Scotts Bluff NM: Administrative History

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Scotts Bluff

Administrative History

SCOTTS BLUFF

NATIONAL MONUMENT, NEBRASKA:

AN ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY, 1960-1983

By

Ron Cockrell

Research Historian

May 1983

(Revised: November 1983)

National Park Service

Midwest Regional Office

Office of Planning and Resource Preservation

Division of Cultural Resources Management

Omaha, Nebraska
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Scotts Bluff

Administrative History

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COVER

PART I: THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SCOTTS BLUFF NATIONAL MONUMENT

Location and Description

Significance of the Resource

Legislative History of Scotts Bluff National Monument

Summary of the 1960 Administrative History

PART II: OPERATING THE NATIONAL MONUMENT

The Physical Plant: Visitors Center, Oregon Trail Museum, and Trails

Interpretation and Environmental Education

Land Acquisition, Problems, and Threats

Master Plan and Statement For Management

Maintenance: The Summit Road and Rockslides

General Park Maintenance: A Chronological Account

Management Appraisal and Operations Evaluation Reports

Core Mission/Basic Operations

Soil and Moisture Conservation and Wildlife Management

The Cooperative Association: Oregon Trail Museum Association (OTMA)

Cooperative and Mutual Aid Agreements

Special Use Permits

Concessions

Fee Collection

Cooperation with the Nebraska State Historical Society & the North Platte

Valley Historical Association

Archeology

Safety

Energy Conservation

Youth Programs

Law Enforcement and Monument Security

PART III: MISSION 66 AND SPECIAL EVENTS

Scope of the Scotts Bluff Initiative

Other Special Events

PART IV: NEARBY HISTORICAL AREAS

Establishment of Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Nebraska

Chimney Rock & Fort Laramie National Historic Sites

PART V: SUMMARY: SCOTTS BLUFF NATIONAL MONUMENT
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ENDNOTES

BIBLIOGRAPHY

APPENDIXES:

A. Photographs of Scotts Bluff National Monument

B. Proclamation of Establishment, December 12, 1919

C. Executive Order 4008, May 9, 1924

D. Notice of Designation of Revised Boundaries, December 15, 1962

E. Scotts Bluff National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination Form

F. Annual Visitation Figures

G. Staff Organizational Chart

H. Graphics From the 1976 Master Plan

1. Location

2. Early Trail Routes

3. Area

4. Existing Development

5. Existing Conditions

6. Annual Visitation, Past and Projected

I. National Park Service Personnel

INDEX (omitted from the online edition)

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Scotts Bluff

Administrative History

PART I:

The Establishment Of Scotts Bluff National

Monument

LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION

Scotts Bluff National Monument is in the Nebraska panhandle in Scotts Bluff County

approximately 20 miles east of the Wyoming state line. The monument comprises 2,987.97

(1983) acres. Towns in the immediate vicinity are Gering, three miles east; Scottsbluff (the

name of the community, as opposed to the monument, is spelled as one word), five miles to

the northeast; and Mitchell, 10 miles to the northwest. Major road routes include Nebraska

Highway 92, which bisects the monument and joins U.S. Highway 26 twenty miles to the

east, and Nebraska Highway 29.

The North Platte River, which flows southeasterly through western Nebraska, borders the

monument to the north. Scotts Bluff National Monument stands separately amid a 100-milelong ridge of bluffs which parallel the river's south bank and which collectively form the

North Platte Valley. The rich soil of this valley, enhanced by irrigation, produces ample crops

of potatoes, corn, beans, sugar beets, and other staples. It is also a profitable sheep and cattleraising area.

The 1981 Resources Management Plan (RMP) for Scotts Bluff describes the natural resources

of the monument:

Scotts Bluff itself is a massive promontory rising nearly 800 feet above the North

Platte Valley. Like the neighboring Wildcat Hills, it is an erosional remnant of

the ancient Great Plains. These plains were formed by silted alluvial material

carried by rivers from the newly uplifted Rocky Mountains about 60 million

years ago. Volcanic ash and dust deposits created the layered effect visible on

the face of the promontory today. Hard caps of calcium carbonate concretions of

sandstone protect the remnants of this high, table-like plateau; once these are

removed, erosion of the soft, siltstone layers beneath them is extremely rapid.

The native vegetation of the Monument consists of at least three major

associations. The moderately dense, short to medium tall grassland designated

Wheatgrass-Needlegrass Prairie occurs on the less eroded summits and on gently

sloping terraces at lower elevations. Dominant species are western wheatgrass,

blue grama, needle-and-thread and green needlegrass. On the summits and steep,

sheltered slopes, Ponderosa Pine and Rocky Mountain Juniper dominate with

understory components of western wheatgrass, blue grama, and needle-andthread. The remainder of the area on the slopes is a mixture of shrubby and

herbaceous plants, designated as Sage-Bluestem Prairie. In addition to the three

major associations, there is a small floodplain environment along the North Platte
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River consisting of cottonwood, willow, poison ivy and other vegetation typical

of the floodplain environment. [1]

Geologically, the principal bluff contains specific features of the Oligocene and Miocene

epochs. The bluff is capped by a formation of sandstone. The layered concretions within the

soft sandstone have helped this top "cap" resist erosion. The lower two-thirds of the bluff is

of the Oligocene epoch. The Brule clay in this section crumbles like sand and erodes easily

when unprotected. This produces gullies known as "badlands." Rich, paleonotological

evidence is also present in this Great Plains area. Early pioneers marveled at these prevalent

fossil remains. Fossils common to the general Scotts Bluff area are saber-toothed tigers, doglike animals, huge turtles, Oreodonts (pig-like animals), rhinoceroses, deer, camels, and

rodents.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESOURCE

Historical evidence of the first Euro-Americans in Nebraska is found in 1720 when Spanish

explorers under Pedro de Villasur were massacred by Indians at the confluence of the two

Platte rivers at North Platte, Nebraska. After this land was ceded in the Louisiana Purchase to

the United States in 1803, explorers began traversing this section of the Great American

Desert in steadily increasing numbers. A significant impetus in this exploration came from

the ever-expanding fur trade. A fur company organized by John Jacob Astor, the Pacific Fur

Company, established a trading post in the Oregon country by 1811. Since the sea route

around Cape Horn to Astoria, Oregon, was long and treacherous, an overland route was also

established. Men led by Robert Stuart from the Pacific Fur Company followed an eastward

course via South Pass and the North Platte. On Christmas Day 1812, they became the first

known Euro-Americans to see Scotts Bluff.

The Platte River soon became a major east-west supply route of the fur trade. One

unfortunate mountain man was responsible for giving his name to the famous landmark.

According to numerous accounts of dubious historical accuracy, in 1828, Hiram Scott,

crippled by disease or injury, was abandoned by his companions to die in the wilderness.

Returning the next year, the remains of Scott's body were discovered near the imposing bluffs

which thereafter were called "Scotts Bluff."

Maps carried by trappers, traders, explorers, and missionaries all contained the location and

name of Scotts Bluff which they passed on their way to the western wilderness. In 1843, one

of the greatest overland human migrations in history began from the eastern United States to

the western frontier. This migration principally followed the central route up the Platte River

and tributaries to South Pass, primarily to Oregon in 1843-48, and then to California

beginning with the Great Gold Rush in 1849. It was first known as the "Oregon Trail," and

later, the "California Road." Referred to in the 20th century as "The Great Platte River

Road," the trail passed directly through the topographic barrier known as "Scotts Bluff" to the

emigrants.

Overland journals of the early pioneers and other evidence gathered by National Park Service

Historian Merrill J. Mattes point to Robidoux Pass, nine miles from Scotts Bluff, as the main

route of the Oregon Trail. Ironically, Robidoux Pass, which is not included in the boundaries

of Scotts Bluff National Monument or in Federal ownership, is most closely related to the

Oregon overland migration while Mitchell Pass at Scotts Bluff is most closely identified with

the California Gold Rush as well as freight traffic, the Pony Express, and the transcontinental

telegraph. According to Mattes:

The reason that Robidoux [Pass] wasn't included originally in 1919 was that

nobody knew about its historical importance. Nobody realized that that was the
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main Oregon Trail. . . . Subsequently in all the overland diaries that I've read it

became abundantly evident. If it's in 1850, they're still going through Robidoux

Pass. If it is 1852, or even 1851, all of a sudden it's Mitchell Pass. Because that

was supposed to be a short cut. [2]

Before Mitchell Pass could be used, it had to be excavated. Mattes believes that either

soldiers or fur traders who made their living off the overland travelers excavated Mitchell

Pass "to broaden it, to widen it out so a wagon could get through. Prior to that time, wagons

couldn't get through. It was considered impassable. It didn't take a lot of work. It took a

couple of guys with spades to get busy and do something with it. All of a sudden, everybody

was going that way." [3]

In 1847, Brigham Young led the first group of his followers past Scotts Bluff on the north

bank of the North Platte, thereby avoiding possible harrassment from anti-Mormonists on the

south bank. In subsequent years, however, the Mormons used both sides of the river. [4]

When gold was discovered in California, more than 150,000 people beginning in 1849 and

1850 passed Scotts Bluff on their way west to fullfill their dreams with shovels, pickaxes, and

metal pans. During the gold rush, the south side of the Platte at Scotts Bluff was heavily used

while there were far more non-Mormons using the north side of the river than Mormon

pioneers. [5]

Pony Express riders sped through Mitchell Pass during the short period their company

operated, 1860-61. The first transcontinental telegraph helped bring about the demise of the

Pony Express whose owners then founded the Overland Mail Company. The Overland Stage

Company also passed Scotts Bluff. All of these commercial enterprises, the Pacific

Telegraph, Pony Express, Overland Mail, and Overland Stage, built stations in the vicinity of

Scotts Bluff. Fort Mitchell, constructed by the U.S. Army in 1864 two and one-half miles

northwest of Scotts Bluff, protected the stagecoaches and wagon trains traveling over the

Oregon Trail. It was abandoned in 1867 when Indian threats in the area diminished.

Upon the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869, the Oregon Trail was no longer

a major highway of the westward migration. The trail continued to be used for local travel,

however. Open-range cattle grazing in the late 1870s gave way to the first homesteaders who

arrived in the North Platte Valley in the early 1880s. With the development of towns and the

subsequent westward shift of the frontier out of Nebraska, Scotts Bluff was left to represent a

bygone era. [6]

Today, Scotts Bluff is a national monument commemorating the great westward migration

between the years 1843 and 1869. But there is more to the history of Scotts Bluff than the

cold, chronological account. The psychological impact of the promontory on the pioneers was

profound:

The many pioneers seeking homes in Oregon, gold in California, or a religious

haven in Utah who passed this promontory may have been poor in worldly

goods, but they were rich in courage, determination, and confidence in the new

life that awaited them. Their sturdy pioneer characters were nurtured and

tempered by the rigors of the trail as they carried their principles of equality of

opportunity and freedom of thought and action to a new home. Scotts Bluff is

today a memorial to those brave souls who moved the spirit of America

westward on foot, on horseback, and in covered wagons.

Scotts Bluff symbolized more than a physical landmark to the emigrants. It was a

psychological milestone along the great overland migration route where the

Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails shared a common corridor. Upon
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reaching this point, weary travelers felt a renewal of strength with the realization

that they had survived floods, dust storms, quagmires, marauding Indians,

cholera, and the loss of loved ones in trailside graves. They had achieved an

identifiable objective on their route. There was also solace in the plentiful wood

and water at Scotts Bluff, a sharp contrast to the bleak expanse of the plains that

they had just crossed.

It is the psychological impact of the physical setting—its actual resources as well

as what it represented—that is to be commemorated at the monument.

Accordingly, the monument's management, public use, interpretation, and

development must be oriented to imbuing today's visitors with yesterday's

pioneer frame of mind. [7]

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF SCOTTS BLUFF NATIONAL MONUMENT

On December 12, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson signed the proclamation establishing

Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska. Wilson signed the proclamation (No. 1547, 41

Statute 1779) with the full support of National Park Service Director Stephen T. Mather and

the Department of the Interior. The proclamation, among with the numerous other laws under

whose authority the National Park Service functions, provides the original, legal basis for

preserving and interpreting the cultural resources of Scotts Bluff National Monument for the

enjoyment of the American people.

The supporting justification for establishing the monument appears in the opening paragraph

of the proclamation:

Whereas Scotts Bluff is the highest known point within the State of Nebraska,

affording a view for miles over the surrounding country; Whereas Mitchell Pass,

lying to the south of said bluff, was traversed by the Old Oregon Trail and said

bluff was used as a landmark and rendezvous by thousands of immigrants and

frontiersmen travelling said trail enroute for new homes in the Northwest; and

Whereas, in view of these facts, as well as of the scientific interest the region

possesses from a geological standpoint, it appears that the public interests will be

promoted by reserving the lands upon which said bluff and the said pass are

located as a national monument. (See appendix).

Unknown to the legislators of the day, contained within the opening sentence is some

misinformation. As is known today, Scotts Bluff is not "the highest known point within the

State of Nebraska." A promontory in southwestern Kimball County, 5,424 feet above sea

level, is the highest point in the State while the elevation of Scotts Bluff measures only 4,649

feet and South Bluff, 4,692 feet high.

Another stipulation of the proclamation warned any "unauthorized persons not to appropriate

or injure any natural feature of this Monument, or to occupy, exploit, settle or locate upon

any of the lands reserved by this proclamation." The "supervision, management and control"

of the monument was given to the Director of the National Park Service "under the direction

of the Secretary of the Interior."

Less than five years later, the 1919 proclamation was amended by Executive Order 4008. On

May 9, 1924, President Calvin Coolidge signed the Executive Order to exclude "NE 1/4,

Section 9, Township 21 North, Range 55 West of the 6th Principal Meridian." Coolidge's

action reduced the boundaries of Scotts Bluff National Monument from 2,053 acres to

1393.83 acres.
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A second boundary revision came on June 1, 1932, when President Herbert C. Hoover signed

Proclamation 1999 which incorporated prairie lands along the eastern monument boundary,

including Scotts Spring.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Proclamation 2391 constituted the third revision.

Promulgated on March 29, 1940, it added lands along the north boundary and several islands

in the North Platte River.

The fourth and final boundary alteration to date came on June 30, 1961, when Congress

passed Public Law 87-68 which reduced the monument's area. It permitted the exclusion of

nonessential peripheral lands (350 acres) while allowing for the acquisition of additional

lands (210 acres) deemed necessary for the preservation of the "scenic and historic integrity

of Scotts Bluff and adjacent features." A $15,000 appropriation was included for acquisition

of lands added to the monument. The legislation was held up for more than a year, however,

as local opponents successfully fought a provision of the bill which would change the

designation of Scotts Bluff to a national historic site. When the stipulation was dropped, the

bill was approved.

Also applicable to the management and preservation of the monument is the Antiquities Act

of 1906, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, and Executive Order

No. 11593.

SUMMARY OF THE 1960 ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY

In 1960, Park Historian Earl R. Harris compiled the first park administrative history titled A

History of Scotts Bluff National Monument, which detailed the administration of the national

monument. This work draws upon two previous NPS works written by Merrill J. Mattes, an

interpretive folder printed in 1942 and a 1958 historical handbook which is still sold to

visitors. In 1962, the Oregon Trail Museum Association published the administrative history

in hard-bound form to sell to the public. Harris' administrative history provides a basic,

chronological account of the monument's past and its development by the National Park

Service (NPS).

The following is a brief summary of the 1960 administrative history, supplemented by

comments from Historian Merrill J. Mattes, to outline the highlights of the NPS involvement

at Scotts Bluff National Monument. Anyone desiring in-depth information on pre-1960

developments is encouraged to consult Harris' work and the 1983 Mattes interview.

With the creation of the National Park Service on August 25, 1916, state and local

individuals interested in commemorating and preserving the historic integrity of Scotts Bluff

were encouraged. Nebraska Senator G.M. Hitchcock and Representative Moses P. Kinkaid

were in the forefront of this early effort. A petition signed by the Nebraska congressional

delegation to Secretary of the Interior Franklin K. Lane on October 5, 1916, called for Scotts

Bluff to be declared a national park. Another petition dated in March 1918 asked NPS

Director Stephen T. Mather to do the same. It was signed by local business and political

leaders, including the mayors of Gering and Scottsbluff.

With public interest in Scotts Bluff growing, the NPS began a series of feasibility studies.

Some officials within the NPS questioned the importance of the area. Harris cites two

memoranda from October 1919 which characterize the controversy:

October 26, 1919

Dear Mr. Mather:--
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I don't know what has led you to thinking that Scotts Bluff should be a National

Monument. It seems to me to be but a bump of land. Have you given it your

personal attention? If you have, won't you let the Secretary have a memorandum

as to just why you think it should be withdrawn.

Cordially yours,

[Sgd] Cotter,

Administrative Assistant

To this Director Mather replied:

Memo, for Mr. [?] Cotter:

Yes, I have personally considered this matter. It is true Scott's Bluff [sic] is only

a bump of land, but it is some bump. It's [sic] historic associations, coupled with

the fact that it is possible of development for the tourist and visitor, make it

attractive for national monument purposes. The Old Oregon Trail, the pathway of

the settlers of the Northwest, passing through Mitchell Pass within its limits, and

the fact that the bluffs served as a landmark and rendezvous for the early

pioneers make it. . . worthy of preservation. . . . It is time that a few of these

historic spots be properly marked and kept in their original state. Without such

forethought the march of economic development westwardly will before many

years make such reservations impossible. I think the reservation of this

monument will be a step ahead, and in the right direction.

(Sgd.) Stephen T. Mather, [8]

Director

With the support of Mather and the Secretary of the Interior, the proclamation declaring the

establishment of Scotts Bluff National Monument was drafted and ready for President

Wilson's signature on December 12, 1919. Two thousand fifty-three acres were withdrawn

from the public domain to be administered and preserved by the National Park Service.

The first custodian of the new national monument was Will M. Maupin, editor of the Gering

Midwest. Maupin began his appointment on April 10, 1920, at a salary of $12 a year.

Allocations for the improvement of monument grounds were negligible. Maupin was,

however, successful in obtaining Federal funds and private donations to erect a picnic area

near the foot of the original summit trail up the east face of Scotts Bluff. Maupin resigned his

position in July 1924, when he sold his business and left Gering. Scotts Bluff was left

without a custodian for more than a year.

Albert N. Mathers, President of the Gering National Bank, was appointed the second

custodian of Scotts Bluff on September 4, 1925. In early 1927, Mathers raised $500 from

private sources to match $500 from the NPS to construct a new trail from the picnic area to

the wooden stairway leading to the summit. Because the trail zig-zagged up the slope of the

bluff, it was dubbed "the Zig-zag Trail," although its official name was the "Scout Trail."

Improvements over the next few years included electricity and lighting in the picnic area and

the erection of the Hiram Scott Memorial Arch and bronze plaque by the Daughters of the

American Revolution at the base of the Scouts Trail.

Critics who felt the Park Service was not doing enough to develop Scotts Bluff found a

concurring voice in the 1928 National Conference of State Parks (NCSP). The NCSP called

on Director Mather to transfer Scotts Bluff to the State of Nebraska in order for it to be

administered as a state park. Mather denied the request. His successor as NPS Director,

Horace Albright, soon after took action to guarantee that Scotts Bluff would remain under
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Federal control.

To give the monument greater public accessibility, local groups in the 1920s promoted a plan

to build a road to the summit of the bluff. Director Albright himself arrived on June 16, 1931,

with a team of experts to survey the monument. During his three-day visit, Albright toured

the monument and was impressed by the historical significance of Scotts Bluff as well as the

panoramic view of the North Platte Valley afforded from the summit. Before he left,

Albright verbally approved the construction of a road to the summit of Scotts Bluff.

Albright showed a keen interest in the development of the monument and he returned in

September 1932 to tell a crowd of 2,000 local citizens that the summit road would soon be

built with public works funds. With the inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt as the 32nd

President in March of 1933, money was allocated to grade the road up to the first of three

proposed tunnels as well as the parking area east of Mitchell Pass where a museum was to be

built. According to Historian Harris, with the advent of the New Deal, the "Era of

Development" at Scotts Bluff was underway.

Two reports by researchers employed under the Civil Works Program of 1933-34 of the NPS

Field Division of Education, Berkeley, California, were published in 1934 for Scotts Bluff.

They are the first of many professional research Studies contracted by the NPS at the

monument. The two studies are The History of Scotts Bluff, Nebraska by Dr. Donald D.

Brand (University of New Mexico) and Outline of the Geology and Paleontology of Scotts

Bluff National Monument by William L. Effinger (University of California).

Construction was ruled out on the east slope when a 1933 General Land Office Survey

revealed that the east slope development was on private property. This was the site of all

previous development. Therefore, the west slope became the focus of NPS attention for all

future construction.

In late November 1933, the Civil Works Administration (CWA) began construction with a

crew of 213 men from the Scotts Bluff County Re-employment Office. Road construction,

parking excavation, and seeding and planting programs to combat erosion were undertaken

by the CWA. All work ceased, however, between April 1934 and April 1935 because of the

exhaustion of funding.

Custodian Mathers resigned on June 15, 1934, to run for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Dr. Harold J. Cook, a paleontologist and geologist from Agate Springs, Nebraska, became the

third Custodian of Scotts Bluff National Monument in late December 1934. Cook worked

with Nebraska Congressman Terry Carpenter to resume construction at the monument. In

April 1935, a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp was erected in the "Badlands" area of

the monument and a crew of up to 200 men immediately occupied "CCC Camp 762" and

resumed construction work. Along with the previous projects, new picnic grounds south and

west of Mitchell Pass, placing waterlines (a system which is still in use), and boundary

fencing were started. In this initial construction, little attention was paid to preserving cultural

remains. In placing waterlines to the picnic area, CCC workers trenched through the Oregon

Trail ruts. [9]

The first NPS structure at Scotts Bluff was completed in the fall of 1935 and administrative

offices were relocated from Gering. The Oregon Trail Museum, a single room facility, served

as the NPS headquarters. It was renamed the "Visitor Center" in 1956. The building was

dedicated on July 16, 1936, with the principal speaker 93-year-old William Henry Jackson.

Jackson, a renowned artist and photographer of the American West, was a bullwacker with a

California-bound wagon train in 1866 when he camped near Mitchell Pass. An interpretive

marker at "Jackson's Camp" stands to mark the campsite which Jackson identified on the
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museum dedication day.

Museum exhibits completed on time for the dedication were quite different from those that

can be seen today. Since the facility was the only Western museum in the National Park

System which was devoted to history, the exhibits represented the broad scope of the history

of the American West, not just the westward migration. The Western Museum Laboratory at

Berkeley, California, used artists and historians to develop a sequence of two-dimensional

watercolor paintings. The majority of artifacts on display were donated by T.L. Green of

Scottsbluff, a retired banker, whose hobby was history and archeology. According to

Historian Merrill J. Mattes, Green

donated to the museum his whole collection of artifacts, including those things

that had been obtained from the Robidoux Trading Post site and the American

Fur Company post site in Helvas Canyon. These are priceless because these

represent some very bona fide artifacts from the California Gold Rush period that

were found right there in that neighborhood. [10]

Custodian Cook was relieved of his duties by Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes

because Cook refused to accept Ickes' appointment of a CCC foreman. [11] Cook's

replacement, the first permanent NPS employee at the monument, was Merrill J. Mattes, who

reported for duty on October 1, 1935. He served as Junior Historian in 1935 and as Custodian

from 1938 to 1946. Officially, Mattes held the title of custodian, although Charles E. Randall,

head of the CCC camp, was the "Acting Custodian." Mattes recalled:

. . . after I had been in Scottsbluff a few weeks and Mr. Randalls realized how

green I was as far as running the construction project, I think he got it fixed for

him to continue as "Acting Custodian," and then I was given the title as "Junior

Historian." So, throughout that period, I held the appointment of custodian, but

he became "Acting Custodian," and I would concentrate on the interpretive and

research programs. [12]

Mattes, who later in his career was a historian in the Branch of History Office in Chicago and

in 1950 became Midwest Regional Historian, wrote and published numerous articles on the

monument and related historic sites. He is the foremost authority on the Oregon Trail in the

area of Scotts Bluff. His research on 19th century events in the area constitutes the

foundation of contemporary historical accounts of Scotts Bluff. He is also the author of

several books on western history, notably The Great Platte River Road (Nebraska State

Historical Society 1969). This book is widely regarded as the definitive work on the OregonCalifornia Trail from the Missouri River to Fort Laramie.

Mattes recruited an interpretive staff of seasonal rangers from the CCC camp. The first

permanent Ranger, Lynn Coffin, arrived in 1940 from Rocky Mountain National Park. Ethel

Meinzer, the first clerk, was hired soon after. [13]

The CCC workers accomplished much. After the guniting of the three tunnels and cement

paving, the summit road opened on September 9, 1937. Its total cost was more than $200,000

and six years' labor. The following year, two new wings of native adobe were added to the

museum while a three-room residence and equipment sheds (both of adobe) were also

completed. A landscaping program was begun to erase the scars of construction. The road

between the Scottsbluff Country Club, the CCC camp, and headquarters was obliterated. The

rerouting through the monument of Nebraska State Highway 86 (changed to State Highway

92 in 1961) was completed by the end of the decade. With the near completion of all planned

projects, the CCC camp closed on May 31, 1938. It, too, was obliterated by April 1939.

The picnic grounds south of Mitchell Pass were temporarily closed to the public in late 1939
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because of overuse and abuse. In 1940, the decision to close the unsightly area permanently

was accomplished without substantial opposition. The picnic area was obliterated in 1941.

The summit parking lot was nearly tripled in size in 1940 following years of headaches for

seasonal rangers trying to unsnarl large traffic jams. According to former Custodian Mattes:

It was just enlarged once. It became apparent in such a hurry. We had some

terrible traffic jams. You'd have cars waiting to get up there and Rangers trying

to encourage people to get on out of there. People didn't want to. They'd spend

the day. [14]

Administratively, custodians were accountable to the Director, but with the "regionalizing" of

the Park Service on August 1, 1937, Scotts Bluff came under the jurisdiction of the Region

Two office in Omaha. In June 1939, both Scotts Bluff and Fort Laramie National

Monuments were placed under the Superintendent of Rocky Mountain National Park. Ten

years later, Scotts Bluff Custodian Robert R. Budlong's title was changed to that of

Superintendent, and the monument regained its administrative autonomy in 1951 with the

superintendent responsible to the Midwest Regional Director.

During World War II, visitation at the monument fell from an all-time high of 105,151 in

1940 to a low of 25,982 in 1944. The war emergency saw the opening of many NPS areas to

grazing by livestock. Two permits were issued at Scotts Bluff National Monument to allow

grazing on monument lands during the war.

Following the war, the New York-based American Pioneer Trails Association (APTA)

donated a collection of sketches, paintings, and personal items of the late William Henry

Jackson to the Park Service. To display the Jackson collection, New York manufacturer and

philanthropist Julius Stone donated $10,000 for the construction of a "William Henry Jackson

Wing" to be added to the east end of the Oregon Trail Museum. The "Jackson Room," as it is

popularly called, was dedicated on August 8, 1949, with nearly 40 original Jackson

watercolor paintings, pencil sketches, and charcoal drawings on exhibit.

Since the opening of the summit road in 1937, rock slides have been a constant nemesis to

park administrators. A period of particularly heavy rock slides came between 1949 and 1952.

A major slide in March 1949 resulted in 309.4 tons of rock crashing down onto the roadbed.

Another slide in the summer of 1952 closed the road for two months as the area was cleared

and dangerous overhangs were removed. To protect visitors, the Scout Trail was closed for

stabilization in 1953. The trail was rerouted away from points subject to rapid erosion and

where the bluff walls protruded over the visitor's head.

A proposal in 1954 to build a television station and tower on the summit of Scotts Bluff

pitched the NPS in a heated battle against public and congressional opinion. The Frontier

Broadcasting Company (FBC) of Cheyenne, Wyoming, petitioned Director Conrad Wirth for

permission to locate the facilities within the boundaries of Scotts Bluff National Monument.

The FBC claimed that Scotts Bluff was the only feasible location to build the television tower

and thereby serve the 54,000 people in the North Platte Valley. Director Wirth rejected the

request. He outlined NPS policies and insisted that an alternate site be chosen.

FBC lobbying effort resulted in the mobilization of the entire Wyoming congressional

delegation, the Wyoming Governor, and numerous local civic groups. A public hearing on

the controversy was held in Washington, D.C., on January 10, 1955. Scotts Bluff

Superintendent Frank H. Anderson attended the hearing and presented the results of field

tests which proved that a site 10 miles north of Scottsbluff was more beneficial for providing

television service. The test results dampened the flames of controversy and, following an
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unsuccessful appeal to the Secretary of the Interior, the issue died. The FBC began

construction at the alternate site three months later.

The second "era of development" at the monument, according to Historian Harris, was

MISSION 66. Designed to improve or beautify parks in anticipation of the 50th anniversary

of the National Park Service in 1966, the planning for the MISSION 66 program at Scotts

Bluff was accomplished between 1955 and 1957 under Superintendent Anderson. The

majority of construction and land acquisition, however, was completed in the late 1950s and

early 1960s under the superintendency of John W. Henneberger. The MISSION 66 program

will be discussed in Part III of this administrative history. [15]

During the 1940s and 1950s, considerable soil and erosion programs were undertaken.

Former Superintendent John Henneberger recalled:

I recall a lot of work being done under [Superintendent] Frank Anderson's

tenure. At least there was an unbelievable amount of erosional netting and

chicken wire at the monument when I arrived in 1958. [16]

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Scotts Bluff

Administrative History

PART II:

Operating The National Monument

THE PHYSICAL PLANT: VISITORS CENTER, OREGON TRAIL MUSEUM, AND

TRAILS

The visitor center, formerly called the Administration and Museum Building, is the only

interpretive center at Scotts Bluff. Constructed by the NPS and CCC in 1935 to house an

"Oregon Trail Museum," the building was designed by NPS architect Howard W. Baker. The

brick and adobe structure has been expanded twice. In 1938, a ranger's office, paleontology

wing and basement, workroom, and superintendent's office were built onto the "History

Room." Funds provided by the American Pioneer Trails Association in 1949 resulted in the

construction of the William Henry Jackson Wing. The visitor center today measures 6,677

square feet.

Two employees' residences complete the visitor center complex area, and both architecturally

conform to the brick and adobe, Spanish Colonial influence. The first residence was built in

1938 by the CCC. A bedroom and utility room were added in 1949. The second house was a

MISSION 66 project built in 1958. It served as the superintendent's residence until the

Heilbrun House (Tract 01-102) was acquired in 1973. The two levels of this concrete block

and brick veneer structure which contained five bedrooms and three baths, were built in 1956

and 1965 respectively (this structure was removed in late 1983). A steel 32-by 60-foot

Quonset hut built in 1958 stands to the east of the house and contains NPS equipment and

material which cannot be stored elsewhere.

A Park Service utility building is behind two houses at the headquarters area. Completed by

the CCC in 1936, the building was remodeled in 1958, expanded from 6 to 8 stalls under the

MISSION 66 effort, and expanded again to 12 stalls in 1981. It, too, adheres to the Spanish

Colonial influence.

The comfort station was built by the CCC in 1938 and is adjacent to the visitor center. It

measures 288 square feet. The pump vault which houses the electric water pump is concrete

and below grade. It was erected in 1936. The pumphouse, near the North Platte River, houses

a power unit and another water pump. This was also a CCC project which was completed in

1938. A new pump was installed in the concrete building in 1957. [1]

A 1976 study of NPS visitor centers titled Visitor Center Design Evaluation was compiled

from staff and visitor surveys by the Denver Service Center (DSC). Twelve visitor centers

were chosen nationally, and the Scotts Bluff facility was the only design model representing

the Midwest Region. Despite the attractive and practical design, several problems were

ascertained by the DSC evaluators. In the area of maintenance and repairs the team noted that

the extensive lawn around the building and parking areas required frequent mowing. Another

drawback was that the front, or south, terra cotta facades needed painting annually. Three

functional concerns were noted: congestion of visitors in the sales and information desk area,
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the lack of a marked starting point to view the exhibits, and some degree of visitor difficulty

in finding the visitor center from the highway. [2]

A controversy in the mid-1970s centered around the intrusion of the NPS visitor center

complex on the historic landscape. For decades the NPS sought the removal of all intrusions

at Scotts Bluff, including Nebraska Highway 92 and the overhead power lines and poles. Any

such relocation of these facilities outside the monument boundaries would be seen as

hypocritical if the NPS was itself unwilling to remove its own resource encumbrances. The

argument took shape in 1975 as the DSC was preparing the draft Master Plan for the

monument. DSC Manager Glenn O. Hendrix informed Midwest Regional Director Merrill D.

Beal:

Such a relocation is, in our opinion, very desirable and, indeed, imperative if we

are to abide by our mandate to preserve and restore historic resources of the

National Park System. In the case of Scotts Bluff, the present complex sits

squarely in the heart of the historic scene; while it is extremely well done

architecturally, it visually blights the once pristine prairie scene. [3]

Beal responded:

Except for the physical presence of the structure on the historic site, we do not

believe the visitor center is a serious visual intrusion. However, the housing,

maintenance area, and visitor center are poorly located in terms of resources,

principally the Oregon Trail.

We agree in principle that as a long-term objective, removal of the visitor center

to a less intrusive site is desirable. However, the present structure will, with

proper maintenance, serve the needs of the public and the park for a very long

period; it is difficult to envision making the expenditures for a new visitor center

when funds are short for the preservation of historic and natural resources

throughout the System, and when there are several parks with little or no

accommodations for visitors.

Accordingly, we suggest that the master plan endorse the concept of relocating

the visitor center and other developments in the distant future. But the plan

should stress the fact that the present complex is serviceable and that new

structures should be built only when the following condition prevails: that the

present structures have lived beyond their normal life under appropriate

maintenance, to the point where expensive major rehabilitation would be

necessary. [4]

Another point of contention over the visitor center and the 1976 Master Plan involved the

Harpers Ferry Center (HFC) and its assertion that the interpretive facility needed an

auditorium. Because the administrative office space was inadequate, HFC recommended an

addition to the building. [5] The recommendation was not incorporated into the plan,

indicating its rejection by the Midwest Regional Director.

Administrative offices occupy a quarter of the main floor of the visitor center and the entirety

of the basement level. The Oregon Trail Museum is the only visitor attraction within the NPS

facility. Its many exhibits focus on the history of the Oregon Trail. The geology,

paleontology, and natural history of the monument are represented in the exhibits as a

secondary topic which reinforces the primary theme of the American westward expansion.

The largest artifact collection deposited at Scotts Bluff was loaned in 1963 to the Park

Service. Mrs. Margaret Cook, the widow of Dr. Harold J. Cook, the renowned paleontologist-
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geologist and former Scotts Bluff Custodian, loaned the "Cook Collection" to the NPS. The

Cook Collection comprises of an extensive array of well-preserved Indian artifacts, scientific

books, documents, fossils, and numerous personal items. Terms of the loan agreement

specified that the collection be stored at Scotts Bluff until the future establishment of Agate

Fossil Beds National Monument (Agate Springs, Nebraska). [6] When Mrs. Cook died in

1968, the settlement of the Cook estate transferred ownership of the valuable collection along

with thousands of other objects to the National Park Service.

Another donation of historical material is the William Henry Jackson Collection, roughly

1200 sketches, photographs, watercolors, and personal memorabilia. The significance of

Jackson's work as a pioneer illustrator of the Old West extends far beyond Scotts Bluff. His

photographs and sketches give a realistic picture of the westward migration over the Oregon

Trail. Jackson's work was instrumental in the establishment of the nation's first national park,

Yellowstone. The centerpiece of the collection is 60 watercolors done in the 1930s, three

albums of 200 pencil sketches and 500 photographs, and several glass plate negatives

representing the first use of dry gelatin (1881). In the early 1980s, the rare items were sent to

the Division of Museum Services Laboratory at harpers Ferry Center for conservation

treatment. [7]

The Scotts Bluff Collection is the third major grouping of curatorial material at the

monument. Many of the items date to the 1860s. A large segment of the collection is

paleontological while many items are artifacts which were found along the Oregon Trail and

associated sites such as Robidoux Pass. Many of the valuable items were collected by

Custodian Merrill J. Mattes for the original museum exhibits dedicated by William Henry

Jackson in 1936. Artifacts from two nearby trading posts of the overland migration period,

the Robidoux site in Robidoux Pass and the American Fur Company site in Helvas Canyon,

were donated by T.L. Green of Scottsbluff.

Four hundred prime artifacts are displayed while 8,000 other objects in the collection

received very little conservation treatment and, therefore, continued to deteriorate. [8]

Improved storage facilities have helped to slow this natural process. In 1979, the vault in the

visitor center basement was doubled in size to accommodate the Scotts Bluff and Jackson

Collections, and the ethnographic portion of the Cook Collection. In addition, the Quonset

curatorial storage facility was altered to include new decking, an environmental control

system, and the erection of steel shelving. With these innovations, approximately 5,000

artifacts were placed under proper environmental controls for the first time. [9]

Within the museum itself, the exhibits are carefully checked to maintain a safe range of

humidity and light readings to reduce any danger of damage to the objects. [10] Photographic

reproduction of the Jackson paintings began in 1980 as a local studio was contracted to

photograph the watercolors and prints on location without risking potential damage in

shipping and handling the historic materials to HFC. [11] The photographs are so true to

nature that it is a rare visitor who is able to detect that the glass-covered Jackson "paintings"

are actually clever photographs. The paintings are kept in the vault or safe for their

protection. Exhibit rehabilitation continued in 1981 as photographs in the Scotts Bluff

Collection were reproduced and faded exhibit panels were repainted. [12]

A wide selection of research material is available to the visitor or scholar through the Scotts

Bluff National Monument Library which is owned by the National Park Service. The

cooperating association, the Oregon Trail Museum Association (OTMA), (formed in 1956

and incorporated in 1959 as a nonprofit organization to assist the NPS interpretive program at

Scotts Bluff), has donated many items to the library. The library contains approximately

1,000 volumes and features a collection of photographs. The OTMA. also sells various

publications, postcards, color slides, posters, and other materials in the visitor center lobby.
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[13]

The major foot trail at the monument is the Saddle Rock Trail. It meanders from the visitor

center to the summit of Scotts Bluff. There it joins the Summit Trail System which includes

trails to the North and South Overlooks. Another trail stretches from the visitor center to the

Jackson, or Pioneer, Campsite. This trail for 200 yards follows the Oregon Trail and visitors

are exposed to historic ruts and interpretive signs. A Bicycle Trail, completed in the late

1960s, parallels Highway 92 and joins with a similar trail at the monument boundary

constructed by the city of Gering. The last trail is the Badlands Environmental Study Area

Trail. It passes through the badlands area on the south bank of the North Platte, but is

presently not maintained for visitor use. A total of four miles of trails are featured within the

authorized boundaries.

INTERPRETATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

The interpretive effort at Scotts Bluff centers on the historical development of the United

States and the effects of natural forces. The role of Scotts Bluff as a landmark along the

corridor of America's westward expansion is the primary focus while a secondary theme of

geology, paleontology, and natural history is presented only to reinforce the primary theme.

The principal objective of the interpretive program, according to the 1976 Master Plan, is

. . . to allow visitors to come away from the monument with a richer

understanding of this segment of our nation's history. They should be able to

experience the historic natural environment and at the same time have access to

interpretive developments that help to explain the total atmosphere of the

monument area during this period. Structured activities and facilities will be kept

to the minimum necessary to provide protection for the visitors and the resource

without interferring with the visitors' assimilation of the monument's values. [14]

Three Scotts Bluff Interpretive Plans were compiled between 1957 and 1963. Volume one is

titled Museum Prospectus for Prehistory [Landmark] Room, Oregon Trail Museum, by Edwin

C. Alberts, Regional Naturalist; Merrill J. Mattes, Regional Historian; and Eli D. Potts,

Historian (1957). Volume two is the Exhibit Plan, by Coyt H. Hackett (1960). It recommends

revisions on History Room exhibits. Sign and Wayside Exhibit Planning Report (1963) by

Edwin C. Alberts is the final volume of the Scotts Bluff Interpretive Plans. All three studies

establish the basic framework of the monument's interpretive program. An updated

Interpretive Prospectus was prepared in 1978.

As with most National Park Service units, interpretation at Scotts Bluff has changed over the

past two decades in response to policy shifts, availability of new interpretive media, and

economic constraints of park budgets. The basic objectives of the monument's interpretive

program remain: to provide visitors with an understanding and appreciation for the historical

impact which the bluffs had as a landmark during the period of westward expansion.

The Oregon Trail Museum remains relatively unchanged and interpretive displays are the

focus of many visitors' interest. Recent years have seen periodic displays of special exhibits

coordinated through Harpers Ferry Center as well as displays organized with the park's own

resources. In 1983, the monument coordinated a special exhibit of seldom seen works by

William Henry Jackson in conjunction with a local Great Plains Festival. Also in 1983, a

full-size Mormon handcart replica was added to the museum for permanent display.

Currently, the park has a 12 and a half minute narrated slide program which orients visitors

to the emigrant experience of traveling the Great Platte River Road.

The summit area and Saddle Rock Trail are still popular attractions for park visitors. In the

mid-1960s, a self-guiding trail guide was published for the Saddle Rock Trail. Those markers
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have since been removed and an updated self guiding trail guide was compiled for the

Summit Trail System. Wayside exhibits remain in place on the summit area as well as in

several other locations throughout the park. A new Wayside Exhibit Plan which will alter

several of the parks' exhibits was approved in 1983.

Ranger-led interpretive services continue to present programming challenges for the park

staff. Park visitation is transient with the majority of visitors spending approximately one to

two hours. Scheduling formal interpretive walks along the Oregon Trail result in sporadic

success because of the difficulties in predicting visitation densities at any one time, even

during the busy summer season. In addition, scheduled evening programs have limited

success, due in part to the lack of overnight facilities within the park. Another challenge is

the large proportion of repeat visitation which occurs, especially in the off-season.

To deal with these challenges, the park initiated and refined various interpretive services

designed to maximize the number of personal contacts. One of these involves roving

interpretation, particularly in the Summit Trail and Overlook areas. Aside from interpreting

basic park themes, rangers use the opportunity to advance safety and resources management

themes.

Beginning in the early 1980s, the cooperating association has sponsored an evening summer

film series. Presenting a variety of topics relating to the themes of western and natural

history, it is a popular attraction for the surrounding community. [15]

An innovative chapter in park interpretation which continues to the present began on June 19,

1971, when the first living history demonstration was held at Scotts Bluff. Conducted by

costumed Volunteers In Parks (VIPs) and rangers, the demonstrators recreate a pioneer

campsite where a typical evening meal is made, a wagon wheel is repaired, and other daily

chores are performed. The OTMA purchased the costumes and props. During the first

summer of the program, the living history demonstrations were held on Saturdays and

Sundays between five and eight in the evenings. [16] The living history program is now the

mainstay of the summer interpretive programs as well as in special events during holiday

seasons.

Coincident with the accelerating environmental movement in the United States during the

late 1960s, an Environmental Study Program was established at the monument in March

1969. The program conformed to the National Environmental Education Development

(NEED) program which focuses the curriculum of environmental studies to encompass

kindergarten through grade 12. The Environmental Study Area (ESA) at Scotts Bluff is called

"River-Badlands Environmental Study Area" and totals 231 acres on the south bank of the

North Platte. A trail with numbered interpretive markers (no longer maintained) snakes

through the riverbottom flood plain where students can view the ecological intricacies of the

badlands and the myriad silt deposits sliced by intermittent streams. The ESA is in an

undeveloped area and is naturally marred only by an occasional deer trail.

The purpose of the ESA is to study nature, man's relationship to it, and how he can preserve,

coexist with, and influence it. A teacher's manual compiled by the monument's staff discusses

such concerns as the physical control of erosion through the use of water bars, identifying the

native flora and fauna, and how a normally intrusive pit toilet was cleverly concealed in the

trees with a marked trail. A critique area was built with a semicircle of log seats behind the

elevated planks designed for holding writing materials. A log podium for the lecturer faced

the outdoor classroom. [17]

The success of the River-Badlands ESA depended solely on the response of local school

districts. The initial response was termed "excellent" by Superintendent Homer L. Rouse who
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reported that 772 students visited the ESA during the 1969-70 school year. Rouse observed:

The greatest problem arises with the teachers themselves. Most of them are

grossly lacking in knowledge concerning interrelationships between man and his

total environment. We do find the younger teachers responsive and eager to

learn. Hopefully, our colleges and universities will require future educators to

have some basic knowledge of these concepts.

Rouse added that the aim of the Environmental Study Program was for NPS employees to

take the teacher and class through the ESA on the first trip and then the teacher would be

capable of conducting the interpretive tour on the second trip. It soon became evident,

however, that instructors other than natural science teachers needed more guidance. The

students seemed genuinely receptive and, as long as the schools maintained an active interest

in the program, the NPS would continue to assist "as long as we have the personnel and

resources to do so." [18]

In a memorandum to the Regional Director, Rouse explained the drain on manpower and

time required to guide a class or school through the area, and added:

We also noted that our trail is too long and contains too many stops. This keeps

the class on the move, is tiring to older teachers, and does not leave enough time

for group discussions. We plan to shorten the one trail and reduce the number of

stops in it. This will afford more time at each stop. An additional new trail will

provide diversity for classes visiting the area for the second time. [19]

Environmental awareness waned in the area during the early 1970s. In his annual report,

Superintendent Don Harper stated that "use of the environmental study area was almost

nonexistent. The cost of maintenance greatly exceeds the use benefit factor of this area." [20]

On November 22, 1976, it was reported that the ESA at Scotts Bluff "has been discontinued

due to non-participation by the local school systems." [21] The initial enthusiasm for the

program was spent and the NPS had no other choice but to close the ESA Trail after eight

years of use. Subsequent proposals for use of the ESA include incorporating it into the living

history and evening programs and for special tours. [22]

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Scotts Bluff

Administrative History

PART III:

Mission 66 and Special Events

SCOPE OF THE SCOTTS BLUFF INITIATIVE

The second era of development at Scotts Bluff National Monument came with

implementation of the "MISSION 66" program in the mid-1950s. This program was

conceived to improve and upgrade each NPS unit in anticipation of the 50th anniversary of

the Service in 1966. Planning for the monument's MISSION 66 program was accomplished

between 1955 and 1956 under Superintendent Frank H. Anderson. The majority of

construction and land acquisition was completed in the late 1950s under the guidance of

Superintendent John W. Henneberger Because the first era of development during the

Depression resulted in the establishment of the basic infrastructure, the monument did not

require a major, prolonged building effort. Thus, Scotts Bluff was one of the few NPS units

to complete its MISSION 66 improvement program during the first half of the decade-long

effort.

According to former Superintendent John Henneberger, Midwest Regional Director Howard

Baker was also instrumental in the success of the MISSION 66 developments at the

monument:

Howard Baker [deserves] some. . . credit for the MISSION 66 developments. He

had a long history with Scotts Bluff from at least 1937 to 1964. He probably had

more influence on Scotts Bluff planning and development than anyone else;

including Horace Albright, who I guess pretty much set the development where

it is today. [1]

The most significant impact of MISSION 66 involved the monument's trail system. The only

surfaced trail was constructed in 1953 from the summit parking area to High and Observation

Points, a distance of 0.6 mile. Under MISSION 66, the trail system more than doubled with

the construction of a 600-foot spur trail south from the summit parking area to the South

Overlook. The trail from the summit to Scotts Spring was blacktopped and a new trail was

constructed from Scotts Spring to the museum.

Another trail project (which was obliterated within 10 years) was a trail leading from the

Mitchell Pass parking area, paralleling the Oregon Trail to Jackson's Campsite. With the

expanded trail system, new wayside exhibits and interpretive signs and markers were

required. These signs were concentrated along the Oregon Trail, Mitchell Pass, and summit.

Other interpretive improvements involved the construction of the "campfire circle," a 250-

seat amphitheater for summer historical demonstrations, and the addition of a permanent park

ranger to provide information, conduct guided tours, and act as caretaker of collections. With

the organization of the cooperating association, an important boost to the interpretive effort

came in 1958 with the publication and sale of an official handbook of Scotts Bluff written by
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Merrill J. Mattes.

Other MISSION 66-funded improvements involved soil and moisture conservation, erosion

control of the Oregon Trail ruts, an air-conditioning system; a fireproof, concrete vault; an

addition to the utility area, and a second residence "thus assuring the presence of Park

Service personnel in the area during the absence of the Superintendent."

MISSION 66 construction began in 1958, and by 1959, a sizeable percentage of the program

was complete. Cost of the Scotts Bluff MISSION 66 initiative was set as follows (this figure

does not include the revision of exhibits in the Oregon Trail Museum which began in 1960):

[2]

Development of necessary roads and trails $35,100

Utility developments, wayside exhibits, campfire circle, etc. 46,300

Employee housing, utility building, and minor building activities 38,500

Seeding and planting 1,200

Total Cost of MISSION 66 Development $121,100

With the swift completion of the MISSION 66 development by 1960, Scotts Bluff was able to

begin the "transition from the MISSION 66 prospectus to the Master Plan" [3] without any

difficulty.

OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS

As a historical area, Scotts Bluff National Monument has provided the perfect setting for

numerous special events. Some of the more important events are listed in chronological

order:

1959: An "Oregon Trail Wagon Train" reenactment from Missouri to Oregon camped at

Chimney Rock where 7,000 people came to view it. The train was "attacked" by actual Sioux

after which a buffalo dinner was served. The wagon train passed through Scotts Bluff with

several thousand visitors on hand. [4]

1960: The Pony Express Centennial Celebration, an NPS-sponsored event held at Fort

Laramie and Scotts Bluff, extended from July 22 through 25 NPS Director Conrad Wirth and

Chief Postal Inspector David H. Stephens made speeches as an eastbound Pony Express rider

arrived and changed horses at a special, temporary Pony Express station at Scotts Bluff. Also

present were the Governor of Nebraska, Representative Donald McGinley (4th Congressional

District), and Waddell Smith, President of the Pony Express Centennial Association. [5]

1962: August 22 was the target date that statisticians claimed the billionth visitor would enter

a National Park Service area. Each park unit (192) chose an unsuspecting visitor(s) to honor

at the appropriate time, 12:40 p.m. The NPS Billionth Visitor honored at Scotts Bluff was the

James R. Taylor family of Omaha. [6]

1964: In May, the Nebraska State Historical Society held its spring meeting at the monument.

Three plaques commemorating the Pony Express centennial were embedded on a stone base

near the visitor center. Dedication of the memorial by the NPS and Pony Express Centennial

Association was held on August 16. [7]

1966: A reunion of the William Henry Jackson clan was sponsored at the monument by the

OTMA. [8]
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To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the NPS (August 25), 189 students in the

surrounding communities submitted essays on the subject "What the National Parks Mean to

Me." [9]

1972: During the National Park Centennial, a special display in the Jackson Room explained

the influence of the photographs of William Henry Jackson on the establishment of

Yellowstone National Park. [10]

1976: The Bicentennial Wagon Train with entries representing each State in the Union,

stopped at Scotts Bluff for two days in late March. Activities planned for the historic wagon

train which crossed the continent from west to east attracted a crowd of more than 12,000.

Additional NPS personnel from parks in the Midwest Region were dispatched to the

monument to help with crowd control. The Survival of American Indians Association, a

protest group following the Bicentennial Wagon Train, arrived at Scotts Bluff in early April.

No major law enforcement incidents were reported.

The NPS-sponsored play, "We've Come Back for a Little Look Around," returned for the

second year on July 24 and drew a crowd of 700 visitors. [11]

1979: A total of 450 people representing five local churches attended Easter sunrise services

atop the bluffs. Three church groups met on the summit, one on the North Overlook, one on

the South Overlook, and one on High Point. To alleviate traffic problems, the worshippers

car-pooled to the summit parking lot. [12] (The Easter services occur at the park every year).

Similarly, operating hours are altered annually at other holiday times like Christmas and

Fourth of July for local citizens to enjoy the view in the valley below.

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Scotts Bluff

Administrative History

PART IV:

Nearby Historical Areas

ESTABLISHMENT OF AGATE FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT,

NEBRASKA

On June 5, 1965, the 89th Congress approved a bill to "provide for the establishment of

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument in the State of Nebraska." Public Law 89-33 was first

submitted to the First Session of the 88th Congress by sponsors Senator Roman L. Hruska

and Representative Dave Martin of Nebraska. The Act of June 5, 1965, stipulates that no

more than 3,150 acres may be acquired with an acquisition ceiling of $301,150. According to

the legislation, the purpose of the monument is

. . . to preserve for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations

the outstanding and paleontological sites known as Agate Springs Fossil Quarries

and nearby related geological phenomena, to provide a center of continuing

paleontological research and for the display and interpretation of the scientific

specimins uncovered at such sites, and to facilitate the protection and exhibition

of a valuable collection of Indian artifacts and relics. . . .

The monument is a 30-minute drive via Nebraska 29 from U.S. 20 at Harrison (20 miles

north) or from U.S. 26 at Mitchell (34 miles south). The communities of Gering-Scottsbluff,

Alliance, and Chadron, Nebraska, are all within a two-hour drive of the monument. Large

Miocene fossil deposits are presented in three prominent buttes south of the Niobrara River:

Carnegie Hill, University Hill, and Amherst Point. The mammalian remains, which date more

than 20 million years old, have been described as "the most significant discovery (of its kind)

ever to be found anywhere on the face of the earth." [1] While excavations began 80 years

ago, scientists estimate that more than three-quarters of the fossil-bearing layer remains

within the two principal hills.

The secondary significance of the monument involves the late owner of the Agate Springs

Ranch, Captain James H. Cook, who was the first Euro-American to discover fossil bones

there in 1878. Cook was respected by the Sioux Indians and was a friend of the famous Chief

Red Cloud. Cook and his son, Harold, made Agate Springs Ranch not only a friendly outpost

for the Indians, but a headquarters for paleontologists. The famous Cook Collection of native

American artifacts and prehistoric fossils will eventually be on display at Agate Fossil Beds

National Monument. Currently, the collection remains in protective storage at Scotts Bluff

National Monument until permanent onsite facilities are constructed. The Superintendent of

Scotts Bluff National Monument has direct responsibility for the collection. [2]

Because the new national monument is only 40 miles north of another NPS area, the

administrative authority over Agate Fossil Beds was assigned to the Superintendent of Scotts

Bluff National Monument. The first superintendent to administer the two parks jointly was

Richard L. Holder. This administrative dichotomy presents special demands on the
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superintendent's time and attention, but each Scotts Bluff-Agate Fossil Beds Superintendent

has administered the two monuments' staffs very well. A ranger-in-charge is onsite to

administer the daily operation of Agate Fossil Beds. In addition, a maintenance worker, park

ranger, seasonal park ranger, and seasonal laborer complete the onsite staff, while the clerkstenographer remains with the superintendent at Scotts Bluff. (The clerk-stenographer was

formally transferred to Scotts Bluff in 1983).

For in-depth information regarding the history, establishment, and development of Agate

Fossil Beds National Monument, the reader is urged to consult the administrative history

which will be prepared on Agate Fossil Beds in 1984.

CHIMNEY ROCK AND FORT LARAMIE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITES

The Secretary of the Interior designated Chimney Rock, Nebraska, a National Historic Site on

August 9, 1956. While the State of Nebraska owns the 83-acre grounds, the Nebraska State

Historical Society, National Park Service, and the City of Bayard, Nebraska, have joint

administrative control according to a June 5, 1956, Memorandum of Agreement. Chimney

Rock is under the administration of the Nebraska State Historical Society, while the Scotts

Bluff Superintendent serves as the local NPS representative stationed 23 miles west of the

national historic site. The agreement also provides that the NPS erect historical markers,

publish informational literature, give technical assistance and advice, and provide funding

"within limits of available appropriations." Markers have been erected and interpretive

leaflets published by the NPS. Park Service interpretation is nonexistent at the site, but the

NSHS maintains a mobile trailer containing exhibits at the roadside stop on Nebraska 92

from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The Oregon Trail Museum at Scotts Bluff includes

the story of Chimney Rock in its exhibits. [3]

A Professional Service Proposal in the early 1970s called for the incorporation of nearby

Robidoux Pass and Chimney Rock into Scotts Bluff National Monument. The proposal

suggested that since all three areas possessed the same historical significance and were

interdependent, they should be combined and administered as one unit. In February 1971,

Midwest Regional Director Merrill Beal, reporting on the results of a feasibility study,

revealed that the Professional Services Proposal was cancelled and the two peripheral sites

would not be incorporated into Scotts Bluff National Monument "at this time." No specific

reason was given, [4] but the proposal was vetoed at the Washington level.

In 1978, Congress designated the route of the Oregon Trail a "National Historic Trail," and

since then the NPS has worked with government agencies and private landowners to preserve

the remnants of the trail and open these areas to public access. [5]

For many years the possibility of establishing a "Trails West National Park" has garnered

intense interest. In a September 1978 meeting between Superintendent Burns, Congressman

Keith G. Sebelius (member of the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee's Subcommittee on

National Parks and Insular Affairs), and Congresswoman Virginia Smith, the proposed

national park was discussed. Representative Sebelius stated that the concept of a Trails West

National Park "is a very good proposal," while Representative Smith believed that if Fort

Laramie National Historic Site was eliminated from the proposal, the new NPS entity stood

"a good chance of passage." Removing Fort Laramie from the proposal was considered

crucial for passage because the Wyoming Congressional Delegation was convinced that a

change in the status of Fort Laramie would result in a loss of State control. In fact, the NPS

designation of Fort Laramie was changed from a national monument in the early 1960s to a

national historic site to allow for increased involvement by the State of Wyoming. [6]

Public comparison of Fort Laramie and Chimney Rock, particularly the latter, with Scotts
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Bluff in 1960 resulted in near-unanimous opposition to legislation to change the designation

of Scotts Bluff National Monument. The bill, which primarily was designed to revise the

boundaries to follow logical, geographic features, also included a provision to designate

Scotts Bluff a "national historic site." The public feared that any such change would

"downgrade" the importance of Scotts Bluff and result in it being transformed into "another

Chimney Rock" where the NPS presence and involvement was minimal. In a May 2, 1960,

memorandum from Midwest Regional Director Baker, the Service's long-range goal of

classifying "only outstanding historic sites, buildings, or objects as National Historic Sites"

was explained. Baker added:

The classification of National Monument would be used for nationally significant

landmarks, structures, objects, or areas of scientific or prehistoric interest

designated by the Government for preservation and public use.

The main purpose for the change in classification is to eliminate the confusion

that has developed on the part of the public through the classification of

outstanding historic sites as National Monuments. The change does not imply

downgrading. In fact, it should go a long way towards giving proper recognition

to the true values of a historic site.

It is, of course, understandable why the local people might interpret the change

as downgrading with Chimney Rock National Historic Site nearby. However, it

seems to us that you should explain it on the basis of the above justification

without comparing it to the Chimney Rock situation. [7]

Attempts to quell public opposition to the name change, which threatened the legislation and

its provisions to alter the boundaries, failed. Two weeks later Regional Director Baker

informed the Director:

We believe this opposition to the name change stems from the fact that, to most

of the people living within the sight of Scotts Bluff, its significance as a

physiographic landmark of considerable scenic beauty far outweighs its officially

recognized significance as an historic landmark associated with the Overland

Migrations. In view of this situation, we do not believe that the favorably

received boundary change should be jeopardized by insisting on the name

change.

Baker recommended that the name change clause be removed. [8] His recommendation was

followed, and on June 30, 1961, Congress approved Public Law 87-68 which altered the

boundaries of Scotts Bluff National Monument by adding 210 new acres and deleting 350

Government-owned acres.

The administrative relationship between Scotts Bluff and Fort Laramie has always been

close. Former Scotts Bluff Custodian Merrill J. Mattes was instrumental in laying the

groundwork for the establishment of Fort Laramie National Monument. After its

incorporation into the National Park Service in 1938, Mattes served as "Acting Custodian"

and supervised the first CCC camp there under the direction of G. Hubert Smith. In 1941,

Mattes was also appointed the Fort Laramie historian to begin research on the important

military post. Until 1946, both areas, plus Devil's Tower and Dinosaur National Monuments,

were under the superintendency of David Canfield of Rocky Mountain National Park. [9]

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Scotts Bluff

Administrative History

PART V:

Summary: Scotts Bluff National Monument

The following is an interpretive statement printed in a two-fold leaflet distributed to visitors.

It succinctly and forcefully epitomizes the essence of Scotts Bluff National Monument:

To the thousands of emigrants who followed the Oregon Trail to Utah and the

Pacific Coast, Scotts Bluff was a prominent landmark and a favorite camp site.

Named for the mysterious fur trader, Hiram Scott, who according to tradition

died here in 1828, its prominence is more distinctly associated with the mass

migration across the treeless plains between 1843 and 1869. The covered wagons

of the pioneers, the handcarts of the Mormons, and the pack trains of the fur

traders, all passed this natural promontory. Frenchmen, Scotchmen [sic],

Germans, and others of European nationality joined the native-born American in

the arduous journey to a "promised land." Some carried with them more material

possessions than others, but all carried with them the necessary determination,

resolute courage, and confidence in the American way of life.

This way of life, an integral part of American democracy, was nurtured,

tempered, and revitalized by the rigors of the trail. Freedom of action and

equality of opportunity made possible the wagon trains that followed the trail,

and it was their occupants who extended these principles of Americanism beyond

the Rocky Mountains. Today, as a national monument, Scotts Bluff is a reminder

of that spirit and memorial to those emigrants who disseminated it over a vast

territory. [1]

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Scotts Bluff

Administrative History

ENDNOTES

PART I: THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SCOTTS BLUFF NATIONAL MONUMENT

Location and Description

1Scotts Bluff National Monument, Resource Management Plan (Omaha: NPS, Midwest

Regional Office, 1981), p. 2.

Significance of the Resource

2Ron Cockrell, An Interview with Historian Merrill J. Mattes on Scotts Bluff, Agate Fossil

Beds, Grand Portage National Monuments and Other Areas (Omaha: NPS, Midwest Regional

Office, 1983), p. 12. [Hereinafter cited as Cockrell, An Interview with Historian Merrill J.

Mattes.]

3Ibid.

4Ibid., p. 2.

5Ibid.

6National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form, Scotts Bluff National

Monument; and, Earl R. Harris, A History of Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska

(NPS, 1960), pp. 1-14; 86. (Hereinafter cited as Harris, A History of Scotts Bluff). The reader

should note that the administrative history being cited was approved by the Midwest Regional

Office in 1960, and is not the OTMA-published edition of 1962.

7Master Plan, Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska (NPS, 1976), pp. 1-2. In the late

1970s, this master plan was reclassified to a "resource document."

Summary of the 1960 Administrative History

8Harris, A History of Scotts Bluff, p. 17.

9Cockrell, An Interview with Historian Merrill J. Mattes, p. 9.

10Ibid., p. 5.

11Ibid., p. 2

12Ibid p. 3.
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13Ibid p. 4.

14Ibid., p. 17.

15The information for this section, while supplemented by the Mattes interview, can be found

in passim from Harris' administrative history.

16John Henneberger to Ron Cockrell, letter, December 4, 1983, South Suburban, Illinois.

PART II: OPERATING THE NATIONAL MONUMENT THE PHYSICAL PLANT:

VISITORS CENTER, OREGON TRAIL MUSEUM, AND TRAILS

1Building Inventory, File-Development and Maintenance, Folder-D3423 Individual Building

Data File, Superintendent's Office, Scotts Bluff National Monument. (Hereinafter cited as

SCBL Superintendent).

2Ervin H. Zube, Joseph H. Crystal, and James F. Palmer, Visitor Center Design Evaluation

(DSC: NPS, 1976), p. 102.

3Hendrix to Beal, memo, January 15, 1975, File-Development and Maintenance, Folder-D18

Planning Program and Master Plans through 1975-Closed, SCBL Superintendent.

4Ibid., Beal to Hendrix, memo, February 21, 1975. (See also Superintendent Don Harper to

Beal, memo, January 28, 1975).

5Marc Sagan, HFC Manager, to Beal, memo, May 27, 1976, File-Development and

Maintenance, Folder-D18 Statement for Management, Planning Program and Master Plan,

SCBL Superintendent.

6Regional Museum Curator Newell F. Joyner to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Trip

Report, May 20, 1963, File-Administration, Folder-A5427 Inspections—Field Offices, SCBL

Superintendent.

7Superintendent Burns to Beaumont Newhall, memo, April 14, 1980, File-Administration,

Folder-Chronological File, Interpretation and Resource Management Division Starting 11-29-

79, SCBL Superintendent.

8Ibid., Detail of Annual Operating Requirements Form, March 10, 1980.

9Chief, I&RM to files, March 3, 1980, I&RM Division 1979 report to Superintendent for

Annual Report, File-Administration, Folder-Annual Report (Superintendent's) 1936- , SCBL

Superintendent.

10Museums Coordinator Nan V. Carson to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Trip Report,

October 6, 1965, File-Administration, Folder-A2623 Situation Reports, SCBL

Superintendent.

11Superintendent Robert L. Burns to Regional Director, Midwest Region, memo, August 11,

1980, File-Administration, Folder-Chronological File, I&RM Division Starting 11-29-79- ,

SCBL Superintendent.

12Ibid., Superintendent Burns to Mary Herber, HFC, memo, January 6, 1981. Photographs
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and paintings total 800 and 700 respectively. (See Park Curatorial Program Data

Questionnaire and Scope of Collection Statement, August 1974, File-Development and

Maintenance, Folder-D2623 Reports, Other, SCBL Superintendent.

13Ibid., and Harris, A History of Scotts Bluff, p. 68.

Interpretation and Environmental Education

14Master Plan, 1976, p. 28.

15Superintendent, Scotts Bluff National Monument and Agate Fossil Beds National

Monument, to Midwest Regional Director, Memorandum, December 16, 1983.

16Superintendent Homer L. Rouse to Regional Director, Midwest Region, memo, June 14,

1971, File-Administration, Folder-A8227 Special Events, SCBL Superintendent. The next

year, the living history program was held only on Sunday afternoons. Thirteen VIPs

performed before 1,753 visitors.

17Environmental Awareness Key-man Benjamin F. Ladd to Regional Director, Midwest

Region, memo, October 2, 1969, File-Administration, Folder-A98 Environmental Study

Area, SCBL Superintendent.

18Ibid., Rouse to James G. Keller, Emporia High School, letter, September 9, 1970.

19Ibid., Rouse to Regional Director, memo, September 8, 1970.

20Superintendent Donald Harper to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Annual Report 1975,

January 26, 1976, File-Administration, Folder-A2621 Annual Report (Superintendent's)

1936- , SCBL Superintendent.

21Harper to Chief, Division of Interpretation and Visitor Services, memo, November 22,

1976, File-Administration, Folder-A98 Environmental Awareness III (Conservation), SCBL

Superintendent.

22Harper to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Annual Report 1977, March 6, 1978, FileAdministration, Folder-A2621 Annual Report (Superintendent's) 1936- , SCBL

Superintendent.

Land Acquisition, Problems and Threats

23Master Plan Brief for Scotts Bluff National Monument, approved July 28, 1965, by Acting

Director Al Stratton, p. 11.

24Superintendent Richard L. Holder to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Annual Report

F.Y. 1966, May 25, 1966, File-Administration, Folder-A2621 Annual Report

(Superintendent's) 1936- , SCBL Superintendent.

25Ibid., Harper to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Annual Report, 1973, January 17,

1974.

26Ibid., Superintendent Jerry Banta to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Annual Report

1981, March 11, 1982.
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27Banta to Regional Director, Midwest Region, memo, November 20, 1981, FileAdministration, Folder-A5631 Informational Memoranda, SCBL Superintendent.

28Rouse to Regional Director, Midwest Region, memo, May 8, 1968, File-Administration,

Folder-A2623 Situation Reports, SCBL Superintendent.

29Rouse to Regional Director, Midwest Region, memo, September 10, 1970, FileAdministration, Folder-A22 North Platte Valley Historical Association, SCBL

Superintendent.

30Superintendent, Scotts Bluff National Monument and Agate Fossil Beds National

Monument, to Midwest Regional Director, Memorandum, December 16, 1983.

31Burns to Central Irrigation District: Holtorf, Hansen, Kovarik, and Nuttleman, Attorneys at

Law, Gering, Nebraska, memo, September 8, 1980, File-Administration, Folder-

"Chronological File—I&RM Division" Starting 11-29-79- , SCBL Superintendent.

32Regional Chief of Maintenance Robert G. Cooper and Maintenance Engineer James L.

Ayers, Jr., to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Trip Report, April 26, 1965, FileAdministration, Folder-A2623 Situation Reports, SCBL Superintendent. The report stated

that normal, combustible refuse was burned in a small portable steel incinerator near the

utility buildings, while wet garbage was collected in cans and hauled once a week to the

Gering City Dump.

33Michael E. Solomon, City Administrator, City of Gering, to Superintendent Alford J.

Banta, letter, October 21, 1982, File-Development and Maintenance, Folder-D2215

Development/Study Package Proposals; Water Line and Pump Station, SCBL

Superintendent.

34"Summary of Threats to Scotts Bluff National Monument," typewritten statement, circa

1981, File-Administration, Folder-A2623 Situation Reports, SCBL Superintendent.

Master Plan and Statement for Management

35Chief, Branch of Master Plan Drawings, Edward S. Peetz, to Regional Director, Midwest

Region, and Chief, WODC, memo, July 29, 1965; and attached Master Plan, July 28, 1965;

File-Development and Maintenance, Folder-D18 Planning Program and Master Plans through

1975, Closed, SCBL Superintendent.

36Master Plan, Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska (Denver Service Center: NPS,

1976), quoted from inside cover.

37Ibid., p. 20.

38Ibid p. 21.

39Ibid., p. 23.

40Ibid., pp. 23-9.

41Superintendent, Scotts Bluff National Monument and Agate Fossil Beds National

Monument, to Midwest Regional Director, Memorandum, December 16, 1983.
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42Master Plan, Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska (Denver Service Center: NPS,

1976), p. 18.

43Ibid.

44L. Clifford Soubier, Interpretive Prospectus, Scotts Bluff National Monument (NPS,

approved April 4, 1978), p. 3.

45Ibid., p. 5.

46Statement for Management, Scotts Bluff National Monument (NPS, 1978), pp. 6-7, with

approval memo, Beal to Superintendent, June 5, 1978, File-Development and Maintenance,

Folder-D18 Statement for Management, Planning Program, and Master Plan, SCBL

Superintendent.

Maintenance: The Summit Road and Rock Slides

47Richard L. Holder to Regional Director, Midwest Region, memo, May 25, 1966, FileAdministration, Folder-A2621 Annual Report (Superintendent's) 1936- , SCBL

Superintendent.

48Assistant Regional Director, Development, to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Trip

Report, October 16, 1966, File-Administration, Folder-A2623 Situation Reports, SCBL

Superintendent.

49Ibid., Holder to Regional Director, Midwest Region, memo, August 16, 1967.

50Ibid., Vance L. Kaminski to Assistant Regional Director, Midwest Region, Trip Report,

September 21, 1967.

51Ibid., Superintendent Rouse to Regional Director, Midwest Region, memo, July 2, 1969.

52D.C. Harrington, Chief, Federal Highway Projects Division, Federal Highway

Administration, to Regional Director, Midwest Region, letter, April 1, 1971, FileDevelopment and Maintenance, Folder-D3015 Roads and Trails Maintenance 1954-1970,

SCBL Superintendent.

53Ibid., Phillip R. Iversen, Assistant Director, Park Support Services, Midwest Region, to

Superintendent, memo, (undated) Spring 1970.

54Ibid., Superintendent Rouse to Regional Director, Midwest Region, memo, May 13, 1970.

55Hugh Beattie and Tom Weeks, Operations Evaluation Team, Midwest Region, to Regional

Director, Midwest Region, Operations Evaluation Report 1975, File-Administration, FolderA5427 Inspections—Field Offices, SCBL Superintendent.

56Superintendent Burns to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Annual Report 1980, March

31, 1981, File-Administration, Folder-Annual Report (Superintendent's) 1936- ; and Civil

Engineer Wayne Vander Tuin, Division of Maintenance and Energy, to Superintendent,

memo of telephone call, September 3, 1980, File-Administration, Folder-A2623 Situation

Reports, SCBL Superintendent.
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57Superintendent, Scotts Bluff National Monument and Agate Fossil Beds National

Monument, to Midwest Regional Director, Memorandum, December 16, 1983.

58John Kawamoto, Associate Regional Director, Planning and Resource Preservation,

Midwest Region, to Superintendents, memo, November 12, 1982, File-Development and

Maintenance, Folder-D18 Planning Program and Master Plans, SCBL Superintendent.

General Park Maintenance: A Chronological Account

59Project Completion Report, Construction Interpretive Signs, 1959, File-Development and

Maintenance, Folder-D2623 Situation Reports, SCBL Superintendent.

60Superintendent Keith E. Miller to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Annual Report F.Y.

1964, May 28, 1964, File-Administration, Folder-A2621 Annual Report (Superintendent's)

1936- , SCBL Superintendent.

61Edwin C. Alberts, Regional Chief, Interpretation and Visitor Services, to Associate

Regional Director, Midwest Region, Trip Report, July 30, 1964, File-Administration, FolderA5427 Inspections—Field Offices, SCBL Superintendent.

62Chief of Area Services, Charles J. Novak, to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Trip

Report, June 10, 1965, File-Administration, Folder-A2623 Situation Report, SCBL

Superintendent.

63Ibid.

64Ibid.

65Ibid., Highlight Briefing Statement, 1966 Calendar Year.

66Ibid., Donald S. Nutt, Regional Chief of Maintenance, to Assistant Regional Director,

Midwest Region, Trip Report, June 2, 1967. Nutt also commented that the "general

appearance of the area is very good," but with no maintenance foreman to direct maintenance

operations, "an inordinate amount of time to this goes to the Superintendent and Management

Assistant."

67J.L. Dunning, Fred Dickison, and LeRoy Brown, Management Appraisal Report,

September 3, 1969, File-Administration, Folder-A5427 Inspections—Field Offices, SCBL

Superintendent.

68Superintendent Harper to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Annual Report 1972,

January 10, 1973, File-Administration, Folder-Annual Report (Superintendent's) 1936- ,

SCBL Superintendent.

69Ibid., Harper to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Annual Report 1974, January 23,

1975.

70Ibid., Harper to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Annual Report 1975, January 26,

1976.

71Ibid., Harper to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Annual Report 1977, March 6, 1978.
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72Robert L. Hamann, Chief of Maintenance, Job Order Request Form, undated (ca. 1980),

File-Administration, Folder-"Chronological File, I&RM Division" Starting 11-29-79- , SCBL

Superintendent.

73Superintendent Banta to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Annual Report 1981, March

11, 1982, File-Administration, Folder-A2621 Annual Report (Superintendent's) 1936- , SCBL

Superintendent.

Management Appraisal and Operations Evaluation Reports

74J.L. Dunning, Fred Dickison, LeRoy Brown, Management Appraisal Report, September 3,

1969, File-Administration, Folder-A5427 Inspections—Field Offices, SCBL Superintendent.

75Ibid., H. Gordon Bender, Operations Evaluation Report, November 20, 1970.

76Ibid., Operations Evaluation Report, (no author), January-February 1972.

77Ibid., Hugh Beattie and Tom Weeks, Operations Evaluation Report, 1975.

78Ibid., May 1978.

79Ibid.

Core Mission/Basic Operations

80Draft, Basic Operations Declaration, Scotts Bluff National Monument, November 1981, p.

7, File-Administration, Folder-A5631 Informational Memoranda, SCBL Superintendent.

81Ibid., Superintendent Banta to Regional Director, Midwest Region, memo, November 20,

1981.

82Superintendent Burns to Regional Director, Midwest Region, memo, April 1, 1980, FileAdministration, Folder-"Chronological File, I&RM Division" Starting 11-29-79- , SCBL

Superintendent.

83Superintendent Banta, interview, March 9, 1983, Midwest Regional Office, Omaha,

Nebraska.

Soil and Moisture Conservation and Wildlife Management

84Master Plan, 1976, pp. 14-5.

85Charles J. Novak, Chief of Area Services, to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Trip

Report, June 10, 1965, File-Administration, Folder-A2623 Situation Reports, SCBL

Superintendent.

86Ibid., Fred Dickison, Forester, to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Trip Report,

September 22, 1965.

87Ibid.; and Miller to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Annual Report F.Y. 1965, May 28,

1965, File-Administration, Folder-A2621 Annual Report (Superintendent's) 1936- , SCBL

Superintendent.
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88Ibid., Harper to Regional Director, Annual Report 1972, January 10, 1973.

89Ibid., Annual Report 1973, January 17, 1974.

90Ibid., Annual Report 1974, January 23, 1975. The current RMP for Scotts Bluff identifies

prairie management concerns and proposes special studies to allow more active management

of grasslands.

91Superintendent, Scotts Bluff National Monument and Agate Fossil Beds National

Monument, to Midwest Regional Director, Memorandum, December 16, 1983.

92Banta to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Annual Report 1981, March 11, 1982, FileAdministration, Folder-A2621 Annual Report (Superintendent's) 1936- , SCBL

Superintendent.

93John Kawamoto, Associate Regional Director, Planning and Resource Preservation, to

Superintendents, Midwest Region, memo, November 12, 1982, File-Development and

Maintenance, Folder-D18 Planning Program and Master Plans, SCBL Superintendent.

94Cockrell, An Interview with Historian Merrill J. Mattes, p. 8.

95Chief, I&RM, to files, Annual Report, I&RM Division, 1979, March 3, 1980, FileAdministration, Folder-A2621 Annual Report (Superintendent's) 1936- , SCBL

Superintendent.

96Ibid., Banta to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Annual Report 1981, March 11, 1982.

Cooperative Association: Oregon Trail Museum Association (OTMA)

97Harris, A History of Scotts Bluff, p. 68.

98John Henneberger to Ron Cockrell, letter, December 4, 1983, South Suburban, Illinois.

99Harper to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Annual Report 1972, January 10, 1973, FileAdministration, Folder-A2621 Annual Report (Superintendent's) 1936- , SCBL

Superintendent. In 1972, the OTMA assisted in the National Park Movement Centennial

through various exhibits and assisting a foreign exchange delegate to attend the Second

Annual World Conference on National Parks.

100Ibid., Annual Report 1973, January 17, 1974.

101Hugh Beattie and Tom Weeks, Operations Evaluation Report 1975, File-Administration,

Folder-A5427 Inspections—Field Offices, SCBL Superintendent.

102Burns to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Annual Report 1978, File-Administration,

Folder-A2621 Annual Report (Superintendent's) 1936- , SCBL Superintendent.

103Banta to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Annual Report 1981, March 11, 1982.

104Oregon Trail Museum Association Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors, Minutes,

December 3, 1981, File-Administration, Folder-A42 1974—Cooperating Associations, SCBL
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Superintendent.

Cooperative and Mutual Aid Agreements

105LeRoy R. Brown, Assistant Regional Director, Operations, to Regional Director, Midwest

Region, Trip Report, January 30, 1969, File-Administration, Folder-A2623 Situation Reports,

SCBL Superintendent.

106J. L. Dunning, Fred F. Dickison, LeRoy R. Brown, Management Appraisal Report,

September 3, 1969, File-Administration, Folder-A5427 Inspections—Field Offices, SCBL

Superintendent.

107Superintendent Jerry Banta, telephone conversation, March 18, 1983.

108Letter of Agreement, Three-Party Agreement: National Park Service, Wyrulec Company,

Department of Energy/Western Area Power Administration, September 12, 1979, Contract

No. 9-07-70-P0240, File-Administration, Folder-A44, Cooperative Agreements, SCBL

Superintendent. While it is true that previous negotiations were with the Bureau of

Reclamation, a reorganization in the mid-1970s resulted in WAPA no longer under Bureau of

Reclamation authority. WAPA is represented in this agreement by the Department of Energy,

formed in 1977.

109Ibid., J.L. Dunning, Regional Director, Midwest Region, to Regional Solicitor, Denver,

memo, February 16, 1979.

110Superintendent Banta, telephone conversation, March 18, 1983.

111Acting Superintendent to Regional Director, Midwest Region, memo, May 4, 1978, FileAdministration, Folder-A44 Cooperative Agreements, SCBL Superintendent.

112Ibid., Mutual Fire Assistance Agreement Between Scotts Bluff National Monument and

Gering Volunteer Fire Department, Signed September 23, 1980, Robert L. Burns,

Superintendent. A similar agreement drawn up for the Scottsbluff VFD went unsigned.

113Superintendent Burns to David R. Schleve, Sheriff, Scotts Bluff County, letter, March 4,

1980, File-Administration, Folder-"Chronological File, I&RM Division" Starting 11-29-79- ,

SCBL Superintendent.

Special Use Permits

114Special Use Permit, NPS and Union Pacific Railroad, July 22, 1969, File-Administration,

Folder-A44 Cooperative Agreements, SCBL Superintendent. Since this agreement was

signed, the NPS has questioned the legality of the Union Pacific right-of-way, and no other

permit was negotiated.

115Superintendent Harper to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Annual Report 1975,

January 26, 1976, File-A2621 Annual Report (Superintendent's) 1936- ; and Burns to Gering

Irrigation District, undated letter concerning Special Use Permit #6700-77-1 , FileAdministration, Folder-"Chronological File, I&RM Division" Starting 11-29-79- , SCBL

Superintendent.

116Statement for Management, Scotts Bluff National Monument, 1978, File-Development

and Maintenance, Folder-D18 Statement for Management, Planning Program, and Master
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Plan, SCBL Superintendent; and, Harris, A History of Scotts Bluff, pp. 63-4.

117Hugh Beattie and Tom Weeks, Operations Evaluation Report 1975, File-Administration,

Folder-A5427 Inspections—Field Offices, SCBL Superintendent. The report recommended

that the permit contain "an ironclad clause restricting the permit to be non-renewable."

118Superintendent, Scotts Bluff National Monument and Agate Fossil Beds National

Monument, to Midwest Regional Director, Memorandum, December 16, 1983.

119Secretary of the Interior to Honorable Virginia Smith (House of Representatives;

Nebraska), draft of letter, August 20, 1980, File-Administration, Folder-A3615 Complaints,

Service and Personnel, SCBL Superintendent.

120Burns to Regional Director, Midwest Region, memo, March 31, 1980, FileAdministration, Folder-"Chronological File, I&RM Division" Starting 11-29-79- , SCBL

Superintendent.

121Merrill D. Beal, Regional Director, to Hon. Virginia Smith, House of Representatives,

letter, February 8, 1977, File-Administration, Folder-A3615 Complaints, Service and

Personnel, SCBL Superintendent.

Concessions

122Harris, A History of Scotts Bluff, pp. 56-7.

123Superintendent Richard L. Holder to Regional Director, Midwest Region, memo, October

12, 1966, File-Concessions, Folder-C58 Buildings and Other Facilities, SCBL Superintendent

.

Fee Collection

124Cockrell, An Interview with Historian Merrill J. Mattes, p. 7.

125Superintendent, Scotts Bluff National Monument and Agate Fossil Beds National

Monument, to Midwest Regional Director, Memorandum, December 16, 1983.

126Superintendent Banta, telephone conversation, March 18, 1983.

Cooperation with the Nebraska State Historical Society and the North Platte Valley Historical

Association

127Memorandum of Agreement, Department of the Interior, Nebraska State Historical

Society, and the City of Bayard, Nebraska, June 21, 1956, File-Administration, Folder-A44

Cooperative Agreements; and, Chimney Rock National Historic Site, Nebraska," NPS

pamphlet March 1964 NHS-CH-17000, reprinted 1978, Government Printing Office.

128"Gering-Scottsbluff Rendezvous, Nebraska State Historical Society, Spring Meeting,

Town Park Hotel, Scottsbluff, May 24, 1964," promotional bulletin of the NSHS,FileAdministration, Folder-A22 North Platte Valley Historical Association, SCBL

Superintendent.

129Superintendent Burns to Jim Potter, State Archivist, NSHS, memo, December 3, 1979,
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File-Administration, Folder-"Chronological File, I&RM Division" Starting 11-29-79- , SCBL

Superintendent.

130Merrill J. Mattes to Robert Burns, letter, December 28, 1979, File-Administration, FolderA7221 Files Management, SCBL Superintendent.

131Jim Potter to Superintendent Burns, letter, June 4, 1981, File-Administration, FolderA7221 Files Management, SCBL Superintendent.

132Superintendent Alford J. Banta, interview, January 1983, Gering, Nebraska.

Archeology

133Wendell Frantz, An Archeological Survey of Scotts Bluff National Monument, A Report

Prepared by the Nebraska State Historical Society (Lincoln: May 3, 1966), p. 12.

134Marvin Kay, Archeological Surveys in Scotts Bluff and Agate Fossil Beds National

Monuments, Nebraska (Lincoln: Department of Anthropology, University of Nebraska,

1975), p. 1.

135Ibid., p. 24.

136Ibid pp. 45; 47-8.

Safety

137"Second Fatality in 50-Year History of Monument Recorded," Gering Courier (26

February 1970), p. 1; Rouse to Regional Director, Midwest Region, memo, March 13, 1970,

File-Administration, Folder-A7623 Joseph Arnold Kinnersley (Death), SCBL Superintendent.

138Superintendent Harper to Regional Director, Midwest Region, memo, February 11, 1974,

File-Administration, Folder-A7623 Leonardo J. Hernandez-Chavez (Death), SCBL

Superintendent.

Energy Conservation

139Harper to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Annual Report 1973, January 17, 1974,

File-Administration, Folder-A2621 Annual Report (Superintendent's) 1936- , SCBL

Superintendent.

Youth Programs

140Superintendent Jones to Regional Director, Midwest Region, memo, August 29, 1962,

File-A9819, Folder-Youth Conservation Corps, SCBL Superintendent. Jones recommended

that if a YCC camp was established, that it be both State and Federally-funded and located at

Lake Minatare, "A small spike camp would be sufficient for our projects at Scotts Bluff

National Monument."

141Superintendent Holder to Regional Director, Midwest Region, memo, June 12, 1968, FileAdministration, Folder-A2623 Situation Reports, SCBL Superintendent.

142Superintendent Harper to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Annual Report 1973,

January 17, 1974, SCBL Superintendent.
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143Superintendent Homer L. Rouse, "Scouts and NPS Soar," National Park Courier (June

1974), p. 5, File-Administration, Folder-A22 Boy Scouts of America, SCBL Superintendent.

144Superintendent, Scotts Bluff National Monument and Agate Fossil Beds National

Monument, to Midwest Regional Director, Memorandum, December 16, 1983.

145The information was found in various letters in administration folder A9819 Youth

Opportunity Campaign, Neighborhood Youth Corps, SCBL Superintendent.

Law Enforcement and Monument Security

146Superintendent Harper to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Annual Report 1977, March

6, 1978, File-Administration, Folder-A2621 Annual Report (Superintendent's) 1936- , SCBL

Superintendent.

147Ibid., Harper to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Annual Report 1977, March 6, 1978.

148Ibid., Burns to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Annual Report 1979.

149Cockrell, An Interview with Historian Merrill J. Mattes, p. 22.

150Burns to Regional Director, Midwest Region, memo, September 5, 1980, FileAdministration, Folder-"Chronological File, I&RM Division" Starting 11-29-79- , SCBL

Superintendent.

151Draft Security Plan, March 1981, File-Administration, Folder-A7633 Protection,

Vandalism, SCBL Superintendent.

PART III: MISSION 66 AND SPECIAL EVENTS

Scope of the Scotts Bluff Initiative

1John Henneberger to Ron Cockrell, letter, December 4, 1983, South Suburban, Illinois.

2See MISSION 66 For Scotts Bluff National Monument, National Park Service: n.d. [circa

1956]; and Superintendent Henneberger to Director, National Park Service, fiscal 1959

Annual Report, May 28, 1959, File-Administration, Folder-A2621 Annual Report

(Superintendent's) 1936- , SCBL Superintendent New cases and exhibits were installed in the

Landmark Room by a team of specialists from the Western Museum Laboratory in early

1963. See, Ibid., Louise Ridge, Acting Superintendent, to Regional Director, Midwest

Region, 1963 Annual Report, May 27, 1963.

3Regional Chief of Operations to Superintendents, Region II Field Areas, memo, March 9,

1960, File-Administration, Folder-A98 MISSION 66, SCBL Superintendent.

Other Special Events

4John Henneberger to Ron Cockrell, letter, December 4, 1983, South Suburban, Illinois.

5Superintendent Henneberger to Director, Superintendent's Annual Report F.Y. 1961, May

26, 1961, File-Administration, Folder-A2621 Annual Report (Superintendent's) 1936- , SCBL

Superintendent.
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6"Scotts Bluff National Monument Honors James R. Taylor Family in Billioneth [sic] Visitor

Day Observance," news release, August 22, 1962, File-Administration, Folder-A8227 Special

Events, SCBL Superintendent.

7Superintendent Miller to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Project Completion Report,

July 30, 1964, File-Development and Maintenance, Folder-D2623 Situation Reports,

Completion Reports through 1964, SCBL Superintendent.

8Highlight Briefing Statement, 1966 Calendar Year, File-Administration, Folder-A2623

Situation Reports, SCBL Superintendent.

9Superintendent Holder to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Annual Report F.Y. 1966,

May 25, 1966, Folder-A2621 Annual Report (Superintendent's) 1936- , SCBL

Superintendent.

10Superintendent Harper to Regional Director, Midwest Region, memo, November 8, 1972,

File-Administration, Folder-A8215 Anniversaries, Dedications, etc. 1971- (Book 2), SCBL

Superintendent.

11Harper to Regional Director, Midwest Region, Annual Report 1976, February 17, 1977,

File-Administration, Folder-A2621 Annual Report (Superintendent's) 1936- , SCBL

Superintendent.

12Chief, I&RM, memo to the files, April 18, 1979, File-Administration, Folder-A3815 Local

Public Relations, Federal Agencies, SCBL Superintendent.

PART IV: NEARBY HISTORICAL AREAS

Establishment of Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Nebraska

1Superintendent Holder to Paul Henderson, letter, September 10, 1968, (AGATE) FileAdministration, Folder-A3815 Public Relations, SCBL Superintendent.

2Ibid.; "Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Nebraska," National Park Service pamphlet,

1975.

Chimney Rock and Fort Laramie National Historic Sites

3Memorandum of Agreement, Department of the Interior, Nebraska State Historical Society,

and the City of Bayard, Nebraska, June 21, 1956, File-Administration, Folder-A44

Cooperative Agreements; and, "Chimney Rock National Historic Site, Nebraska," National

Park Service pamphlet March 1964 NHS-CH-17000, reprinted 1978, Government Printing

Office.

4Regional Director, Midwest Region, to Superintendent Rouse, February 3, 1971, memo,

File-Development and Maintenance, Folder-D18 Planning Program and Master Plans through

1975, Closed, SCBL Superintendent. For the views of an adamant boundary revisionist, see

the Merrill J. Mattes interview by Ron Cockrell.

5Jim Schachter, "Preservation of Fading Landmarks on the Western Trails Gets Rolling," The

Kansas City Star (20 January 1983), p. 8A. A new organization, the Oregon-California Trail

Association, has been formed to assist the NPS and lobby for Congressional support. The
Scotts Bluff NM: Administrative History (Endnotes)

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first meeting of the organization took place in Independence, Missouri, in August, 1983. For

more information, see the Merrill J. Mattes interview by Ron Cockrell.

6Keith G. Sebelius to Superintendent Burns, letter, September 14, 1978, File-Administration,

Folder-A3815 Local Public Relations, Federal Agencies, SCBL Superintendent.

7 Regional Director Baker to Superintendent Henneberger, memo, May 2, 1960, File-General,

Folder-L1417 Boundary Adjustments 1959- , SCBL Superintendent. At this same time,

legislation changing the status of Fort Laramie, Bent's Old Fort, and Fort Larned were

pending. No complaints from the public were received regarding these proposals.

8Ibid., Baker to Director, National Park Service, memo, May 17, 1960.

9Cockrell, An Interview with Historian Merrill J. Mattes, pp. 27-8.

PART V: SUMMARY: SCOTTS BLUFF NATIONAL MONUMENT

1Interpretive Statement, excerpt from a two-fold leaflet, File-Administration, Folder-A98

Environmental Awareness III (Conservation), SCBL Superintendent.

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Scotts Bluff NM: Administrative History (Bibliography)

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Scotts Bluff

Administrative History

BIBLIOGRAPHY

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PUBLICATIONS

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Nebraska. Pamphlet, 1975.

Chimney Rock National Historic Site, Nebraska. Pamphlet, 1964.

Cockrell, Ron. An Interview with Historian Merrill J. Mattes on Scotts Bluff, Agate Fossil

Beds, Grand Portage National Monuments and Other Areas. Omaha: Midwest Regional

Office, 1983.

Draft Security Plan, Scotts Bluff National Monument. 1981.

Frantz, Wendall. An Archeological Survey of Scotts Bluff National Monument. Prepared for

the National Park Service by the Nebraska State Historical Society. Lincoln, Nebraska: May

1966.

Harris, Earl R. A History of Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska. 1960.

Kay, Marvin. Archeological Surveys in Scotts Bluff and Agate Fossil Beds National

Monuments, Nebraska. Prepared for the National Park Service by the Department of

Anthropology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska: 1975.

Master Plan Brief for Scotts Bluff National Monument. July 28, 1965.

Master Plan, Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska. July 1976.

Mattes, Merrill J. Fort Laramie Park History, 1834-1977. Rocky Mountain Regional Office.

September 1980.

MISSION 66 for Scotts Bluff National Monument. n.d. [circa 1956].

National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form, Scotts Bluff National

Monument. Accepted October 3, 1978.

Resource Management Plan, Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska. Midwest Regional

Office, 1981.

Soubier, L. Clifford. Interpretive Prospectus, Scotts Bluff National Monument. Midwest

Regional Office, 1978.

Statement for Management, Scotts Bluff National Monument. Midwest Regional Office,

1978.
Scotts Bluff NM: Administrative History (Bibliography)

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Zube, Ervin H.; Crystal, Joseph H.; and Palmer, James F. Visitors Center Design Evaluation.

Denver Service Center, 1976.

INTERVIEWS

Banta, Alford J. Superintendent, Scotts Bluff National Monument. Interview, January 1983;

and, Telephone Conversations. March 9 and 18, 1983.

Mattes, Merrill J. Former Custodian of Scotts Bluff National Monument and Regional

Historian, Midwest Region. Interview. May 24-25, 1983. Littleton, Colorado.

CORRESPONDENCE

Burns, Bob, to Ron Cockrell. Letter. December 7, 1983. Winchester Idaho.

Henneberger, John, to Ron Cockrell. Letter. December 4, 1983. South Suburban, Illinois.

Mattes, Merrill J., to Ron Cockrell. Letter. November 3, 1983. Littleton, Colorado.

Miller, Keith E., to Ron Cockrell. Letter. December 7, 1983. Sedro Woolley, Washington.

Superintendent, Scotts Bluff National Monument and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument

(Jerry Banta), to Midwest Regional Director. Memorandum. December 16, 1983. Gering,

Nebraska.

ARTICLES

"Gering-Scottsbluff Rendezvous, Nebraska State Historical Society, Spring Meeting, Town

Park Hotel, Scottsbluff, May 24, 1964." Promotional bulletin of the Nebraska State Historical

Society.

Rouse, Homer L. "Scouts and NPS Soar." National Park Courier. June 1974.

Schachter, Jim. "Preservation of Fading Landmarks on the Western Trails Gets Rolling." The

Kansas City Star. January 20, 1983.

"Scotts Bluff National Monument Honors James R. Taylor Family in Billioneth [sic] Visitor

Day Observance." Superintendent's News Release. August 22, 1962.

"Second Fatality in 50-Year History of Monument Recorded." Gering Courier. February 26,

1970.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RECORDS, OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT, SCOTTS

BLUFF NATIONAL MONUMENT, GERING, NEBRASKA

ADMINISTRATION

"Chronological File, Interpretation and Management Division." Starting November 29, 1979.

A22, Boy Scouts of America

A22, North Platte Valley Historical Association

A2623, Situation Reports
Scotts Bluff NM: Administrative History (Bibliography)

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A2621, Annual Report (Superintendent's) 1936- 

A3615, Complaints, Service and Personnel

A3815, Local Public Relations, Federal Agencies

A42, Cooperating Associations

A44, Cooperative Agreements

A5427, Inspections—Field Offices

A5631, Informational Memoranda

A7221, Files Management

A7623, Leonardo J. Hernandez-Chavez (Death)

A7623, Joseph Arnold Kinnersley (Death)

A7633, Protection, Vandalism

A8215, Anniversaries, Dedications, etc. 1971- (Book 2) 

A8227, Special Events

A98, Environmental Study Area

A98, Environmental Awareness III (Conservation)

A98, MISSION 66

A9819, Youth Conservation Corps

CONCESSIONS

C58, Buildings and Other Facilities

DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE

D18, Planning Program and Master Plans

D18, Statement for Management, Planning Program, and Master Plan

D18, Natural Resources Management Plan, Planning Process and Master Plan

D18, Planning Program and Master Plans through 1975- Closed 

D2215, Development/Study Package Proposals: Water Line and Pump Station

D2623, Reports, Other

D2623, Situation Reports, Completion Reports through 1964

D3015, Roads and Trails Maintenance, 1954-1970

D3423, Individual Building Data File

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Scotts Bluff NM: Administrative History (Appendix A)

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Scotts Bluff

Administrative History

APPENDIX A:

Photographs of Scotts Bluff National Monument

Nebraska Highway 92 as it stretches east through Mitchell Pass. The historic Oregon

Trail is to the left. (Photograph by Ron Cockrell)
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With the huge bluff in the background, the buildings from left to right are: Ranger's

Residence; Summit Road Toll Station; Visitor Center/Oregon Trail Museum; and

Public Restroom Facility. In the foreground is the paved visitor parking area.

(Photograph courtesy of Superintendent, Scotts Bluff NM)

NPS information and OTMA sales desk in the lobby of the Visitor Center. Beyond

the swinging doors is an administrative office. (Photograph by Ron Cockrell)
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Exhibits on the history of Scotts Bluff in the Oregon Trail Museum. The OTMA book

sales display is in the foreground. (Photograph by Ron Cockrell)

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Scotts Bluff NM: Administrative History (Appendix B)

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Scotts Bluff

Administrative History

APPENDIX B:

Proclamation of Establishment, December 12, 1919

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

WHEREAS Scotts Bluff is the highest known point within the State of Nebraska,

affording a view for miles over the surrounding country;

Whereas Mitchell Pass, lying to the south of said bluff, was traversed by the old

Oregon Trail and said bluff was used as a landmark and rendezvous by

thousands of immigrants and frontiersmen travelling said trail en route for new

homes in the Northwest; and

Whereas, in view of these facts, as well as of the scientific interest the region

possesses from a geological standpoint, it appears that the public interests will be

promoted by reserving the lands upon which the said bluff and the said pass are

located as a national monument:

Now, THEREFORE, I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of

America, by virtue of the power and authority in me vested by section two of the

Act of Congress entitled "An Act for the preservation of American antiquities,"

approved June 8, 1906 (34 Stat., 225), do proclaim that there are hereby reserved

from all forms of appropriation under the public-land laws, and set apart as the

Scotts Bluff National Monument, the following described lands, to-wit: the

northwest quarter, north half of the southwest quarter, southeast quarter of the

southwest quarter, southwest quarter of the northeast quarter and the west half of

the southeast quarter of section four, township twenty-one north, range fifty-five

west; lots one, two and three, south half of the northeast quarter, north half of the

southeast quarter, southeast quarter of the northwest quarter and the northeast

quarter of the southwest quarter of section five, township twenty-one north,

range fifty-five west; the northeast quarter of section nine, township twenty-one

north, range fifty-five west; lots six and seven, section twenty-seven, township

twenty-two north, range fifty-five west; lot four, southeast quarter, and south half

of the southwest quarter of section twenty-eight, said township and range; the

southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section twenty-nine, said township

and range; the east half of the east half of section thirty-two, said township and

range; and the north half, southwest quarter, north half of the southeast quarter

and the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section thirty-three,

township twenty-two north, range fifty-five, all west of the Sixth Principal

Meridian in the State of Nebraska, and that the boundaries of the said Scotts

Bluff National Monument are as shown on the diagram hereto attached and made
Scotts Bluff NM: Administrative History (Appendix B)

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[SEAL.]

a part hereof.

Warning is hereby given to all unauthorized persons not to appropriate or injure

any natural feature of this Monument, or to occupy, exploit, settle or locate upon

any of the lands reserved by this proclamation.

The Director of the National Park Service, under the direction of the Secretary of

the Interior, shall have the supervision, management and control of this

Monument, as provided in the Act of Congress entitled "An Act to establish a

National Park Service and for other purposes," approved August 25, 1916 (39

Stat., 535).

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the

United States to be affixed.

DONE in the District of Columbia This 12th day of December, in

the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and nineteen, and of

the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred

and forty-fourth.

WOODROW WILSON

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Scotts Bluff NM: Administrative History (Appendix C)

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Scotts Bluff

Administrative History

APPENDIX C:

Executive Order 4008, May 9, 1924

Executive Order

Scotts Bluff National Monument

Nebraska

Proclamation of December 12, 1919 (No. 1547-41 Stat., 1779) reserving 2,053

acres in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, as the Scotts Bluff National Monument

— is hereby modified by eliminating from said reservation the NE 1/4, Section 9,

Township 21 North, Range 55 West of the 6th Principal Meridian thus reducing

the area of the said National Monument to 1893.83 acres.

CALVIN COOLIDGE

THE WHITE HOUSE,

 May 9, 1924.

[NO. 4008.]

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Scotts Bluff NM: Administrative History (Appendix D)

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Scotts Bluff

Administrative History

APPENDIX D:

Notice of Designation of Revised Boundaries,

December 15, 1962

The Federal Register December 15, 1962 page 12,454

SCOTTS BLUFF NATIONAL MONUMENT, NEBR.

Notice of Designation of Revised Boundaries

Notice is hereby given, in accordance with section 1 of the Act of June 30, 1961 (75 Stat.

148), that the boundaries of Scotts Bluff National Monument have been revised pursuant to

section 1 of the Act, that such revised boundaries are designated on drawing numbered NMSB-7101, dated December 11, 1961 on file in the Office of the National Park Service; and

that such boundaries of the monument are more particularly ascribed as follows:

SIXTH PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, NEBRASKA

Beginning at the intersection of the south right-of-way line of State Highway 92 with the

west section line of section 3, S. T. 21 N., R. 55 W.;

Thence south along the west section line of section 3 to the northwest corner of the southwest

quarter southwest quarter southwest quarter section 2;

Thence east along the north line of the south half southwest quarter southwest quarter section

3 to the northeast corner of the south half southwest quarter southwest quarter section 3;

Thence south along the east line of the south half southwest quarter southwest quarter section

3 and the east line of the northwest quarter northwest quarter section 10 said township and

range to the south right-of-way line of an improved county road;

Thence westerly along the north right-of-way line of said road to a point due south of a point

on the south line of section 4, said township and range, which is 800 feet west of the

southeast corner of said section 4;

Thence north to said point on the south line of said section 4;

Thence west along said south line to the southwest corner of the southeast quarter southwest

quarter section 4;

Thence north along the west line of said southeast quarter southwest quarter section 4 to the

northeast corner of the southeast quarter southwest quarter southwest quarter section 4;

Thence northwesterly on a straight line to the northwest corner of the northeast quarter

southwest quarter southwest quarter section 4;
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Thence west along the south line of the north half south half section 4 and the south line of

the south half south half section 5, said township and range to the southwest corner of the

northeast quarter southwest quarter section 5;

Thence north along the west line of the east half west half section 5 to a point 25 feet south of

the center line of the Scotts Bluff irrigation lateral;

Thence northeasterly along a line 25 feet from and parallel to, said lateral to the south line of

section 32, T. 22 N., R. 55 W.;

Thence east along said south said south line of section 32 to the west rim of the major gully

running northwesterly through said section 32;

Thence northerly and westerly along the west rim of said gully to the south right-of-way line

of State Highway 92, and continuing across said highway to the north right-of-way line;

Thence northwesterly along said north right-of-way line to the west rim of the west fork of

the major gully;

Thence northeasterly along the west rim of said gully to a point on the north line of the south

half south half section 29, said township and range, being the northwest corner of the

northeast quarter southeast quarter southwest quarter section 29;

Thence east approximately 1,600 feet along the north line of the south half south half section

29, across said gully to the old fence line on the west rim of another major gully running

northerly and easterly through the west half southeast quarter section 29;

Thence northerly and easterly along the west rim of the second major gully to the south

right-of-way line of the Gering Canal;

Thence northerly and easterly along the west rim of the second major gully to the south

right-of-way line of the Gering Canal to the correction line between sections 28 and 29;

Thence easterly and southerly along the said south right-of-way line approximately 800 feet

to a point;

Thence northeasterly in a straight line 800 feet easterly from the parallel to the correction line

between sections 28 and 29 across the Union Pacific Railroad to the main channel of the

North Platte River;

Thence generally easterly following the main channel of the North Platte River along the

north line of lots 7 and 6 in section 28 and lot 9 in section 27 to the east line of the southwest

quarter section 27;

Thence south along the east line of the southwest quarter section 27 across the Union Pacific

Railroad to the southeast corner of the northeast quarter southeast quarter southwest quarter

section 27, being a point at the top of a cliff;

Thence southwesterly along the top of the said cliff to the north right-of-way line of the

Gering Canal;

Thence westerly along said north right-of-way to the east line of the west half section 27;

Thence south along the east line of the west half west half section 27 and the east line of the

west half west half section 34 across the Gering lateral to the west right-of-way line of the
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Gering lateral;

Thence southerly along the west right-of-way line of the Gering lateral through section 34, T.

22 N., R. 55 W., and section 3, T. 21 N., R. 55 W., to the east line of the west half west half

said section 3;

Thence south along the east line of the west half west half section 3 across a major gully

running southeasterly through the said west half west half section 3 to the south rim of said

gully;

Thence westerly and southerly along the south rim of the south fork of the said gully to the

west section line of section 3;

Thence south to the point of beginning.

Lands within the aforesaid boundary shall constitute the Scotts Bluff National Monument,

and be administered in accordance with the provisions of the act entitled "An Act to establish

a National Park Service, and for other purposes, approved August 25, 1916 (39 Stat.5.5 as

amended and supplemented.

Stewart L. Udall

Secretary of the Interior

December 10, 1962,

[F.R. Doc. 62-12403: Filed, Dec. 14, 1962 8:48 a.m.]

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Scotts Bluff NM: Administrative History (Appendix E)

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Scotts Bluff

Administrative History

APPENDIX E:

National Register of Historic Places

Inventory/Nomination Form for Scotts Bluff National

Monument

Placed on the National Register on October 15, 1966; documentation and

acceptance, October 3,1978.

Name: Scotts Bluff National Monument

Location: Three miles west of Gering on Nebraska 92

Classification: Site, Public, Occupied, Accessible (restricted),

Museum & Park

Agency: Midwest Regional Office, National Park Service,

Omaha, Nebraska

Condition: Good, Unexposed, Alterned, Original State

Period: 1800-1899

Areas of

Significance: Exploration/Settlement

Description

Scotts Bluff National Monument is located in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, about 20 miles

east of the Wyoming state line, in what is commonly called the "Panhandle of Nebraska."

The three nearest towns are: Gering, three miles east of the headquarters area; the city of

Scottsbluff, five miles northeast from the Monument; and Mitchell, Nebraska, some 10 miles

to the northwest. State Highway 92 intersects the Monument and connects with U.S. 26, 20

miles to the east; with State Highway 29 in Gering, and again at an intersection some three

miles north of headquarters.

The North Platte River flows in a southeasterly direction through western Nebraska to a

junction with the South Platte at North Platte, Nebraska, (175 miles east of the Monument).

The Monument borders this river on the south bank and encompasses the famous bluff,

which bears the name of one of the more unfortunate "mountain men," Hiram Scott.

Along the south bank of the North Platte River for 100 miles in western Nebraska, is a long

ridge of bluffs. These bluffs, with some lesser hills to the north, form the North Platte Valley.

Scotts Bluff, a massive promontory rising 800 feet above the valley floor, stands apart from

these bluffs to form one of the dominant features of this valley. To the north of Scotts Bluff,

extending to the North Platte River is a rugged area of badlands. South of Scotts Bluff, at the

southern edge of the Monument is South Bluff. Between Scotts Bluff and South Bluff is
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Mitchell Pass through which the famous Oregon Trail ran, three-and-a-half miles of which

can be seen in the form of wagon ruts. Flanking Mitchell Pass to the north is Eagle Rock and

to the south is Sentinel Rock. Numerous rock inscriptions remain from the pioneer emigrants.

To the south of Sentinel Rock is Coyote Pass. Other prominent geologic features of South

Bluff include Crown Rock and Dome Rock to its east. Water resources within the Monument

include several intermittent streams, Scotts Spring, and the Mitchell and Gering Canal.

Prehistoric structures, all of which are unexposed, include four campsites of various Indian

tribes, located near the bluff-top parking lot, at the base of the north side of Scotts Bluff, on

the east side of Scotts Bluff, and on the south side of South Bluff.

Non-historic structures within the Monument including the following:

Scottsbluff Country Club and road (1920's)

Visitor Center and Museum (1935, 1938, 1948)

Residence #1 (1938, 1949)

Residence #2 (1958)

Utility Building (1936, 1958)

Comfort Station (1938)

Pump Vault (1936)

Pump House (1938)

Campfire Circle (1958)

Flagpole

State Highway 92 (1934-1938)

Summit Road, Three Tunnels, and parking area (1934-1939)

Numerous trails, including "Scout Trail" and "Scotts Spring Trail" which features a tunnel cut

through Saddle Rock

Union Pacific Railroad tracks to the south of the North Platte River

Power transmission lines across the southeast corner of the Monument

Numerous markers and signs including those commemorating the following:

Hiram Scott

Mitchell Pass

Oregon Trail

Observation Point

Jackson Camp

Statement of Significance

Named for Hiram Scott, a fur trapper who died in the vicinity about 1828, Scotts Bluff is an

ancient landmark and was noted by the earliest tribes whose records have been preserved. To

the Indians of the Plains, Scotts Bluff was Ma-a-pa-te, or "the-hill-that-is-hard-to-goaround." It became a principal landmark of the great overland migrations of the nineteenth

century.

The bluff was once part of the ancient High Plains. Erosion over long periods has cut down

the surrounding valleys to their present level, leaving Scotts Bluff and the adjoining hills as

remnants of the unbroken plains which now lie farther to the west.

The North Platte Valley, of which Scotts Bluff is the dominant natural feature, has been a
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human migration corridor for centuries. Some stone artifacts found here indicate that man has

been here for more than 10,000 years. When white men first arrived, they found that this area

was a favorite hunting ground of Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho Indians, for here vast herds

of buffalo came to water.

The first white men to see Scotts Bluff were Robert Stuart and his companions, who in 1812-

13 passed by carrying dispatches to John Jacob Astor from his new fur post in Oregon. In the

years that followed, trappers and traders saw it when they brought their beaver pelts down the

Platte River to settlements farther east; and explorers and missionaries passed the bluff on

their way from advance posts of civilization into the western wilderness.

In 1843 the vanguard of a great pioneer army passed Scotts Bluff in the first large migration

to Oregon. Four years later Brigham Young led the first group of his followers past the bluff

on the north side of the Platte, a route later famous as the Mormon Trail. The two years

following the discovery of gold in California in 1846 saw more than 150,000 men, women,

and children traveling through the area.

In 1860-61 Pony Express riders galloped through Mitchell Pass, which skirts the southern

base of the bluff. They were followed shortly by the first transcontinental telegraph. The

Overland Mail, Pony Express, Pacific Telegraph, and Overland Stage built stations near

Scotts Bluff. In 1864 Fort Mitchell was established, two-and-a-half miles to the northwest to

protect stagecoaches and wagon trains on the Oregon Trail. The following year the North

Platte Valley was considered as a possible route for the Union Pacific, then building

westward to link up with the Central Pacific to form the first transcontinental railroad, but a

line through Cheyenne was chosen instead. The completion of the railroad in 1869 marked the

decline of the Oregon Trail, although it continued in use locally for many years.

In the late 1870's and early 1880's, Scotts Bluff was the geographical center of the openrange cattle industry, the last great remaining episode of the frontier. With the arrival of the

first homesteaders in the North Platte Valley in 1885, the local frontier disappeared and

Scotts Bluff became a symbol of the Nation's past.

It was the development of Scotts Bluff as a symbol of the Nation's past that local and state

interests devoted themselves following the turn of the century. Following a period of strong

activity, Scotts Bluff was proclaimed a National Monument on December 12, 1919. The

following decade saw little development, save for foot trails and picnic areas, despite

widespread interest. With the advent of the depression the Monument underwent a period of

active development under the aegis of such employment programs as the C.W.A., W.P.A.,

and C.C.C. Constructed during this period were the Summit Road with its three tunnels and

parking lot. State Highway 92, the Museum (later called the Visitors Center) in which is

housed a notable collection of paintings and memorabilia of the famed Western artist,

William Henry Jackson, landscape preservation work, a temporary camp (Civilian

Conservation Corps Camp 762) near the Scottsbluff Country Club which was later removed

and had housed up to 200 men, picnic grounds west and south of Mitchell Pass, a water

supply system, a residence, and a utility building. By 1939 the extreme popularity of the

picnic grounds led to a degenerate state and to their permanent closing, despite strong local

interest.

During the decade encompassing the World War II and decade following it, some minor

changes were made to the Monument, including additions to the Museum and the residence

in 1948. Numerous major rock slides occurred along the Summit Road which required

lengthy clearance work. In 1949 use of the Gering Golf Course and a rifle range, both within

the boundaries, was discontinued.
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During the early 1960's a number of construction projects were undertaken as part of the

"Mission 66" program of the National Park Service. Besides considerable upgrading of

facilities, roads, and trails, a new residence, an addition to the utility building, and an

amphitheater were constructed. At this time 47.63 acres were added to the Monument.

Thus, a consistent and thorough program has been undertaken for the preservation of this

unique historic and geologic area.

Major Bibliographical References

Brand, Donald D. The History of Scotts Bluff, Nebraska, United States Department of the

Interior, National Park Service, Berkeley, California, 1934.

Green, Thomas L., "Scottsbluff and the North Platte River Valley," 1949.

Harris, Earl R., "History of Scotts Bluff National Monument," Oregon Trail Museum

Association, Gering, Nebraska, 1962.

Mattes, Merrill J., "Scotts Bluff National Monument," Washington, D.C., 1958.

Location

Beginning at a point on Nebraska State Highway 92 about 1100 feet southeast of its

intersection with a county road in Section 32 of Township 22 of Scotts Bluff County,

Nebraska, the boundary of Scotts Bluff National Monument meanders northward about 1200

feet to its intersection with the north border of Section 32 where it then proceeds due north

about 1300 feet to a point (G) where it turns due east about 1500 feet to a point slightly west

of an intermittent stream which it follows northward about 1500 feet to the stream's

intersection with the Mitchell and Gering Canal. The boundary then follows the Canal

eastward about 2700 feet to a point (A) where it turns due north-northeast about 1700 feet to

its intersection with the North Platte River which it follows eastward about 7700 feet to a

point (B) where it turns due south about about 1800 feet to a point (C) where it turns

westward following the Gering Canal about 1500 feet to a point where it turns southward

following an intermittent stream about 5700 feet to the point where the southern of two

power transmission lines running west from Gering turns south-southwest. At this point the

boundary proceeds due south about 1400 feet where it crosses an intermittent stream and

follows along its south side about 1800 feet southwestward to a point where it turns and

proceeds due south about 2800 feet to a point where it turns due east about 1300 feet to a

point where it turns due south about 1600 feet to its intersection (point D) of Gering lateral

stream which it then follows west-northwestward about 2300 feet to a point where the

boundary turns due north about 600 feet to a point where it turns due west about 3100 feet to

a point where it turns due north about 700 feet to a point where it turns northwest about 1000

feet to a point where it turns due west about 4700 feet to a point (E) where it turns northnorthwest about 3400 feet to its intersection of Scotts Bluff Lateral Stream (point F) which it

follows about 1800 feet to the intersection of the stream and the south border of Township 22.

At this oint the boundary turns due east about 900 feet to a point where it turns due north

about 200 feet to a dirt road which it follows north-northwestward about 3300 feet to its

intersection with State Highway 92, which it then follows about 1800 feet northwest to the

point of beginning.

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Scotts Bluff NM: Administrative History (Appendix F)

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Scotts Bluff

Administrative History

APPENDIX F:

Annual Visitation Figures, Scotts Bluff National

Monument, 1934-1982

ATTENDANCE ATTENDANCE

1934 10,000 1958 82,162

1935 25,000 1959 95,814

1936 51,038 1960 91,460

1937 55,921 1961 92,272

1938 96,450 1962 96,279

1939 82,305 1963 99,936

1940 108,536 1964 89,712

1941 80,206 1965 106,508

1942 44,385 1966 107,504

1943 35,568 1967 124,116

1944 27,867 1968 133,843

1945 29,833 1969 125,000

1946 57,887 1970 130,000

1947 49,285 1971 127,736

1948 48,789 1972 140,330

1949 52,680 1973 156,976

1950 60,334 1974 166,944

1951 60,027 1975 174,273

1952 54,168 1976 213,267

1953 50,706 1977 204,044

1954 57,672 1978 217,533

1955 54,937 1979 173,291

1956 73,700 1980 109,620

1957 79,230 1981 132,824

1982 170,175

NOTE: This chart was taken from a list obtained in File-Administration, folder-A2615

Monthly Reports. Attendance figures before 1950 are different from the figures published in

the 1960 Administrative History.

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Scotts Bluff NM: Administrative History (Appendix G)

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Scotts Bluff

Administrative History

APPENDIX G:

Staff Organizational Chart

(click on image for an enlargement in a new window)

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Scotts Bluff NM: Administrative History (Appendix H)

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Scotts Bluff

Administrative History

APPENDIX H:

Graphics From the 1976 Master Plan, Scotts Bluff

National Monument
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(click on image for an enlargement in a new window)

(click on image for an enlargement in a new window)

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Scotts Bluff NM: Administrative History (Appendix I)

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Scotts Bluff

Administrative History

APPENDIX I:

National Park Service Personnel at Scotts Bluff

National Monument

SUPERINTENDENTS

John W. Henneberger (1958-1962)

Harold R. Jones (1962-1963)

Keith E. Miller (1963-1965)

Richard L. Holder (1965-1969)

Homer L. Rouse (1969-1971)

Donald R. Harper (1971-1978)

Robert L. Burns (1978-1981)

Alford J. "Jerry" Banta (1981- )

SUPERINTENDENT JOHN W. HENNEBERGER (1958 to 1962)

Henneberger transferred from Olympic National Park, Washington.

Entered On Duty: 01-25-58

Henneberger transferred to Region IV (San Francisco) to assume the position of Park Planner

on 01-25-62.

OTHER PERSONNEL

Park Historian: Earl R. Harris, entered on duty 07-29-57. The position of Historian was

reinstated as the single permanent uniformed employee under the Superintendent in June

1956.

Administrative Assistant: Louise Ridge, entered on duty 06-18-43. Ridge was promoted from

Clerk-Stenographer on 03-23-58.

Foreman I, Caretaker: Edward Wolf, entered on duty 08-25-58.

SUPERINTENDENT HAROLD R. JONES (1962 to 1963)

Jones' previous NPS career included duty as a Ranger at Rocky Mountain (Colorado), Wind

Cave (South Dakota), and Yellowstone (Wyoming) National Parks. Jones transferred from

the position of Park Planner, Recreation Resource Planning, Region II (Omaha).

Entered On Duty: 03-05-62
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Jones transferred to the Washington Office to assume the position of Park Planner on 05-21-

63.

OTHER PERSONNEL

Park Historian: Earl R. Harris.

Administrative Assistant: Louise Ridge.

Foreman I, Caretaker: Edward Wolf.

SUPERINTENDENT KEITH E. MILLER (1963 to 1965)

Miller transferred from the position of Superintendent, Gran Quivira National Monument,

New Mexico.

Entered On Duty: 07-14-63

Miller transferred to the Region II Office (Omaha) in 07-65.

OTHER PERSONNEL

Park Historian: Earl R. Harris.

Administrative Assistant: Louise Ridge.

Foreman I, Caretaker: Edward Wolf.

SUPERINTENDENT RICHARD L. HOLDER (1965 to 1969)

Holder transferred from Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.

Entered On Duty: 08-01-65

Holder transferred to the position of Programs Specialist, Southeast Regional Office (Atlanta)

on 03-23-69.

OTHER PERSONNEL

Chief, I & RM: Benjamin F. Ladd, entered on duty 06-16-68 from a similar position at

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.

Park Historian: Earl Harris, transferred to Nez Perce National Historical Park, Idaho, in 02-

67.

Administrative Assistant: Louise Ridge.

Clerk-Typist: Bettie King, entered on duty in 11-67.

Foreman I, Caretaker: Edward Wolf.

SUPERINTENDENT HOMER L. ROUSE (1969 to 1971)

Rouse transferred from Joshua Tree National Monument, California.
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Entered On Duty: 06-69

Rouse transferred to the Washington Office in 1971.

OTHER PERSONNEL

Chief, I & RM: Benjamin F. Ladd, transferred to Glacier National Park, Montana, in 1971.

Chief, I & RM: Lary D. Barney, entered on duty in 06-71.

Administrative Assistant: Louise Ridge.

Clerk-Typist: Bettie L. King, terminated in 05-70.

Clerk-Typist: Carol Peterson (Preston), entered on duty in 06-70, terminated in 03-71.

Clerk-Typist: Alice Swigert, entered on duty in 04-71.

Laborer: Edward Wolf.

SUPERINTENDENT DONALD R. HARPER (1971 to 1978)

Harper transferred from the position of District Ranger, Big Horn Canyon National

Recreation Area, Montana.

Entered On Duty: 10-71.

Harper transferred to the position of Superintendent, White Sands National Monument, New

Mexico, on 08-13-78.

OTHER PERSONNEL

Chief, I & RM: Lary D. Barney, resigned on 03-13-74.

Chief, I & RM: Allen R. Haeker, entered on Duty in 10-72 as Park Ranger, promoted to

Chief, I & RM in 1974, transferred to Olympic National Park, Washington, in 09-75.

Chief, I & RM: Charles B. Cooper, transferred from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National

Park, California, on 10-26-75.

Park Ranger: Richard H. Saunders, entered on duty on 11-11-75; transferred to Herbert

Hoover National Historic Park, Iowa, in 17-77.

Park Ranger: Lawrence A. Blake, transferred from George Washington Memorial Parkway,

Virginia, on 02-26-78.

Administrative Assistant: Louise Ridge. Ridge, the longest-serving NPS employee in the

history of the monument, retired on 06-28-74, having served 31 years at Scotts Bluff.

Clerk-Typist: Alice Swigert, terminated in 06-72.

Clerk-Typist: Linda D. Hahn, entered on duty in 07-72; promoted to Administrative

Technician in 06-74, transferred to the Midwest Archeological Center in 01-78.

Clerk-Stenographer: Sherryl A. Shelbourn, entered on duty in 09-74; transferred to local Soil
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Conservation Service in 05-75; returned to Scotts Bluff as Administrative Technician in 03-

78.

Clerk-Stenographer: Jeanne E. Weber, entered on duty in 05-75; position made permanent in

05-76.

Clerk-Typist: Peggy Schreiner, temporary; terminated on 03-17-78.

Maintenance Worker: Edward Wolf, retired on 06-30-73, after serving 15 years at Scotts

Bluff.

Maintenance Worker: Robert L. Hamann, entered on duty 11-12-73; transferred from

Badlands National Park, South Dakota.

Motor Vehicle Operator: Fernando Delgado, entered on duty in 11-76.

SUPERINTENDENT ROBERT L. BURNS (1978 to 1981)

Burns transferred from Superintendent, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan.

Entered On Duty: 08-13-78

Retired: March 31, 1981

Burns retired from the National Park Service after 36.5 years of Federal service.

OTHER PERSONNEL

Chief, I & RM: Charles B. Cooper, transferred to Haleakala National Park, Hawaii, in 09-78.

Chief, I & RM: Christopher M. White, transferred from Perry's Victory International Peace

Memorial, Ohio, on 10-08-78; transferred to Ozark National Scenic Riverway, Missouri, in

11-80.

Chief, I & RM: Russell E. Osborne, transferred from Amistad National Recreation Area on

02-22-81.

Park Ranger: Lawrence A. Blake, transferred to George Washington Carver National

Monument, Missouri, in 05-80.

Park Technician: Jon G. James, transferred from National Capitol Parks on 08-12-79;

transferred to Golden Spike National Historic Site, Utah, on 09-07-80.

Lead Park Technician: (formerly Park Ranger position), Curtis C. Weikert, Career

Conditional appointment from Peace Corps on 01-25-81. Position converted to Subject to

Furlough when filled.

Administrative Technician: Sherryl A. (Shelbourn) Mauler.

Maintenance Worker: Robert L. Hamann.

Motor Vehicle Operator: Fernando Delgado.

Clerk-Stenographer: Jeanne E. Weber, Agate Fossil Beds employee, duty station at Scotts

Bluff.
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SUPERINTENDENT ALFORD J. ("JERRY") BANTA (1981 to )

Banta transferred from Superintendent, Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial,

Ohio.

Entered On Duty: June 14, 1981.

OTHER PERSONNEL

Chief, I & RM: Russell E. Osborne.

Lead Park Technician: Curtis C. Weikert. Position converted to full-time on 05-15-83.

Maintenance Worker: Robert L. Hamann, promotion/position title change to Maintenance

Mechanic on 06-12-83.

Motor Vehicle Operator: Fernando Delgado.

Administrative Technician: Sherryl A. Mauler.

Clerk-Stenographer: Jeanne E. Weber, change in duty station from Agate Fossil Beds to

Scotts Bluff on 05-01-83.

Museum Technician: Audrey L. Mesford, entered on duty 08-29-83.

SEASONAL EMPLOYEES:

SUMMER 1983

Merlyn K. Davis, Park Ranger

Lanny K. Page, Park Technician

Jane E. Robinson, Park Aid

Rebecca A. Waid, Park Aid

John C. Neilson, Park Aid

Jon A. Quijas, Park Aid, "President's Stay in School Program"

David L. Junk, Laborer

Robert D. Soles, Laborer

SUMMER 1982

Merlyn K. Davis, Park Ranger

Lanny K. Page, Park Technician

Kim Schmidt, Park Aid

John C. Neilson, Park Aid

Barbara A. Consolo, Student Trainee (Technician)

Jon A. Quijas, Park Aid, "President's Stay in School Program"

David L. Junk, Laborer

SUMMER 1981

Merlyn K. Davis, Park Ranger

Lanny K. Page, Park Technician
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Neil Waldman, Park Technician

Nancy A. Richmond, Park Technician (WINTER)

Ruth Ann Connelly, Park Aid, "President's Stay in School Program"

Barbara A. Consolo, Student Trainee (Technician)

SUMMER 1980

Merlyn K. Davis, Park Ranger

Nancy A. Richmond, Park Technician

Barbara A. Consolo, Student Trainee (Technician)

Ruth Ann Connelly, Park Aid, "President's Stay in School Program"

Merl Boyd, Laborer

Ethel McVay, Park Aid (WINTER)

SUMMER 1979

Merlyn K. Davis, Park Ranger

Winfield S. Delle, Park Ranger

Nancy A. Richmond, Park Technician

Lanny K. Page, Park Technician

Judith K. Bartzatt, Park Technician

Catherine L. Suit, Park Aid

Ruth Ann Connelly, Summer Aid

SUMMER 1978

Merlyn K. Davis, Park Ranger

Winfield S. Delle, Park Ranger

Loren C. Ireland, Park Ranger, (first began in 1962)

Joan E. Merrigan, Park Ranger

Lanny K. Page, Park Technician

Charles and Nancy Kuhl, full-time VIPs

SUMMER 1977

Loren C. Ireland, Park Ranger

Merlyn K. Davis, Park Ranger

Winfield S. Delle, Park Ranger

Jeffry L. Warfield, Park Ranger

Scott B. Eckberg, Park Aid (WINTER)

Joan E. Merrigan, Park Technician

OTHER SEASONAL EMPLOYEES (INCOMPLETE INFORMATION)

John C. Bays, 1967 through 1975 or 1976

Henry Heinricks, 1968(?) through 1974 or 1975

Gay Peterson, 1974

Paul Salazar, 1976, Maintenance

Marlyn Bartlett

Wayne Sides, 1963(?) through 1970(?)

Mike Heckman, 1965(?) through 1968(?)

R.J. Roberts

Larry Lemons

Don Foose, Maintenance
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Bill Plank

Calvin Payne

Frank Sanchez

Mike Rueffort, Laborer

Jim and Nancy Shives

Cottie Martinez

Frank Laboto

Herb Barcellus

Bob Connors

Paul Magyar

Andy Thomas, Maintenance

Larry Gibb

Jack Salas

Dennie Kenzy, 1966(?)

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Scotts Bluff

Administrative History

PART II:

Operating The National Monument (continued)

LAND ACQUISITION, PROBLEMS, AND THREATS

The boundaries of Scotts Bluff National Monument have changed three times since the 1919

proclamation establishing the area. Currently, total acreage is 2,987.97. The last boundary

revision designed for the more effective management of the monument was approved by

Congress in 1962. A Master Plan brief approved in 1965 stated that the "903.21 acres of land

not federally owned within the authorized boundary should be acquired or its development

regulated by local zoning or scenic easement acquisition." [23]

A lack of Federal funds for the land acquisition program has made it erratic. A vital segment

of property within the authorized boundaries was not acquired for more than seven years

because of a shortage of funds. The OTMA purchased the east half of Dome Rock in 1959

from private owners and held it pending the availability of NPS funds. On January 18, 1966,

Superintendent Richard L. Holder presented a check for $2,123 to the cooperative association

for the 20-acre tract and thus brought the entire historic feature under Federal ownership. [24]

In 1973, legislation was requested for raising the funding ceiling for land acquisition, [25] but

nothing materialized from the effort.

In 1981, the east boundary of the monument was largely completed when the 50-acre Heppe

property was acquired. [26] The same year hopes for completing the remainder of the land

acquisition program were dashed when the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

announced that each operating unit of the Federal Government in Fiscal Year 1982 would

operate with a budget established at a "minimum acceptable level." The initiative within the

Park Service was first called "Core Mission" or "Basic Operations." In a November 20, 1931,

proposal, Superintendent Alford J. Banta declared the monument would "postpone

indefinitely additional land acquisition." [27] The "freeze" on this management objective is

still in effect with two private inholdings of 13.7 and 2.7 acres as yet unacquired.

Park administrators often encounter attempts by private groups to gain access and use of

monument lands for purposes other than established NPS policies. An incident similar to the

1954-55 FBC television controversy arose in the late 1960s. In 1968, the Scottsbluff

Chamber of Commerce, in an effort to promote the growth of the tourist industry in the

region, retained Mark Sumner of the School of Outdoor Drama at the University of North

Carolina to draft plans for an amphitheater. The tentative area for the facility was 10 miles

south of Gering in the Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area, but the possibility of performing

historical dramas within the national monument and other nearby historic sites was also

raised. [28]

By mid-1970, the idea gained considerable interest and the "Amphitheater Development

Committee" (ADC) was actively pursuing two principal sites--the Wildcat Hills area and

Scotts Bluff National Monument. The ADC was assisted by the energetic North Platte Valley
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Historical Association (NPVHA) which was eager to have its own museum facility

incorporated into the amphitheater complex.

The Park Service gave little encouragement to the proposal. Superintendent Rouse explained

that the 1962 boundary revision was justified on the grounds of the rapid growth of the city of

Gering toward the monument. NPS approval for any commercial development within the

park, no matter how desirable, would not only be against stated management objectives, but

might open a floodgate of other requests to use monument lands or prompt commercial

developers to purchase property near the monument in hopes of potential profits.

The ADC acknowledged NPS concerns and began concentrating on the Wildcat Hills site.

The ADC differed with the NPVHA not only on the location issue, but also on including a

museum facility in the complex. The growing differences tore the two groups apart.

Superintendent Rouse informed the Midwest Regional Director on September 10, 1970:

I am relieved to report that the immediate threat of such a development at our

doorstep has diminished. The officers of the NPVHA do not consider the

Wildcat Hills area as a good location for development. Therefore, they have

withdrawn their interest from the amphitheater group. [29]

With the split of the two interest groups, pressure on the NPS to include an amphitheater on

monument grounds ended. The amphitheater was built at Wildcat Hills, but proved to be a

financial failure. It has been abandoned and is in a state of disrepair.

Several man-made intrusions are within the authorized boundaries, including State Highway

92, Union Pacific Railroad track, and portions of three canals. The Mitchell-Gering Canal

crosses the park just north of the bluffs and the ditch, its adjacent road, and ditchriders house

(no longer used) are visible from the principal overlooks on the Summit. The Gering-Fort

Laramie Lateral crosses the boundary in several places on the east edge of the park. The

Central Canal in the northwest corner of the monument also impacts the area with an

adjacent roadway and gate. [30] In September 1980, this gate was left open without NPS

authorization for more than a month to allow large dump trucks filled with rock to enter the

area. Scotts Bluff Superintendent Robert L. Burns notified the lawyers for the Central

Irrigation District that the NPS was "disturbed" that it was not notified of the landfill activity

going on within the monument boundaries and questioned the ownership of the right-of-way

of the canal across NPS land. He requested that any future proposed construction activity be

reported to the NPS with sufficient time to consult with the Midwest Regional Office. He

made clear that the Park Service did not look favorably upon any change in the profile of

monument lands. [31]

Portions of the NPS water and sewage system are also a visual intrusion on monument

property. The water system, constructed during the Depression, includes a pumphouse and

well which feeds into 5,000- and 25,000-gallon underground reservoirs. Distribution from the

reservoirs to headquarters is via a four-inch water main. The concrete pumphouse contains a

10-horsepower, three-phase electric motor capable of pumping 25 gallons per minute. The

water is chlorinated at this station. Headquarters is served by a septic tank and disposal field

a quarter-mile away. Sludge from the tank is drained annually into a gully. It has been

determined that this spill causes no environmental problems "since it is a dry gully and is far

distant from any wells, water supply, or stream which would be contaminated by this

discharge." [32]

The deteriorating water system at the monument will be scrapped. A draft water service

agreement between the city of Gering and Scotts Bluff National Monument was approved by

the City Council on October 11, 1982. The agreement will lead to the connection of a new
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water system at the monument to that of the city of Gering. The hook-up will cost no more

than $400. The NPS will construct 9,300 feet of water line and a 15-square-foot pump station

along the Highway 92 right-of-way. Planning for the project began in August 1981 and

construction began in the fall of 1983 and is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 1984.

The contractor is the A. C. Smith Company of Scottsbluff whose bid was $181,988.21 [33]

A statement summarizing threats to the national monument was prepared in the early 1980s.

It reads:

Significant threats to the area emanate from outside the park boundary.

Residential development is presently taking place near the eastern boundary of

the Monument. Air quality is affected by several agricultural processing plants

and one oil refinery [since closed in 1982].

The Chicago-Northwestern Railroad proposes to haul coal from Montana fields

to eastern markets and has an agreement with Union Pacific Railroad to operate

over some of its track. If the proposal is approved, 16 to 24 coal trains could

cross the monument daily on existing Union Pacific track, resulting in increased

air and noise pollution. This would also result in a visual intrusion in the area.

[34]

This increased railroad activity will begin upon completion of the construction of a connector

line now underway.

MASTER PLAN AND STATEMENT FOR MANAGEMENT

In 1956, a master plan was approved to begin a transition beyond the MISSION 66

development program. Approval was withheld by the Regional Director, however, until a

recommendation for the construction of an additional residence in the headquarters area was

deleted from the plan. [35] Eleven years later, another master plan was approved but was

soon after reclassified to a "resource document." An insert in the 1976 document explained:

. . . it became apparent to the National Park Service that many of the proposals

being discussed were neither logical nor feasible in the foreseeable future. This

determination is based on the usability [sic] of existing facilities for a number of

years, fiscal restraints, and present and anticipated visitation. [36]

The principal impetus for the reclassification of the document entailed the long-range

considerations which are the "removal of the existing railroad tracks and irrigation canals,

possible relocation of the visitor center from the foreground of the prime historic setting, and

a study of alternatives for reducing or eliminating the intrusion of Nebraska 92 through the

monument." [37]

The railroad tracks and irrigation canals are intrusions on the natural and historic scene,

especially in the northern section of the monument where the largely untouched badlands are.

If either the railroad or irrigation facilities are abandoned, the recommendation is that the

NPS acquire the land involved.

When viewed from the summit, Nebraska 92 and the visitor center complex are definite

intrusions on the historic scene. The highway not only bisects the monument, but it "crosses,

and overlaps the historic Oregon Trail route from the east entrance to a location several

hundred feet west of the visitor center. The highway effectively diminishes the integrity of

the historic trail through Mitchell Pass." [38] Relocation of the visitor center complex was

discussed earlier, but the Master Plan/resource document states:
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Relocation of the visitor center complex, possibly closer to the east entrance,

could be considered if removal of Nebraska 92 (or a portion of it) becomes

feasible, or when the present structures have outlived their usefulness and

maintainability. These alternatives would deemphasize development within the

prime historic zone.

The realignment of Nebraska 71 westward is another possibility.... Such a

relocation could offer a viable rerouting of Nebraska 92. If it is determined that

Nebraska 92 cannot be removed, then other alternatives should be formulated for

reducing the intrusion of the highway. [39]

The document goes into greater detail on the monument's short-range needs which are

designed to restore the natural and historic setting, provide the proper services to visitors, and

protect the environment. In the area of Cooperative Planning and Management, three topics

are discussed: zoning buffer, water system, and land classification. The recommendations

follow:

1). With the continuing growth and development of the nearby Scottsbluff-Gering

communities, the natural and historic setting of the monument will be threatened if

incompatible developments are introduced near the authorized boundaries. Continued

cooperation with the neighboring communities is necessary to obtain and enforce protective

zoning around the area.

2). Connecting the monument to the city of Gering's water system has already been

discussed. The existing system is deteriorating and inadequate. Its ability to provide proper

fire protection is substandard. Anticipated water demand during peak periods is estimated at

15,000 gallons per day.

3). Scotts Bluff National Monument was included on the National Register of Historic Places

on October 15, 1966, in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.

Actual boundary documentation and significance statement were accepted on October 3,

1978. The area is classified and operated as a historical zone of the National Park System.

In the area of Development, the 1976 Master Plan/resource document addresses seven topics:

utility lines, visitor center parking, the Country Club, summit parking, visitor center/office

space/residences, shuttle system, and trail system. The recommendations follow:

1). One of the major visual intrusions on the historic setting is the unsightly overhead

transmission lines paralleling Nebraska 92. The utility lines which serve the visitor center

from the east are owned by the Bureau of Reclamation, but the Roosevelt Public Power

District has lines on the same poles. When a new substation is built, Bureau of Reclamation

facilities will be removed and service lines will be placed underground. (The lines were

removed in 1983).

2). Parking at the visitor center in 1976 was hampered by an unstriped, potholed lot in need

of repair due to the lack of an adequate subbase. It has since been repaired. Although parking

sometimes overflows onto the turf during popular evening programs, the expansion of the lot

was not recommended.

3). The purchase of the Country Club on the eastern side of the monument created an

opportunity to restore the area to a natural setting. The 86-acre site included a golf course,

pro shop, and storage building. After a three-year special use permit expired, the entire

development would be eradicated. (Note: Now the date is 1987).

4). Parking at the summit has always been a problem. Vehicular circulation at the summit
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needs to be improved to provide additional space for parking. There are only 30 spaces which

are often filled during peak hours, and thus limits the number of visitors who can enjoy the

summit trails and view.

5). The visitor center contains both interpretive and administrative office functions. This

combination does not allow sufficient space for visitor use, according to the 1976 plan. Two

options are discussed for resolving this conflict:

Convert the visitor center for interpretive use only; remove administrative offices to

one of the existing residences, and then build a new residence within the complex.

Construct an addition to the visitor center for the needed office space along the

northwest side adjacent to the Summit Road and convert the existing building for

exclusive visitor use.

One of the most common of visitor complaints does not involve the visitor center, but the

summit road and parking. The narrow road does not easily accommodate large recreational

vehicles and the unhooking of trailers in the visitor center parking lot is mandatory because

they are not permitted to use the summit road. As visitation increases, the problem of

congestion becomes more critical each season. An NPS shuttle system from the base to the

summit of Scotts Bluff may be the best solution to this problem. If this solution is chosen, it

would alleviate the congestion and provide an opportunity for interpretation during the

visitors' ride to the summit. The parking capacity at the visitor center would then have to be

increased, but would probably create too great a physical and visual intrusion. The relocation

of the entire visitor center complex would then have to be considered.

The trail system on the summit is the most widely-used area in the monument. Adverse

conditions exist when visitors leave the defined trail, trampling vegetation and damaging

potential geological and archeological resources. Expansion of the trail system in other parts

of the monument was recommended to lessen the impacts at the summit. The plan suggests a

trail to the badlands connecting the lower part of the Summit Trail. It would lead through the

Country Club area and connect to the canal road which cuts through the badlands. Riverside

Park, which is owned by the city of Scottsbluff across the North Platte from the monument,

could be linked to this trail system. The feasibility of this move needed to be studied, and

was not approved or rejected by the 1976 plan.

In the area of interpretation, the purpose of the monument is described, and among the

recommendations is upgrading the wayside exhibits and protection of the Jackson Collection,

including the portion stored in the visitor center basement. [40]

Visitation patterns are also discussed at length in the plan. One-third of the visitors are from

the local area, coming mainly on weekends. Another third come from other areas in the State

of Nebraska, and the remaining third from other States. Most of this out-of-state visitation

represents those who are traveling to major destination points like the Black Hills of South

Dakota, or Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. (Recent park surveys, however,

show the following statistics: 22% regional, i.e. within 3-hours driving distance; 56%

national; and 1% international [41] ). In 1976, the monument hosted around 175,000 visitors,

most of whom arrived during the summer months. Daily peak visitor loads can reach as high

as 1,500, but average 1,100 people. Summer evening amphitheater programs are the most

popular attractions drawing as many as 750 people.

Such heavy use of the monument's fragile resources, especially in the summit area, results in

the acceleration of erosion which creates ugly scars on the natural landscape: "However,

most parts of the monument are greatly underutilized. A substantial visitation increase, both

in terms of number and length of stay, could be accommodated while maintaining a high-
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quality experience, particularly if interpretive programs are expanded." [42]

The average visitor at the monument arrives with his family and spends between one and two

hours. They usually park at the visitor center and tour the museum first. After touring the

interpretive center, most visitors drive to the summit to see the view and walk over some of

the foot trails. Some use the summit trail and walk to and from the summit. [43]

An Interpretive Prospectus, approved in April 1978, was compiled by a team from the

monument and Harpers Ferry Center. The purpose of the prospectus is to "achieve [the] most

effective utilization of existing facilities, with minor alterations" [44] to enhance

interpretation. It recommends various alterations in the exhibits and an increased emphasis on

the audio-visual program. Rehabilitation of the Jackson Wing's lighting and security systems

was seen as the most serious problem. [45]

On June 5, 1978, a new Statement for Management was approved by Midwest Regional

Director Merrill D. Beal replacing an earlier plan approved in 1971. Within the document,

the current management objectives are stated:

To preserve and maintain the historic visual integrity of the bluff and Mitchell Pass,

and provide for their protection and use.

To restore the vegetative and wildlife communities of the Monument to a condition as

near the historic state as practical and feasible.

To identify, inventory, and monitor the condition of the geological, paleontological,

and cultural resources and to manage and interpret them in a manner consistent with

the requirements of historic preservation law and policy.

To interpret the historical significance of the Monument as it relates to the overland

migration and westward expansion.

To provide access and facilities for the appropriate use of the Monument in a manner

consistent with the protection and management of the scenic, scientific, and cultural

resources.

To assist visitors in their use of the Monument and surrounding area through the

provision of adequate information.

To provide for the safety and protection of the visitors, residents, and employees of the

Monument. [46]

On November 3, 1981, Jimmie L. Dunning, Midwest Regional Director, approved the

Statement for Management and Resources Management Plan (RMP) for Scotts Bluff National

Monument.

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Scotts Bluff

Administrative History

PART II:

Operating The National Monument (continued)

ARCHEOLOGY

Archeological investigations first began in the Scotts Bluff vicinity in 1932 and were

followed by a succession of light excavations. The first archeological study done for the NPS

came in 1966 when Wendell Frantz of the Nebraska State Historical Society compiled An

Archeological Survey of Scotts Bluff National Monument. Survey procedures included

surface collections and shovel tests. Frantz remarked that few conclusions could be drawn

from the survey because of the limited cultural remains recovered. He continued:

It can be said that Scotts Bluff was occupied one or more times in the prehistoric

past. The pottery and point types found suggest that some or all of these

occupants were probably culturally affiliated to those of central Nebraska whose

remains have been labled [sic] the Upper Republican Aspect.

In view of the small amount of material found, further research work can not

[sic] be recommended. While it is possible that more material could be found on

the summit or that some shelters existed under rock ledges, Scotts Bluff probably

did not play a major role as a living area in the prehistoric occupation of western

Nebraska. [133]

Fortunately, the NSHS recommendation was not followed, and in April 1975, the Department

of Anthropology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln conducted archeological

reconnaissances at both Scotts Bluff and Agate Fossil Beds National Monuments. The

surveys were conducted by Dr. Marvin Kay under a cooperative agreement with the NPS

Midwest Archeological Center (MWAC). The primary objective of the surveys was to

"locate, identify, and evaluate archaeological sites eligible for nomination to the National

Register of Historic Places." [134]

Three previously unrecorded archeological sites were located at Scotts Bluff. The site that

Frantz discussed in the 1966 report, 25SF11, was found to be "considerably larger" than he

had described. The data gathered at one of the four sites led Kay to state that the "assignment

of an Upper Republican cultural affiliation... is very tenuous." [135]

Kay proposed that both Scotts Bluff and Agate Fossil Beds are archeologically similar to

Signal Butte and Ash Hollow Cave, two intensively-studied sites which "provide a

comparative base, or datum, for western Nebraska archeology." The sites span the past 4,000

years and include the McKean, Plains Woodland, Upper Republican, and Dismal River

cultural complexes. Short term or, most likely, seasonal encampments of small hunting

parties made over a long period of time are represented at the two monuments.

As for potential eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places, Kay recommended
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more studies of the sites be conducted. He wrote:

Studies of subsistence, settlement, regional exchange and environmental

reconstruction would provide a necessary theoretical framework for evaluating

and nominating these Scotts Bluff and Agate Fossil Beds national monument

sites to the National Register. Prior to completion of some or all of the abovelisted studies, I believe that it would be premature to single out any of these sites

as suitable for nomination. It should not be construed that these sites either in

part or in their entirety are of insufficient quality or theoretical importance for

National Register consideration....it should be clear that these sites are significant

cultural resources requiring careful management, if not nomination at this time to

the National Register. [136]

SAFETY

Visitors are urged to exercise caution when traversing the monument trails, and warned for

their safety and for the preservation of the resource not to leave the designated trails.

Rattlesnakes, while indigenous to the area, have not caused much alarm for Scotts Bluff

administrators or visitors. Venturing too close to the edge of the bluffs can also be dangerous.

The loose soil can easily give way and strong gusts of wind can cause the most sure-footed to

lose his sense of balance. Common visitor injuries are principally restricted to minor scrapes

and sprains, but tragedy has struck three separate times since the 1919 Proclamation of

Establishment.

The first of three men to die at the monument was a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)

youth in 1935. Lawrence Campbell, 17, fell to his death on June 30 1935, while working on

the summit road near the first tunnel. He apparently lost his balance and fell 25 feet over the

bluff's edge onto the rocks below.

The second fatality came on February 22, 1970, when Joseph Arnold Kinnersley, 12, of

Scottsbluff fell to his death. The victim and his six companions hiked to the monument to

explore the badlands when four of the boys, led by Kinnersley, decided to ascend to the

summit. At the North Overlook, Kinnersley went beyond the trail and retaining wall to see if

he could see his two friends in the badlands below. He lost his footing on the crumbling

sandstone, landed on a ledge 30 feet below, and plummeted out over the cliff. The boy fell

another 120 feet before striking the rocks and sliding 75 feet down the side of the bluff. He

sustained massive head and body injuries. A community rescue squad, summoned by

monument personnel, arrived, but the boy was pronounced dead at the scene. [137]

Four years later, three boys hiking below the North Overlook reported seeing a body in a

ravine. NPS personnel investigated an area 125 yards below and north of the North Overlook

cliff and discovered the decomposing body of a young male. The body was removed the next

morning, February 4, 1974, and the county pathologist determined that while the man

suffered a broken leg and other minor injuries, his death was the result of exposure. The man

was identified as Leonardo J. Hernandez-Chavez, 23, of Scottsbluff. Chavez was reported

missing by his family on January 8, the most likely date of Chavez's death. Officials

speculated that Chavez, who oddly did not drive his vehicle to the monument, was alone on

the summit and lost his footing. Climatic conditions at the time included subzero

temperatures and several inches of snow. [138]

ENERGY CONSERVATION

Conservation of energy became a priority in 1973 as NPS personnel devised plans to make

the daily operation of Scotts Bluff National Monument more energy-efficient. The

conservation program included insulating the two residence buildings, installing a day/night
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thermostat in the visitor center, weatherstripping windows and doors, and mowing the trail

and road sides when needed and not on a regular schedule. Monument personnel elected to

take shorter lunch periods and close the visitor center one-half hour earlier. The effort to

reduce energy consumption and thereby cut operating costs is a continuing program. [139]

YOUTH PROGRAMS

A proposal to establish facilities in various parks for a Youth Conservation Corps (YCC)

program in 1962 met with little enthusiasm at Scotts Bluff. Since the old CCC camp was

demolished before World War II, no such resident employment program has been instituted.

To establish any new facility within monument boundaries would result in an intrusion on the

historic scene, an unacceptable action. To build a Scotts Bluff YCC camp, Superintendent

Harold R. Jones noted, would be unwise because it would be difficult to utilize the

manpower. He suggested that considerable work for YCC personnel could be done at Lake

Minatare in the Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area, and at the Bridgeport State Recreation

Area. [140]

A Neighborhood Youth Corps (NYC) program began at Scotts Bluff in the mid-1960s as the

result of an agreement with the Northwest Nebraska Community Action Council (formerly

the Nebraska Panhandle Community Action Agency). Established under the Economic

Opportunity Act of 1964, the NYC enrollees work for a period of three months doing a wide

variety of tasks. In June 1968, for example, construction began on the monument's Bicycle

Trail link to Gering as a result of a cooperative effort with the NYC. [141] NYC labor was

also utilized in 1973 to cleanup a dumping area on recently acquired land. [142]

The Boy Scouts of America have also helped with monument projects. In April 1971, local

Boy Scouts cleaned up a junk-strewn flood plain on recently acquired land. The beautification

effort was part of the Park Service's SOAR (Save Our American Resources) and the Boy

Scouts' Conservation Good Turn programs. [143] (In the summer of 1983, an erosional

control project on the Oregon Trail was accomplished). [144]

Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) workers are hired at the monument

on a limited, as needed basis. Collectively, most CETA employees at Scotts Bluff have been

American Indians and members of other minority groups. [145]

LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MONUMENT SECURITY

In 1977, monument personnel participated in an area drill which simulated a crash of a large

commercial airliner. Superintendent Don Harper was the drill coordinator and Chief Ranger

Charles B. Cooper was the American Red Cross' First Aid and Food Chairman. All local,

State, and Federal agencies participated in the first disaster drill ever staged in the Nebraska

panhandle. [146]

Also in 1977, the superintendent and the chief ranger were invited to join the area law

enforcement council made up of various law enforcement groups. [147] This recognition by

community law enforcement agencies led to the 1979 mutual aid agreement with the Scotts

Bluff County Sheriff's Office which resulted in the deputization of monument rangers. The

rangers were subsequently certified by the State of Nebraska to use radar in their traffic

control duties. Superintendent Burns characterized as "excellent" the relationship and

cooperation with local police departments. [148]

The premier security breach (or an error in administrative judgement) in the monument's

history occurred in the summer of 1957 when the entire collection of William Henry

Jackson's original pencil sketches was taken from Scotts Bluff to Denver by the late artist's

son. Historian Earl Harris, who was the acting superintendent in the absence of Frank
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Anderson, allowed Clarence Jackson to take the priceless collection to Denver where Jackson

said he was going to copy the sketches for use in a book about his father. Harris' trust in

Clarence Jackson was soon questioned by officials in the Midwest Regional Office. This

skepticism was well-founded as it soon became evident that Jackson had no intention of

returning the sketches. The collection was out of Park Service possession for two years. All

the sketches were finally recovered, but, according to former Midwest Regional Historian

Merrill J. Mattes:

I don't know how many trips Frank Anderson and Earl Harris made down to

Denver. Clarence Jackson was holed up in an apartment there and apparently he

was being very difficult. He'd tell them, "That collection really belongs to me."

He gave them that sort of story. Then they'd be able to come back with two or

three pictures. Then they'd make another trip to Denver. . . . I guess that Earl

must've felt terrible about it, and Frank Anderson, too. There's an instance where

tragically the collection could have been absconded with, or this crummy

rooming house he lived in could have burned down. [149]

The worst breach of security in recent years came on September 5, 1980, when a revolver

owned by the late William Henry Jackson was stolen from the Oregon Trail Museum. The

1851 Colt percussion revolver disappeared from a flat-topped glass display case in the rear of

the Jackson Room. The historic revolver was never recovered. After the theft, tamperresistent screws were installed in the museum display cases and the staff was reminded to

increase security checks in the building. [150]

As a direct result of the theft, a draft security plan for Scotts Bluff National Monument was

compiled in March 1981 "to assure the physical security and protection of the historical

artifacts displayed and stored in the Visitor Center/Museum complex and the quonset hut

behind the Superintendent's house." The plan calls for the acquisition of additional locks,

safes, lighting, and alarms to secure the buildings and deter potential intruders. In the

planning stage, a fire and intrusion alarm for the visitor center and Quonset hut will be

directly linked to a dispatcher and both ranger residences. When the present superintendent's

house is removed (late 1983) the Quonset hut will be left without adequate protection despite

the alarm systems. It is the present storage facility for a large segment of the priceless Cook

Collection. The report recommended, therefore, that funding be found for the relocation of

the structure whenever the house is removed. Another recommendation called for installing

silent alarms in the areas where money is handled, at the OTMA sales desk and the entrance

fee collection station. [151]

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Administrative History

APPENDIX A:

Photographs of Scotts Bluff National Monument

(continued)

Replica of a Morman handcart exhibit in the Oregon Trail Museum. (Photograph by

Ron Cockrell)
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Pencil sketches, paintings, and photographs of William Henry Jackson in the Jackson

Room of the Oregon Trail Museum. (Photograph by Ron Cockrell)

One of the several paleontological exhibits in the Oregon Trail Museum. (Photograph

by Ron Cockrell)

Interpretive sign and trail from the Visitor Center to Mitchell Pass and the Pioneer

Campsite. Note the unsightly utility poles which will soon be removed. (Photograph

courtesy of Superintendent, Scotts Bluff NM)

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Scotts Bluff

Administrative History

APPENDIX A:

Photographs of Scotts Bluff National Monument

(continued)

View from the summit of Scotts Bluff National Monument looking north into the

badlands below. In the distance is the North Platte River and the communities of

Scottsbluff and Gering, Nebraska. (Photograph by Ron Cockrell)
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View of the long extension of Scotts Bluff from atop the National Monument. Note

the Summit Trail ascending to a small tunnel along the route to the summit.

(Photograph by Ron Cockrell)

NPS bronze marker interpreting the route of the Oregon Trail across the North Platte

Valley floor below. The view is from the summit in the area called the "South

Overlook." (Photograph by Ron Cockrell)

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Scotts Bluff

Administrative History

APPENDIX H:

Graphics From the 1976 Master Plan, Scotts Bluff

National Monument (continued)

(click on image for an enlargement in a new window)
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(click on image for an enlargement in a new window)
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