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**First Signs of El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic
Trail**

Tomé Hill, one of the major landmarks on the Camino Real, was the site
of our first trail sign installation, June 30, 2007. Jacqueline
Guilbault , Valley Improvement Association, Tomé, coordinated a
morning-long event featuring more than two dozen speakers who shared
their heartfelt connections to the trail with nearly 50 trail
supporters.

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.875in"
height="1.9048611111111111in"}Also "signing on" in FY07 were El Rancho
de Las Golondrinas, a not-for-profit living history museum, and Fort
Selden, one of New Mexico's State Monuments. Six additional sites have
been certified, including The Palace of the Governors, El Camino Real de
Tierra Adentro International Heritage Center, and Kuaua/Coronado, all
part of New Mexico's State Museums and Monuments; Keystone Heritage
Park, an interpretive site and education center north of El Paso, Texas;
the Plaza in Mesilla, New Mexico; and the Camino Real Site, south of
Santa Fe, owned by the Archaeological Conservancy. Site signage is in
development.

Other notable accomplishments in FY07:

-   Interpretive signage development, Las Golondrinas

and El Paso Riverwalk (NPS Challenge/Cost Share \[CCS\])

-   Conference (Camino Real de Tierra Adentro Trail Association
    \[CARTA\])

-   Historic marker inventory and assessment (BLM CCS, CARTA)

-   Trail corridor project consultations (BLM, NPS, CARTA)

-   Conceptual development plan, Jornada del Muerto (NPS & BLM)

**Priority Issues for FY08 and Beyond**

**National Register Nominations**

Trail administration is partnering with the New Mexico State Historic
Preservation Office to support a multiple property nomination for some
two dozen of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro's most critical trail
segments. The 404 miles of trail within the United States contain
outstanding trail resources, including sections of the 400-year-old
wagon road on the Jornada del Muerto, the "Journey of the Dead Man;"
segments along the Río Grande through the Bosque del Apache and
Sevilleta Wildlife Refuges; traces along the Santa Fe River canyon; and
segments on La Bajada, the last long uphill on the road to Santa Fe. At
present, no segments of the historic road are on the National Register
or Register of Historic Properties in New Mexico. Funds for this project
were garnered by the NPS.

**World Heritage Nomination**

In FY07, trail administration partnered with archaeological and historic
consultants John Roney and Tom Merlan (former BLM archaeologist and
State Historic Preservation Officer, New Mexico, respectively) and the
owners and/or managers of nearly three dozen significant sites and trail
segments on El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro to develop a nomination
package for the NPS-managed US Tentative List for World Heritage. The
package was substantially completed, but was held up prior to
submission. Interest in developing what will be the first international
nomination remains high on the Mexican and US sides of the trail. FY08
will bring new efforts on the part of Mexico to nominate El Camino Real
de Tierra Adentro to the World Heritage List and NPS-International
Affairs has indicated that it may be possible to add additional
properties to the US Tentative List in coming years.

**Site Protection and Preservation**

This past year underscored the need for an agency-level coordinating
group to share information on upcoming projects, coordinate responses,
and carry out proactive trail resource protection and preservation
measures. In FY07, trail administration and partners, including CARTA
were involved in consultation regarding the development of the Río
Grande Recreational Trail, the RailRunner commuter light-rail system,
the Spaceport America proposal, land sales, roads improvements, utility
corridors, pipelines, and commercial operations. Site and segment
preservation and preservation of visitor opportunities are paramount
concerns. BLM has initiated a Recreation Plan for public lands on
Jornada del Muerto, and trail administration is pursuing development of
similar management plans and actions elsewhere. In FY08, BLM, NPS, and
CARTA will turn our conceptual development plan for the Jornada del
Muerto into a series of wayside exhibits and trailheads to encourage
public stewardship of this section of the trail.

**Datasharing and Outreach Coordination**

While trail administration is developing deep and effective ties to its
traditional partner groups, especially CARTA, datasharing and outreach
efforts are suffering from a lack of coordination. BLM and NPS are
working to develop and manage cooperative trail resource databases and
public web pages to address this issue. Trail administration envisions a
shared data repository, primarily as an electronic GIS, which will allow
BLM, NPS and their administrative partners fast, easy access to trail
information. Outreach material and data developed for public consumption
will be shared with CARTA and the public through web site links,
publications, and other media.