**STATEMENT OF KAREN TAYLOR-GOODRICH, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, VISITOR AND
RESOURCE PROTECTION, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BEFORE THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, FORESTS AND PUBLIC
LANDS, COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, REGARDING H.R. 1286, A BILL TO
AMEND THE NATIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM ACT TO DESIGNATE THE
WASHINGTON-ROCHAMBEAU REVOLUTIONARY ROUTE NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL.**

**OCTOBER 30, 2007**

Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity
to appear before you to provide the Department of the Interior's views
on H.R. 1286, a bill to designate the Washington-Rochambeau
Revolutionary Route as a national historic trail.

The Department supports enactment of this bill.

The study report on the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route has
preliminarily concluded that the trail meets the criteria for
designation as a national historic trail. The study report received
widespread public support during the public comment period, which closed
in May 2007. Although we normally prefer to transmit the final study to
Congress before taking a formal position on designation, the study's
central recommendation is unlikely to change this late in the process.
We expect to transmit the study next year.

H.R. 1286 would amend the National Trails System Act to designate the
Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail across
nine states and the District of Columbia. The trail would be
administered by the Secretary of the Interior in consultation with other
Federal, State, tribal, regional, and local agencies, and the private
sector.

The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route spans over 600 miles from
Newport, Rhode Island where French forces under the command of Jean
Baptiste Donatien de Viemeur, comte de Rochambeau landed in July 1780,
to Yorktown, Virginia where with General George Washington and
Continental Army forces, the combined armies forced the surrender of the
British Army under General Charles Lord Cornwallis. Historians regard
this cooperative endeavor resulting in the Yorktown surrender as one of
the most decisive events in bringing the American Revolution to a
successful conclusion. It initiated and has had the long-lasting effect
of our continued friendship with the people of France.

After wintering in Newport, Rochambeau's army marched through Rhode
Island and Connecticut and joined Washington's army in Phillipsburg, New
York. Foregoing an idea to attack New York City, the two generals
devised a southern march. In August through September, the armies
traversed New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, the future
District of Columbia, and Virginia, reaching Williamsburg in late
September. A French fleet under Admiral DeGrasse blocked the Chesapeake
Bay from British entry and the possible escape of British troops at
Yorktown. On October 19, 1781, Cornwallis surrendered his forces to
those who had suffered the hardships of rebellion and their allies, and
ultimately forged the birth of a nation.

In the summer of 1782, Rochambeau's army marched north to Boston and the
bulk of his troops sailed to France on Christmas Eve of that year. In
this crucial march south and then victoriously north after Yorktown,
American and French troops were warmly greeted and celebrated by the
populace. In all, nine future states and the future District of Columbia
comprised portions of the route and supported the march, providing
ports, roads, campsites, officers' lodging, food provisions and
supplies.

The extant resources associated with the marches of 1781 and 1782 are
well-documented. Comprehensive historical and architectural surveys have
identified 750 known resources directly related to the route and many
more in adjacent locations. Many resources found along the Revolutionary
Route are National Historic Landmarks or sites listed on the National
Register of Historic Places. They include campsites and bivouacs;
historic road segments and landscapes; numerous buildings used for
accommodations of the troops and meetings; archeological resources;
tombstones and grave markers; and, abundant plaques, tablets and statues
marking the passage of those, both French and American, who marched to
secure a nation's beginning.

The proposed trail links units of the National Park System, national
heritage areas, and related resources administered by States, local
governments and private organizations that commemorate the nation's
struggle for independence. As one traverses the Washington-Rochambeau
Revolutionary Route, the places that ring of our nation's revolutionary
past come into view from Newport to Hartford; Peekskill to Morristown,
Princeton, and Trenton; Philadelphia and Valley Forge to Wilmington and
Baltimore; and Mt. Vernon to Williamsburg and Yorktown.

H.R. 1286, if enacted, would provide for administration of the
Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail by the
Secretary of the Interior and, in accordance with provisions of the
National Trails System Act, provide for the establishment of a trail
advisory council. The Secretary would also consult with Federal
agencies, State and local governments and private organizations to
develop a comprehensive plan for the trail.

Our experience during the course of the study for the trail has
indicated that there is wide-spread support for designation among
affected State and local governments and the many private organizations
that participated in our public meetings and closely followed the
progress of the study. For example, during the study process a new
nine-State nonprofit 501(c)(3) partnership group, the National
Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Association, was formed to
support designation of the trail and education of the public on the
Revolutionary War. This group could be a key partner in the preservation
and interpretation of the route if the trail is designated. We believe
that this trail, if designated, will be characterized by significant
continued participation by the many governments and organizations along
the route.

This concludes my prepared remarks, Mr. Chairman. I will be happy to
answer any questions you or other committee members may have regarding
this bill.