastructural maintenance, and a reforestation program designed to re-create the coastal forest environment encountered by the Expedition. The memorial has developed a very popular interpretive program, one that includes costumed interpretation at the fort replica and other on-site interpretive locations. This program has received tremendous budget support over the years from the memorial's cooperating association, the Fort Clatsop Historical Association (FCHA), allowing it to develop a full range of in-depth interpretive programs. Visitation grew consistently, from the opening of the visitor center in 1963 to 1991 when visitation leveled out at approximately a quarter of a million annual visitors. Increased visitation, at levels higher than site development planning had anticipated, resulted in an emphasis of management and budgeting on facility and parking maintenance and improvements.

During the site development process, a site concept was developed for the memorial, one which stressed the historical setting of the fort replica. Developments of the 19th and 20th centuries around the site had reduced the once dense forests encountered by the Expedition. In 1958 when the memorial was created, second-generation tree growth still existed around the site. However, approximately one-quarter of the land acquired contained open meadow areas. The memorial's reforestation efforts, carried out by the maintenance division of the park, targeted the restoration of the open field spaces, the screening of the interpretive sites from modern improvements, and supplementation of second-growth areas around the site with native vegetation.

The foremost legislation guiding the park is the 1916 Organic Act, which created the National Park Service as an agency under the Department of the Interior and provided for the preservation and public enjoyment of America's national parks. The 1935 Historic Sites Act also guides park management, providing for the preservation of American historic sites and antiquities under the management of the National Park Service. The Historic Sites Act also mandates that the NPS provide proper interpretation of and access to these sites for the public. The Antiquities Act of 1906 and the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (as amended), as well as subsequent legislation regarding historic preservation, cultural resources, and the NPS, also guide management decisions. The memorial must also adhere to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and other subsequent environmental laws. Park management must also adhere to the memorial's enabling legislation and subsequent amendatory legislation. NPS objectives cover administration policy in all areas of park management, from interpretation to law enforcement to natural resource management.

The following is an overview of the memorial's superintendents and highlights their decisions in all areas of park needs. From 1958 until 1960, a planning team initiated the development process for the memorial through lands identification and needs assessment. This site development is the subject of chapter five of this document. Specific management areas will be discussed in more detail in the following chapters.

Charles L. Peterson, 1960-1964

Charles Peterson, superintendent of the memorial from 1960 to 1964, had the difficult task of turning the memorial into a functioning unit of the National Park System. Superintendent Peterson became an integral member of the planning team when he came on board in 1960, taking over final negotiations for land acquisitions, completing management and design plans, and supervising site construction. The master plan completed during his term developed goals for the memorial and established park objectives in developing memorial programs. Peterson was also responsible for hiring the original staff for the memorial. Peterson hired Burnby Bell, who served as the Clatsop County Historical Society corresponding secretary for many years and was influential in the building of the replica in 1955, as the memorial's historian. Many tasks occupied Superintendent Peterson through the site development process. He worked with the Western Office of Design and Construction in designing a visitor center and administrative offices, and designing a new employee residence to supplement one house acquired through lands acquisition He oversaw the development of visitor center exhibits, including purchasing exhibit artifacts and materials; creation of a historic structures report for the fort replica and restoration of the structure according to the report; construction of park roads, parking, and interpretive trails; the development of the memorial library; and the establishment of the memorial's cooperating association. He supervised the development of the memorial's infrastructure, completing the evolution of the site from a locally-owned historic site to a functioning unit of the National Park Service. In his 1963 annual report, Peterson reported that the transition from a construction phase to an operational phase was completed. [1]

During 1964, Superintendent Peterson worked on securing a suitable water supply from an outside source. Well-testing on site proved inadequate for the park's water needs. Superintendent Peterson also began planning for expansion of memorial parking and the auditorium. Park visitation in the first operating year of the visitor center exceeded expectations and the year-old visitor center was already requiring improvements.

In July 1964, Charles Peterson accepted a promotion to Fort Smith National Historic Site in Arkansas. His replacement was the superintendent of Gran Quivira National Monument in New Mexico, James M. Thomson.

James M. Thomson, 1965-1969

During his term as superintendent, Jim Thomson managed the park's needs one at a time, working from the park's master plan. Basic infrastructure necessities occupied most of his time. Often finding the park at the bottom of the budget chain (in a region with such parks as Mt. Rainier, Crater Lake, Olympic, Yosemite, Redwoods, etc.), he used available funding to achieve necessary maintenance projects. [2]

A continuing headache was the water line to the park. The line crossed the bottom of the Lewis and Clark River and the continual presence of log rafts moving along the river caused frequent pinching and puncturing of the water line. When this occurred, all water in the visitor center, employee residences, and the utility structure would be off until the line was repaired. Repair generally took at least two days, since a repairman would have to travel two hours from Portland. Construction of a reinforced water line to eliminate these pressure problems was completed in 1965.

Increased parking space was also needed at the memorial. During periods of heavy visitation, visitors would park in open spaces off the county road and wherever they could find space. To help alleviate this problem, Thomson was able to get regional reserve funds to widen the current parking lot and later to create an overflow parking area. A space for 13 cars and 4 busses was cleared, graded, and graveled off the main parking and entrance road. Paving and installation of curbs would be completed at a later date.

Upon arrival at the memorial, Thomson requested funds to add a third bedroom to the two-bedroom superintendent's house (purchased during lands acquisition) for his family, with three sons, to be able to comfortably live in it. In 1966, the Region Four office provided $3,000 for Thomson and told him that if he could get the work done for that amount of money, he could proceed. Thomson contracted with a local carpenter and added a bedroom, a bathroom, expanded a storage space, and improved the electrical wiring in the house.

An important improvement to the visitor center was the installation of a ventilation system in the auditorium. While plans to enlarge the room were still being shuffled around in the budget process, the fan created much-needed air circulation in the room, which was often filled to capacity with visitors.

A report completed by Charles Peterson in 1964 evaluating the operations of the visitor center after its first year had identified three main problems with the new visitor center. Two of these were the limited space in the auditorium and parking area. However, the most serious problem plaguing the center was the fact that out of a total 48,249 visitors, only 34,808 actually entered the visitor center. The problem lay in the visibility of the fort replica from the parking lot and the ability of the visitor to walk straight to the replica, bypassing the visitor center and its facilities. In 1966, Thomson began the planting of a screen of trees between the replica and the parking lot that would direct visitor traffic through the visitor center and then to the replica. Ross Petersen, hired as a maintenance worker, was responsible for the tree planting. He was able to provide great assistance over the years in the memorial's tree planting efforts. Petersen, who operated his own nursery, planted trees from his own stock as well as transplanting young trees from the memorial grounds. By the time Thomson left in 1969, the growth of the trees and additional foliage between them, such as blackberry bushes, had succeeded in screening the replica from the parking lot and visitor traffic was moving through the center as intended. [3]

Visitation at the memorial continued to grow. During Thomson's term, the memorial hosted its 100,000th visitor, who was greeted with gifts of books from the FCHA counter and dinner in Astoria. Interpretation relied heavily on a visitor-activated audio station in the replica during both Peterson and Thomson's terms as superintendent. Due to limited staff, tours were given to visiting school groups, but daily interpretive programs were not available. During Thomson's term as superintendent, the costumed demonstration programs were initiated. Park Ranger Emmet Nichols requested permission to begin black powder flintlock rifle demonstrations at the memorial in 1969. Nichols, who was an enthusiast of period weapons, offered to make a buckskin outfit for the demonstrations.

Thomson gave his permission and the memorial acquired a black powder flintlock musket like those used by the Expedition. Nichols would deliver the program a few times daily during the summer season, presenting the loading and firing skills necessary to operate the weapons such as Lewis and Clark used. Off-site programs were also developed with Fort Stevens State Park, where memorial staff would present films on the Expedition for campers at the nearby state park.

With regard to law enforcement, Thomson spent time, much of it after hours, trying to curtail illegal poachers. Open fields on the outer edges of the memorial and off the sides of the county road provided attractive poaching grounds. Park staff who occupied the two residences at the memorial felt endangered by poachers shooting so near their homes. Thomson and Nichols often went on night patrols in the park vehicle or on foot, shining flashlights to warn off potential poachers. On several occasions, Thomson and Nichols would hear shots fired and would attempt to find the poachers or just get to the animal to deprive the poachers of it. Through the later efforts of the memorial's reforestation program, the open meadow areas no longer exist, but poaching continues to be a threat at the memorial.

Jim Thomson remembers managing Fort Clatsop out of his hip pocket. [4] Projects were always waiting to be done and when money became available, he and the staff did what they could. In November 1969, Thomson accepted a promotion to Lake Meredeth National Recreation Area (Sanford National Recreation Area) in the Texas Panhandle.

Paul F. Haertel, 1969-1973

Paul Haertel replaced Thomson as superintendent of Fort Clatsop. Haertel was previously the Paradise District Ranger at Mount Rainier National Park. Fort Clatsop was Haertel's first superintendent position, a promotion opportunity which prompted him to take the position.

As superintendent, Haertel had five priorities: 1) to work with the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation Committee and be able to communicate with them about the history of the Expedition; 2) to make good contacts with local community leaders and the state governor's office; 3) to work on developing a rehabilitation project for the visitor center; 4) to develop more living history demonstrations; and 5) to build up the maintenance staff and improve the maintenance shop. A top priority for Superintendent Haertel was to enhance the Park Service's image in the local community. [5]

Superintendent Haertel was able to fund the expansion of the maintenance shop (a 16' by 32' work space was added) and to refinish the interior of residence #3 (built by the NPS during site development). The picnic area was enlarged and landscaped and a split rail fence was installed around the spring site. A stone walkway was installed to the picnic area and wood chips were replaced on the interpretive trails between the memorial sites. All work was done by park staff.

In interpretation, Haertel hired Al Stonestreet to head interpretation after the transfer of Emmet Nichols. Emphasis was placed on the development of the costumed demonstration programs to include more than the flintlock weapons demonstration. Costumed rangers began presenting demonstrations hourly and covered the topics of weapons, tools, and clothing. Work began on furnishing the fort replica with items representative of the Expedition's supplies, specifically those in the captains' quarters. The demonstrations were also taken to area schools for presentation. Nineteen seventy-two also saw the memorial's one millionth visitor, who was greeted with gifts from the Fort Clatsop Historical Association and a cake.

In continuing relations with the Lewis and Clark historical community, Fort Clatsop, under Haertel's guidance, jointly sponsored a symposium on the Expedition with the Washington and Oregon state Lewis and Clark committees. The symposium was held at the memorial and an estimated 2,600 people participated over two days. [6] Two members of the Oregon Lewis and Clark Heritage Trail Foundation Committee, Robert Lange and Dr. Eldon Chuinard, assisted the memorial in the development of its interpretive programs, by presenting talks as guest speakers and by teaching new memorial seasonals Expedition history.

Two significant public relations issues developed during Haertel's superintendency. The first was the proposal by AMAX Corporation to build an aluminum reduction plant near the memorial. The corporation was considering several sites for the plant, including one near Astoria. The local community was divided on the issue, debating the need for jobs that the plant would bring to the community against the possible pollution risks. The memorial clearly saw the plant as an external threat and was opposed to its location. AMAX maintained that the plant would not produce any pollution detrimental to the memorial. A study completed by Oregon State University, commissioned by Northwest Aluminum, was completed in 1971 documenting fluorine plant levels prior to any plant operations. Fort Clatsop was one testing site for the study.

The second issue that Haertel confronted was the proposal by Dr. Chuinard that the Salt Works be added to the memorial. Chuinard was an ardent supporter of the memorial who provided technical assistance and Haertel worked hard to maintain a good relationship with him while at the same time presenting the NPS opposition to the site's inclusion.

John R. Miele, 1973-1974

In March 1973, Paul Haertel accepted the superintendent position at Lava Beds National Monument. John Miele replaced Haertel on June 24, 1973. [7] Miele had previously been stationed in Washington D.C., where he worked on the National Parks Centennial and on the Second World Conference on National Parks held at Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Fort Clatsop was his first superintendent position.

While at Fort Clatsop, Miele concentrated on park interpretation and the restoration of the historic scene. Interpretation emphasized the scientific aspects of the Expedition and the role of the local American Indian population in assisting the Expedition. Miele was responsible for hiring the first American Indian woman, Marsha Putman, to represent Sacagawea at the fort during the summer costumed demonstration programs. Due to budget restraints, off-site school presentations were curtailed and emphasis placed on high quality, on-site interpretation.

From 1973 to 1974, Miele implemented a program to restore the historic scene around Fort Clatsop by planting 1,000 trees in the open field spaces on the memorial grounds. This program was done in cooperation with the Oregon State Forestry Department which supplied the trees, ranging from 2 to 5 years old, to be transplanted at the memorial. Ross Petersen was again responsible for the planting and maintenance of the young transplants, which consisted of species native to the area: Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, western hemlock, and western red cedar trees. Planted areas were targeted in the memorial's 1964 Master Plan. In addition to fulfilling the master plan project, the planting also helped relieve the constant mowing and maintenance required by those open spaces. Miele saw the planting as a money and time saving effort, as well as an effort to restore the historic setting.

Miele continued the memorial's opposition to the proposed AMAX Corporation aluminum reduction plant. He also continued negotiations with Dr. Chuinard in his bid for the addition of the Salt Works site in Seaside, restating the NPS position against inclusion. Miele was appointed by Oregon Governor Tom McCall to the Oregon Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation Committee and arranged a trip for committee members down the Columbia River identifying Lewis and Clark sites along the Expedition's route.

Robert E. Scott, 1974-1984

After only a year at Fort Clatsop, Miele accepted the position of superintendent at Oregon Caves National Monument in May 1974. His replacement was Robert Scott, who arrived at the memorial in July 1974. Fort Clatsop was Scott's first superintendency; he previously worked as the Kings Canyon District Ranger at Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park. Bob Scott would serve as superintendent of Fort Clatsop for ten years, the longest of any of the memorial's superintendents thus far.

The costumed demonstrations program continued to grow. Under Scott, the demonstrations program was defined as a "living history" program. Employment of an American Indian woman continued and an African-American man was recruited to portray William Clark's slave York. Demonstrations were third-person presentations. Off-site school programs through the "Ranger on the Road" program were successfully performed during the first half of Scott's superintendency until budget cuts temporarily curtailed the program in 1979. Also researched was the proper period American flag for use at the fort replica. The memorial contacted the U.S. Army archivist and the American Heraldry association for advice and it was determined that while no mention was made of the flag in the journals of the Expedition, they probably carried the military flag in use at the time. The interpretive staff continued to develop the scope and range of the demonstration programs.

Much of Scott's time and energy went into the reforestation efforts at the memorial. Working with Ross Petersen, more than 15,000 trees were planted over a ten-year period. Petersen and Scott established a small seed bed of tree species behind the maintenance shop for growing seedlings to transplant around the memorial as needed. Areas on both sides of the entrance road and along the west side of the county road were planted. Also, in attempting to re-create the environment of the 1805-1806 coastal forest, the removal of certain tree species and filling in with historically documented species was required. More specifically, alder, due primarily to the logging of the area in the mid-1800s, had spread inland from the Lewis and Clark River where Douglas fir, western hemlock, and Sitka spruce species were common. As new seedlings grew, the alder was thinned. Care was given to thinning and planting with little disturbance of the scenery

In public relations, one of Scott's tasks as superintendent was the acceptance on behalf of the NPS of the Salt Works site in Seaside. Scott's feelings about the site were similar to most in the Park Service who opposed the addition because it did not meet NPS standards and criteria. After the legislation was passed and signed into law, there was no choice but to incorporate the site and its management needs into the overall Fort Clatsop program. Scott negotiated an agreement with the Seaside Lions club to continue maintaining the site. Memorial staff began looking at the site to develop appropriate interpretive signs, markers, and landscaping. Scott also continued the memorial's opposition to the AMAX corporation, which finally chose an alternate site. Scott also assisted FCHA in its efforts to become more solvent by helping arrange a loan from the Crater Lake Natural History Association.

General maintenance needs continued to be met, including the maintenance of all park signs, grounds, and buildings. Most utility lines running to the memorial were buried to eliminate intrusion on the historic setting. Project requests for the visitor center rehabilitation continued and the park's master plan came up for review by the regional office in 1975. Park heating systems were converted from oil to natural gas as a cost-effective measure.

During 1982, the FCHA board and members of memorial staff began discussing possible projects to mark the 175th anniversary of the Expedition. Through these discussions, board member Bob Ellsberg introduced local artist Stan Wanlass to the group to discuss the possible creation of a commemorative piece. Out of these discussions evolved the idea for a life-size bronze statue for display at the memorial. Superintendent Scott supported the idea and the FCHA board began planning the project. Wanlass created a statue titled "Arrival" which featured Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, a Clatsop man, and Lewis' dog, Seaman. [8] A smaller version of the statue was cast for sale at the sales counter, as well as commemorative coins, and the funds raised used to pay for the life-size version to be placed at the memorial. The small casting of the statue continues to be sold today. Wanlass completed the clay model for the statue, working for a time in the visitor center lobby. The bronze was cast in Lehi, Utah. The completed statue was placed in the visitor center lobby with dedication ceremonies on September 9, 1983.

This project did incur some conflict. A member of the Pacific Northwest Regional office interpretive staff was against the incorporation of the statue in the memorial's interpretive exhibit hall. The questions raised by the staff member caused concern at the regional office, particularly over any financial obligation on the part of the NPS. The debate resulted in requesting approval from the Washington D.C. office although the project was already underway. Approval was given by Washington and the Regional Director, and the project was eventually completed.

Franklin C. Walker, 1985-1990

In November 1984, after ten years, Bob Scott accepted the superintendent position at Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho. His replacement was Frank Walker, who arrived at Fort Clatsop from Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. At Carlsbad, Walker served as Chief of Interpretation and Visitor Services, where he had managed a large staff and a busy schedule. Fort Clatsop was his first superintendent position.

Upon his arrival at Fort Clatsop in March 1985, Walker first dealt with more questions regarding the "Arrival" project and the best location at the memorial for the statue, which he resolved through the placement of exhibit lighting to enhance its placement in the lobby. [9] After a 1991 expansion project, the statue is now located in the exhibit hall.

In developing goals for the memorial, Walker recognized the need for management emphasis on infrastructure improvements. Six projects were accomplished at the memorial during Walker's superintendency. The sewer system was rehabilitated and a sewer lift station installed; parking and road improvements were completed; the trail east of the fort was made accessible for all visitors; shelters for the picnic tables were constructed; and the long-overdue visitor center rehabilitation and expansion and the installation of temporary visitor center facilities were initiated. [10]

The achievement of the visitor center expansion was no easy task and it required working closely with the Fort Clatsop Historical Association. Walker and the association took steps to strengthen the association board and to organize the association's finances and management, both in response to evolving NPS guidelines concerning cooperating associations and to prepare the association for the fundraising efforts of the expansion project. This began with the hiring of the first association business manager (a position previously handled by the chief of interpretation) in spring of 1984 to handle the association's sales and contributions to the park. The next step was increasing the size of the association board by three members.

The expansion project was costly. To acquire funding, FCHA, on behalf of the memorial, turned to Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin for assistance. The association offered to raise $600,000 towards the project specifically for educational developments such as library space. This fundraising was a tremendous effort on the part of the association, which broke new ground for cooperating association fundraising and contributions. Through a Memorandum of Agreement between the FCHA and the NPS for the $600,000, Congressman AuCoin was able to obtain an appropriation of $1.9 million for the visitor center rehabilitation project.

Many donations were received from around the community, supporters of the memorial, and from visitors. However, the bulk of the funds came from grants. The association busied itself writing grant applications to every foundation they could find to ask for money. The $600,000 was due in separate installments and the association worked to make one payment at a time, usually struggling to the last minute for each payment. [11] Through grants from foundations like the Meyer Trust Fund, the goal was reached and in 1988 planning for the expansion project began. The visitor center would expand from 3,300 square feet to 12,000. Lockers and showers for rangers doing costumed demonstrations, a new library space, collections storage space, additional exhibit hall space with new exhibits, an audio-visual booth for an enlarged auditorium and a multipurpose room, and increased storage space were all completed during the project, which would be finished in 1991. Walker and the memorial staff spent a great deal of time and energy involved in the planning process and developed a cooperative working relationship with planners from the NPS Denver Service Center and Harpers Ferry Center.

In 1989, Walker brought Dr. James Agee from the University of Washington to the memorial for an assessment of the park's needs in continuing the reforestation program and in maintaining the forest environment. Dr. Agee completed a conceptual plan for the forest landscape at the memorial, which included a ten-year guideline for maintaining the health of the memorial's forest habitat.

In interpretation, Walker made policy changes that had quite an impact on the memorial's costumed demonstrations program. Under Superintendent Scott, interpreters in costume could only be representative of members of the Expedition itself, white males, one American Indian woman, and one African American man. That policy reflected the definition of living history utilized throughout the NPS during the 1970s. Superintendent Walker shifted the memorial away from this policy and instead placed emphasis on hiring the best interpreters regardless of gender or race. This shift reflected trends occurring throughout the NPS at parks utilizing living history or costumed interpretation.

Through increased seasonal staffing and funding, the "Ranger on the Road" program, which brought the memorial's costumed demonstrations to Oregon and Washington schools, was reinstated. Thanks to the Fort Clatsop Historical Association, the memorial had $3,000 to cover the transportation and lodging costs of sending a memorial ranger on these field trips. The remainder of costs was met through NPS fee entrance program funds, which the memorial initiated in 1987. Through this arrangement, the memorial was able to fund the program.

After a visitor was injured by tripping on broken sidewalk concrete at the Salt Works site in Seaside, the memorial focused on improving the look and safety of the site. In 1985, working with Renata Niedzwiekca, historical landscape architect in the regional office, a landscape plan outlining developments and improvements for the site was developed. This plan contained a vegetation management schedule, which was implemented, and provided several landscape suggestions, including recommendations for signs and fencing. The aging sidewalk was replaced and a split-rail fence was installed, with an emphasis on landscaping the site in a similar manner as the memorial. Other recommendations included handicapped access, surrounding site development if possible, and research into proper restoration of the replica if necessary.

Frank Walker continued to maintain a strong working relationship with the community and local organizations. Walker had monthly meetings with the head of the Columbia River Maritime Museum, Fort Stevens State Park, and Clatsop County Heritage Museum. The meetings provided a support base for programs and projects occurring in their organizations. The Columbia River Maritime Museum agreed to store the memorial's exhibit collections during the visitor center rehabilitation.

The visitor center expansion project commenced construction in August 1990. In September 1990, Frank Walker accepted his new assignment as Superintendent of Nez Perce National Historical Park in Idaho.

Cynthia L. Orlando, 1990-Present

Walker's replacement and the memorial's present superintendent is Cynthia Orlando, formerly the Project Manager [12] of Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve on Whidbey Island in Washington State. She is the first woman to hold this position at the memorial. From working at the historical reserve, Orlando brought an awareness of community involvement in the planning and protection of NPS areas.

Arriving in October 1990, Superintendent Orlando oversaw the construction of the visitor center expansion project. Her first priority was the accomplishment of planned construction and the planning of dedication ceremonies, scheduled for August 1991. The completion of construction, moving out of temporary facilities and back into the visitor center, the assembly and installation of new exhibits, and other final touches of the project consumed Orlando's first year. Dedication ceremonies included the keynote address by Congressman Les AuCoin, presentation of the NPS 75th anniversary plaque by Senator Bob Packwood, and the presentation of the Take Pride in America award from Secretary of the Interior Manuel Lujan, Jr. by Regional Director Charles Odegaard to FCHA. [13]

After the completion of the rehabilitation project, Superintendent Orlando concentrated on mobilizing the memorial against increasing external threats and adjacent land use issues. Development trends and changing land use patterns threaten to impact the memorial's resources. The potential for threatening development was noted in the boundary recommendations of the memorial's 1958 Suggested Historical Area Report. The memorial first opposed threatening development with its stand against a proposed aluminum reduction plant in 1970. In order to direct the memorial against developing external threats, Orlando campaigned to the Regional Director, Pacific Northwest Region, for a new general management plan to replace the thirty-year-old Master Plan written by Superintendent Peterson. Under the current system, management plans are written and produced through the Denver Service Center (DSC), but due to budget and time restraints, the memorial would not have been scheduled for a new management plan for at least another 5-7 years, if not longer. [14]

Working with Regional Chief of Planning Keith Dunbar, Orlando convinced the Regional Director that the memorial could not afford to wait for a new general management plan to be funded and produced through DSC. A planning team, consisting of regional office and park staff, was organized to produce a new management plan at the park and regional level. It was funded and begun in 1992. Superintendent Orlando has spent much of the last two years working with the regional office in developing this new management plan, which will establish goals for the next ten to fifteen years.

Superintendent Orlando also reallocated funding for the addition of a park ranger position, a resource management specialist, laborer, and office automation assistant. She has implemented a program which she has called "professionalization" of the memorial staff in order to meet the increased management needs. Historically, the park staff took on the responsibility of all areas of park management, regardless of the division in which an employee worked. As an example, for years the interpretation staff was also responsible for cultural resource management issues, the library, and collections, in addition to their specific interpretive programs. The maintenance crew, beginning with Ross Petersen and continuing through Curt Ahola and Ron Tyson, have been responsible for natural resource management through the reforestation planting and maintenance program, in addition to regular maintenance projects. Superintendent Orlando took steps to create a working situation in which each management program within the memorial only has to be responsible for the goals and needs of that program. [15] As a result, a formal resource management program was implemented at the memorial in 1992. [16]

Superintendent Orlando has also placed emphasis on landscape design improvements at the Salt Works site. Working with historical landscape architect Marsha Tolon and revising development plans from the 1985 landscape design, site improvements have been targeted to enhance the site. The split-rail fence has been removed and a new cobblestone wall was constructed during August 1994 to match similar design features on the western easement of the site. The vegetation maintenance has been continued. Recommendations also include design of natural history markers similar to those on memorial trails, placement of the bulletin board on the Seaside Promenade leading to the site, new site exhibit signs, and possible development if additional acquisitions become available.

Over half of the Fort Clatsop superintendents were serving as first-time superintendents at the memorial. The main areas of management emphasis have historically centered around interpretation, routine infrastructural maintenance, reforestation activities, and visitor access. In recent years, greater management emphasis has been placed on law enforcement needs and the development of a resource management program. Over the years, the memorial's staff has: expanded its interpretation of the Lewis and Clark Expedition through different interpretive mediums such as costumed demonstrations, furnishing the fort replica, and the development of educational programs; expanded its involvement in the Lewis and Clark historical community and developed a research library for use by the public and scholars; and replanted native species of the 1805 coastal forest environment through reforestation programs. The memorial's staff has, for thirty-five years, endeavored to present the story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition as accurately as possible, while at the same time meeting the day-to-day management needs of a public memorial.

The Fort Clatsop Historical Association

The Fort Clatsop Historical Association (FCHA), established November 29, 1963, has been an integral part of management at Fort Clatsop National Memorial. Funds from the association's sales have allowed programming and development to take place that may not have otherwise occurred. This funding allows the park staff not only to maintain programs that may have otherwise been curtailed due to budget or staffing restraints, but to plan additional programs or projects beyond the memorial's regular budget.

In 1960, the Northwest Historical Association became the cooperating association for Fort Clatsop. This association was started for Fort Vancouver National Historic Site in 1953 and expanded to include the newly-authorized Fort Clatsop. From 1960 to 1963, NHA handled sales at Fort Clatsop and oversaw the completion of the sales counter during the visitor center construction. NHA selected materials for sale at the new counter, including postcards and books. After the completion of site development at the memorial, Superintendent Peterson and park historian Burnby Bell helped organize and establish the Fort Clatsop association and ended the agreement with NHA. When this break occurred, Fort Clatsop sales averaged 75% of the Northwest Historical Association's sales. [17]

Stan Wanlass working on the clay model for "Arrival" in the visitor center lobby, 1983. (FOCL photo collection)

When the association began, it consisted of a board of directors composed of three or four community supporters of the memorial. The memorial's chief ranger and superintendent were responsible for the ordering and sales of materials at the association counter in the visitor center. All proceeds from sales funded park interpretation. As the park's costumed demonstrations developed, the support of the association went to buying demonstration materials such as tanned hides for costumes, blackpowder weapons and supplies, and other items for use in the replica.

In 1974, the association was struggling to remain financially solvent and took steps to resolve the situation. The association borrowed $1,000, initially from Chief Ranger Al Stonestreet, in order to make the sales counter more viable. FCHA then borrowed $1,000 from the Crater Lake Historical Association, to repay Stonestreet. By September, FCHA had repaid the loan to the Crater Lake Natural History Association. [18] The association board also voted to increase in size by three members, which increased their number to six.

Also in 1974, the Pacific Northwest Regional Office created the Northwest Interpretive Association, which was a joint association for Northwest parks. FCHA voted not to join this association. Because FCHA remained an independent organization, funds raised by sales stay within the association and assist only Fort Clatsop. Under the Northwest Interpretive Association, all money would belong to that organization and funds distributed among member parks evenly. As an example, the assistance Fort Vancouver N.H.S. receives from NIA is about 10% of the sales generated at the site. [19]

As NPS guidelines for cooperating associations have developed, so has FCHA. Nationwide, the National Park Service wanted to separate the association sales from the park unit staff and budgets. In 1984, the association hired its first business manager, Jackie Tucker. She was replaced the following year by the current business manager, Sandra Reinebach. By hiring a manager/sales person to handle the ordering of merchandising and selling of books, the park staff was separated from managing the association's sales. To give further strength to the association, the board of directors was increased to seven members. The board currently holds quarterly meetings to handle association business. Annual reports of the association's budget and activities at Fort Clatsop National Memorial are completed and presented to the Park Service's Washington D.C. office.

The solid line represents the boundary to Fort Clatsop National Memorial, the dashed line represents property planned to be donated to the park by the Fort Clatsop Historical Association. (click on image for an enlargement in a new window)

The Fort Clatsop association has branched out over time in its support of the memorial. Some specific projects have been sponsored directly by the association. The association spearheaded the "Arrival" statue and medallion project. During the mid-1980s, the association began helping fund the "Ranger on the Road" program, which sends park rangers out into Oregon and Washington schools. The association has always supported the park's library collection, donating two copies of every book carried at the sales counter to the park. [20] These books are used by the park staff for historical research for the costumed demonstrations and help build the memorial's library. FCHA also gives reference books to new seasonals prior to their arrival. Recently, the association purchased the Robert Lange collection for the library, which tripled the size of the park collection. [21] FCHA has purchased several other rare books for the memorial collection, including a rare Reuben Gold Thwaites volume. FCHA purchased an additional thirty-two acres of land north of the memorial boundary as protection against incompatible development near the memorial and when allowed donate to the memorial. FCHA's biggest project to date has been the fundraising for the visitor center expansion project. The association also went on record supporting the boundary expansion and proposed General Management Plan.

In 1991, the association received the Take Pride in America award from Secretary of the Interior Manuel Lujan for its tremendous support of the memorial. FCHA is a well-respected organization and serves as a model for other non-profit cooperating associations.