Webmaster's Note: This update was originally published in the Friends of the Little Bighorn Battlefield Newsletter, January 2011. Read a special message Ms. Hammond wrote for the Friends membership in October 2009.

Happy 2011! It’s been a snowy winter thus far in Montana. I hope this update finds you enjoying better weather wherever you are.

On a personal note, my husband and I are thrilled that our family will be growing by one in April, when we are expecting the birth of our second child. Assuming all goes well, I plan to take 3-4 months off after the baby is born, so will miss much of the 2011 summer season, including Anniversary. (Webmaster's Note: All did go well. Kate gave birth to a healthy boy named Miles William Hammond on April 26. A big congratulations to Kate and her family)

Public Engagement about LIBI Management Issues

It’s been a busy fall and winter. As most of you know, the park embarked on a series of stakeholder, tribal and public meetings between July and December 2010 to discuss four big management issues that Little Bighorn Battlefield has been struggling with for more than 30 years. Those four issues are 1) an inadequate visitor center; 2) insufficient museum collections storage; 3) outdated roads and parking; and 4) park boundaries that don't adequately protect park resources. The park's last major planning document - the 1986 General Management Plan - attempted to address these issues with some ambitious recommendations including relocating the visitor center to lands currently outside the park, an 11,400 acre boundary expansion, and extending the park tour road several miles to loop back to I-90 near Garryowen. The NPS has never been able to implement the recommendations for a variety reasons. We don't want to go another 30 years with these critical management issues unaddressed. So the purpose of the meetings this summer, fall and early winter was to discuss these issues with stakeholders, the public, tribal leaders, and elected officials to brainstorm possible solutions and also help the park determine whether the 1986 General Management Plan is still valid. If it is, how do we make progress on implementing it? If not, then what?

Over the course of this effort, I had the opportunity to visit with our Congressional delegation, stakeholder groups, our historically associated tribes, and interested parties to discuss these issues with them. We hosted a formal government-to-government tribal consultation meeting with our historically associated tribes to discuss these issues, and a series of 3 face-to-face public meetings in Hardin, Billings, and the Denver area, as well as two internet-based public meetings. Over the course of these meetings I heard from over 150 individuals, representing themselves, various interest groups, or various tribes. I am very pleased with the response that we received - many people took the time to really ponder the issues and come up with some well-thought out feedback. There was consensus that the four issues are indeed serious issues, and an interest expressed by all in finding workable solutions to addressing the issues. Over the coming weeks and months we will be synthesizing the input and formulating strategies for how to move ahead. Thanks to all of you who participated and shared your comments.

Visitation

2010 visitation (January 2010 through December 2010) was 323,766, a 5.99% increase over 305,463, over the same period in 2009.

Cultural Landscape Inventory (CLI) & Cultural Landscape Report (CLR)

The CLI is now officially complete with concurrence from the Crow Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) and will be posted later this year on the NPS website for reference purposes. The CLI recommended changing the period of historical significance of the battlefield as reflected on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) nomination from 1875-1899 to 1876-1940, which is the year administration of LIBI was transferred over from the War Department to the National Park Service. The Battlefield’s NRHP nomination has not been updated since 1987 and it does not adequately address the landscape attributes of the battlefield. We hope to find funding to update the nomination in the next few years. We also hope to begin development of a Cultural Landscape Report (CLR) later this year. The CLR will make actual treatment recommendations for the battlefield landscape.

Historic Base Map Project and Environmental History Project

As discussed in previous updates, Paul Hutton, University of New Mexico is working with LIBI and NPS Geographic Information System (GIS) staff at our regional office in Denver to develop an advanced GIS historic base map of Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. We also continue to work with Colorado State University on the development of an Environmental History of Little Bighorn Battlefield. The project will use historic photography, maps, historic accounts, and oral history to develop an understanding of how the battlefield looked in 1876.

“History Uncovered” LIBI Archeological Overview & Assessment

Doug Scott completed his archeological overview and assessment of Little Bighorn Battlefield titled “Uncovering History: The Legacy of Archeological Investigations at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument” in 2010 . Scott’s work which was funded by a $10,000 donation from Friends of Little Bighorn Battlefield, provides the first ever in-depth review of archeology at Little Bighorn Battlefield and will be a valuable resource for NPS staff and the public. This important document is scheduled for publication by Friends in 2011. For more information on this important project please jump here.

Little Bighorn River Oxbow Archeological Survey

In July 2010 Doug Scott led an archeological survey investigation to determine if historic metal artifacts from the battle were present on three oxbows on the Little Bighorn River in the Custer Battlefield unit to mitigate their potential future loss by erosion and course changes of the river. The survey utilized standard metal detection and a new pulse induction system that locates deeply buried metal objects. The survey revealed valuable data on artifact concentrations which were largely post-battle and 20th century. Scott also conducted an analysis of the Little Bighorn River channel using a series of historic topographic maps which were overlayed onto modern aerial photographs. The results will help us understand the dynamics of the river and potential areas of concern to identify the riparian zone and its effects on resources over time. Scott also did sampling of Greasy Grass Ridge and Finley-Finckle Ridge which provided additional data on firearm use and types during the battle. Scott’s final report is available at www.friendslittlebighorn.com. I wish to thank Bob Reece and Friends of LIBI for their donation of $5,000.00 to fund this important survey. (Webmaster's Note: Jump here to read Dr. Scott's report on the survey.)

Northern Rocky Mountains Invasive Plant Management Plan Environmental Assessment

LIBI is participating with 9 other National Park Service units in the development of an Environmental Assessment (EA) looking at alternative approaches to invasive plant management.

The National Park Service (NPS) intends to continue to manage nonnative invasive plants at LIBI and nine other parks in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah. The purpose of this plan is to reduce the adverse effects of nonnative invasive plants on native plant communities and other natural and cultural resources within the 10 parks.

During preparation of this plan, the 10 partner parks consulted with other federal and state agencies, counties, Native American Indian tribes and the general public. NPS has completed internal review of the EA. The EA will be released in January 2011 for public review for 45 days. During the public review period, Little Bighorn will consult with the Crow Tribal Historic Preservation Office to affirm determination of effect.

Historic Photograph and 7th Cavalry War Record Digitization

We are continuing to make progress on the digitization of approximately 2,000 original historic 19th century photographs, glass lantern slides, and historic color slides from our museum and library collections. An updated photographic register will be created and made available to the public as well as on-site access to many images through an interpretive kiosk at the visitor center. We are also making progress on digitizing many of the 7th Cavalry historic records, a project that is being supported by a generous donation from CBHMA.

Interpretive Plan/New Film/Cell Phone Stations

For the past year we have been working closely with stakeholders and our associated tribes on the Long Range Interpretive Plan for the Park. It will be completed in 2011 and it will help guide the park’s interpretive programs and projects for the next 7 to 10 years.

A new 20 minute orientation film is also being created for the park and should be completed in the fall of 2011. The overriding theme of the new park film deals mainly with the causes and consequences of the Battle of the Little Bighorn rather than the battle itself. This is a new approach for an interpretive film here. We have worked closely with both the 17 associated tribes and stakeholders in its development.

In 2010 the 30-station OnCell cell phone tour was completed at Little Bighorn Battlefield and enjoyed by 13,616 visiting calls in 2010. This is a tour visitors can experience by dialing an indicated phone number on their own cell phone at designated locations within the park and listen to short interpretive messages about that location. The company "OnCell" recently shared with us that Little Bighorn Battlefield has now taken the lead with cell phone tour hits over any other battlefield they now manage.

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument Interpretive Division has initiated a multi-faceted educational program in 2010-2011. The two year project involved creating a traveling trunk, children's battlefield activities, updating of the Junior Ranger program and revising teacher/student resources the Battlefield sends to teachers and students upon request. We are reaching out to the younger population who visit our site as well as extending educational opportunities to local schools.

135th Anniversary

2011 will mark the 135th Anniversary of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. We are still in the early planning stage of coordinating events for June 24-26, 2011 and will have additional information in the next update. NPS, as stewards of this special place, have traditionally served as hosts to our related organizations, affiliated tribes, battle descendents, and visitors during the anniversary observance. I encourage everyone to actively participate and attend the many unique anniversary activities at this special time at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.

Maintenance Division

I am pleased to announce that we have selected a new Facility Manager, Rene Laya, to replace Lonnie Hergenrider who transferred to Denali National Park last fall. Rene has a cultural resource preservation and maintenance background and will be coming to us from Ft Davis National Historic Site in Texas. We anticipate he will start at the Battlefield in early February. Les Frickle has done a wonderful job as Acting Facility Manager in the interim.

The maintenance building received new energy efficient and safety compliant electric and manually operated garage bay doors this past fall. The front screen door of the Stone House was damaged beyond repair by extreme wind gusts of over 70 miles per hour last spring. A new historic replica was built by local vendors and will be installed in 2011. Plans are underway this year for installation of an ADA Compliant lift in the Administration Building to provide universal accessibility to the 2nd floor training area. This important project is funded by the Recreational Fee Demonstration program. The old water pump house system located near the Little Bighorn River that supplies all of the water at Little Bighorn Battlefield is scheduled to be upgraded this year.

National Cemetery: Realignment of headstones in Section F, Custer National Cemetery by NPS seasonal staff continued in 2010 and we have received many visitor compliments on the headstone realignments. Work will continue over the next several years. We had seven interments in Custer National Cemetery in 2010 and two authorized veteran cremain scatters.

Friends of the Little Bighorn Battlefield

On June 26, 2010 during the Friends general membership meeting Friends President Bob Reece, and I signed an extension of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for another year until a revised MOA is completed.

Friends has a great line-up of events planned for June 25-26, 2011. You can volunteer to interpret the battle along the trails, or attend their annual program. For more information on events please jump here. I also encourage all of you to join and become actively involved.