Fort Clatsop Administrative History

Fort Clatsop is a day use park and its location near the Oregon Coast attracts heavy coastal tourist traffic. Visitation at the site has been on a steady climb since 1963, the opening of the visitor center and the start of visitor services by memorial staff. Visitation in 1963 was 71,707; 115,586 in 1970; 100,060 in 1980; and 279,799 in 1991. [1] Visitation is at its peak during the summer months, especially August. Nineteen-ninety-one numbers reflect the memorial's highest visitation ever. Current visitation averages around a quarter of a million people annually. Visitation pressures at the memorial have resulted in parking improvements and the expansion of the visitor center, and the popularity of the site is not dwindling. Summer months usually find crowded rooms in the fort replica. Studies on the carrying capacity of the memorial are needed to determine future goals in managing memorial visitation.

Visitor Use Studies

In 1986, a visitor survey was conducted in coordination with the Oregon State University Cooperative Park Studies Unit and directed by Marty E. Lee. The survey was intended to be a pulse of visitors to Fort Clatsop, their demographics, and the characteristics of their visit to the memorial and to the area. A similar pulse survey was conducted in 1987. These pulses were taken on a Friday through Sunday summer weekend. While their results provide valuable information about summer visitation, it was not representative of groups that arrive on bus tours nor school groups, which visit mainly during the spring and fall. School groups are a large portion of the memorial audience, so interpretive staff and funding over the years has been dedicated to providing high quality on-site educational programs for them.

Surveys were handed out to a random sample of 200 memorial visitors, with family groups selecting one member to respond to the survey. Of 200 surveys given out, there was a 73% return rate. From the returned samples, some key findings were: 27% of visitors were 12 or younger; 27% were 30 to 50; 20% were 60 or older; the average length of stay was 1.7 hours; 75% of visitors arrived in a family group; 44% were from the state of Oregon; and 68% were first-time visitors. [2] Other demographics included in the report show the educational, marital, and employment status of visitors, why they visited the memorial, how they heard about it, and characteristics of the visitors' stay along the Oregon Coast. Visitor evaluations and comments were also included, which were overwhelmingly favorable to the memorial, its programs, its staff, and especially its maintenance of park grounds. The areas most cited for improvement by the visitors surveyed was the need for more highway directional signs and RV parking.

The visitor comments from the survey provide an idea of how visitors remember Fort Clatsop as they are leaving. The most favorable impression was how clean the park was, especially its restrooms. Families with children appreciated the hands-on learning of the replica and educational opportunities for their children beyond looking at museum exhibits and watching films. Visitors also appreciated the atmosphere of the replica and the walking trails. Many found the talks informative, educational, and the rangers to be very friendly and helpful. Some sample comments were:

"Especially liked the ability to handle artifacts and living history - very good for young children."

"I really enjoyed the recreational fort and the way it was furnished and smelled."

"I visit Fort Clatsop at least once per year and consider it an excellent facility. It is one of my favorite attractions for visiting friends."

"Would have enjoyed it more when there weren't so many people going in and out."

"We were impressed."

"We thought it was very nice and have told several people not to miss it when they travelling in your area." [3]

Visitor Protection And Safety

Since the memorial is a day-use park and is relatively small in size, law enforcement has not been given management emphasis. During the planning phase of the memorial, NPS administrators concluded that having staff live on-site would be necessary for law enforcement purposes due to its rural location outside of Astoria and Warrenton city limits. Two employee residences were established. One house was purchased through land acquisition for the memorial's establishment and is classified as building #1. The second, classified as building #3, was built by the Park Service during site development. [4] Law enforcement concerns at the memorial have historically centered around theft of replica items, trespassing (by people and neighboring farm animals), burglary of visitor cars, vandalism, speeding on Fort Clatsop Loop Road, mushroom picking, and poaching.

The reforestation program created its own problem during the Christmas holiday season. When young trees were transplanted along the county road and the trees ranged around four to five feet in height, the occasional tree would be cut illegally and become someone's Christmas tree. [5]

Aside from examples such as the night patrols conducted by Superintendent Thomson, law enforcement patrols have not been consistently conducted at the memorial. Memorial staff relied on Clatsop County authorities in handling violations. Case incident reports have not always been consistently utilized for reporting violations. The lack of documentation for violations at the memorial between 1958 and 1990 has resulted in a lack of understanding of what the memorial's true law enforcement needs are.

Since 1988, there has been an increase in drug paraphernalia found along Fort Clatsop Loop Road. [6] Incidents of apparent ritual animal killings have also surfaced at the memorial in the last few years. [7] The memorial consults with the Oregon State Police Game Division regarding poaching and the memorial has also coordinated with the U.S. Coast Guard for use of their helicopter for aerial patrols. [8] Theft, trespassing, and vandalism continue to be law enforcement worries. As part of resource management program development, a park ranger position for law enforcement management needs was filled in 1992. As regular, consistent patrols occur, a clearer picture of the memorial's law enforcement needs will develop. [9]

The memorial updated its Memorandum of Agreement with the Clatsop County Sheriff's Department for assistance with law enforcement and radio frequency use in 1992. The memorial law enforcement ranger, was deputized by the Clatsop County sheriff. Agreements for radio frequency use were developed and executed with the Astoria City Police, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Oregon Department of Forestry. [10] The law enforcement ranger has developed contacts and mutually beneficial relationships with various other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in the Clatsop County area.

Roads And Parking

Memorial roads total 1.8 miles and consist of the Fort Clatsop Loop Road, the entrance road, service roads, and a portion of an old road leading from the Fort Clatsop Loop Road to the privately owned Cavenham property. During site development, the memorial relocated Fort Clatsop Loop Road and constructed an entrance road, service roads, and the visitor center parking lot. Just as the visitor center auditorium quickly proved to be too small, the visitor center parking area also immediately needed expansion. In 1967, the parking lot was expanded in width, allowing parking on both sides of the lane, and an additional area was cleared, graded, and graveled. While the addition provided 13 more car and 4 bus spaces, parking still overflowed during the summer months. Visitors would park on the grass along the entrance road and along Fort Clatsop Loop Road. On busy summer months, a memorial employee would have to direct traffic and parking. In 1973, an overflow lot was built to help ease the flow and at the same time "the service road and employee parking area behind the visitor center paved, and the visitor walkway to the fort re-paved." [11]

In 1989 and 1991, during the visitor center expansion project, the memorial received Federal Lands Highway Program funds for the creation of an overflow parking area and the rehabilitation of Fort Clatsop Loop Road. The parking expansion was completed following an overflow parking recommendation in the 1964 Master Plan. The overflow lot provided for 25 car and 10 bus or trailer spaces. Fort Clatsop Loop road was widened and a bicycle lane created. Drainage along the parking and road areas was also improved.

Facilities

Superintendents at the memorial have historically placed an emphasis on achieving necessary additions and rehabilitation of the memorial's buildings, as well as general cyclic maintenance, such as painting. In the case of the visitor center expansion project, budget requests and planning for additions or rehabilitation were begun under Superintendent Peterson, who had overseen the original visitor center construction. The following is a summary of buildings and projects.

Employee Residences, #1 and #3. Residence #1 was purchased with the Miller property during the development of the memorial. Originally a two-bedroom, one-bath house, an additional bedroom, bath, and storage space were added in 1967. The electrical wiring was replaced during the same project. The project was completed by a local carpenter for $3,000. Since the remodeling, the residence has been regularly painted, interior and exterior. The interior of residence #3, built by the NPS in 1963, was refinished in 1972 and otherwise has received regular maintenance.

Maintenance Shop. Constructed in 1961 during site development construction, the maintenance shop has undergone two expansions. The first was completed in 1973 when a 16' by 32' workspace was added. [12] In 1988, some improvements were made with the addition of an office space. The building is currently 1680 square feet, with one 720 square foot work room. In 1988, three underground fuel oil tanks, which were no longer necessary, were removed. [13]

Funding in the 1995 budget is targeted for the addition of a 750-square-foot woodworking space; a covered 700-square-foot equipment storage area; and eight parking spaces. The memorial's remaining underground fuel tank, which does not meet new Oregon underground tank standards, will be replaced and relocated. The project will also include removal of cement asbestos board from the shop walls. [14] Additional space in this building will also provide room for the resource management staffperson, including storage, a lab area, and a fire cache.

Black Powder Storage Shed. This 12' by 6', two-room storage shed was constructed in 1977 to meet blackpowder storage safety measures. The structure can be moved and utilized for other purposes as necessary.

Water, Utilities, and Sewer. Water at the memorial must be pumped in from a commercial source. Currently, the memorial maintains an agreement with the Youngs River-Lewis and Clark Water District. In 1965, new water lines were constructed to allow for commercial water to be pumped in and service with the district began in February. Between 1974 and 1982, most utility lines to the memorial were buried. One quarter-mile overhead utility line remains.

Sewer problems have developed more than once at the memorial. In 1973, the clogged septic drainfield was replaced. By 1985, the septic system was again causing problems. During the summers of 1985 and 1986, portable toilets had to be rented and placed outside the visitor center to reduce the pressures on the failing septic system. In fall 1986, a new septic lift station was constructed and a drainfield was placed in a new location.

Diagram of 1989-1991 visitor center rehabilitation.

Visitor Center. One year after completion of the memorial's visitor center, Superintendent Peterson was already planning the expansion of the center's auditorium. In 1967, a ventilation fan was installed in the auditorium to provide better air circulation. By the 1970s, proposals were being written for rehabilitation of the building to provide not only a larger auditorium, but needed office and storage space. In 1981, the front of the visitor center lobby was rehabilitated to meet energy standards. Weather stripping and storm windows were installed for energy conservation.

A long time in the planning process, the expansion project was finally approved and design planning started in 1988. The project would nearly quadruple the size of the center, from 3,300 square feet to 12,000 square feet. The memorial staff was very involved in planning not only improved visitor facilities, but improved employee facilities as well. Superintendent Walker coordinated with Denver Service Center in providing planning assistance and made trips to Denver for that purpose. During construction, the staff operated out of a temporary modular building which housed "Arrival", some exhibits, a small theater, FCHA sales area and the interpretation and FCHA offices. The modular building was placed in the middle of the main parking area. Crater Lake National Park, Olympic National Park, and Oregon Caves National Monument provided temporary trailers, which housed the administrative offices, interpretive storage, and employee lunchroom. [15]

Included in the expansion was a 45-seat theater, a 90-seat multipurpose room, an audio-visual booth with new equipment which serves both the theater and multipurpose room, a library facility with a locked collections storage room, lockers and showers for memorial interpreters, a new employee break room with appliances, additional storage space, and a larger exhibit hall. [16] The addition of library space has allowed the memorial to create the Fort Clatsop Research Library, which is open to researchers of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and Pacific Northwest history.

Grounds Maintenance

Beginning in 1960, emphasis was placed on the restoration of the historic scene around the fort replica. These efforts led to continued reforestation around the memorial grounds and have fallen under maintenance division projects. The memorial has also maintained 1.5 miles of trail between park interpretive sites and a picnic area. Projects that have occurred over the years include: regular replacement of wood chips on the trails, the addition of a short trail loop in 1964, expansion of the picnic area in 1972, placement of a split-rail fence at the spring site in 1972, and the building of three picnic shelters in 1988.

In 1988, a historic landscape plan was developed for the memorial which outlined a three year program. Phase I, completed in 1988, realigned the trail from the visitor center to the fort replica. [17] Phase II, completed in 1989, created a wood chipped trail on the east side of the fort replica and a new flintlock rifle demonstration area to the northeast of the fort. Phase II also completed necessary clearing in the replica area to reopen vistas of the Lewis and Clark River. [18] Phase III of the plan, which included vista clearings and vegetation maintenance, was implemented in 1990. [19]

In 1990, visual compatibility guidelines were completed for the memorial. These guidelines were established for maintenance of park facilities. The visual and historic resources were examined in conjunction with the facilities at the memorial. The guidelines recommend the use of historic design features at interpretive sites or the use of rustic design features that blend with the natural environment. The guidelines cover a range of design issues, including the construction of garbage receptacles and the covering of the sewer lift switches. The guidelines are designed to "create and document design details which will establish a unified visual character and reflect the historic and natural integrity of the park." [20]