WHITE BIRD BATTLEFIELD The first battle of the Nez Perce War was fought at White Bird Battlefield on June 17, 1877. The battlefield is about 15 miles south of Grangeville, Idaho, between U.S. Highway 95 and the old White Bird Grade, approximately 0.5 miles from the town of White Bird, Idaho. The site is approximately 1,245 acres of sloping topography that retains much of the appearance it probably had in 1877. The surrounding land is used for agriculture. There are excellent views across the battlefield, with minor intrusions from ranch and residential structures and associated features such as roads and fences. There are archeological sites and a few abandoned homestead remnants. There is a cultural landscape report for a homestead site that occupied the same location as a Nez Perce village along White Bird Creek. There is an interpretive shelter on U.S. High way 95 that overlooks the battlefield. Exhibit panels inside the shelter describe events leading up to the battle and the U.S. Army and Nez Perce perspectives of what happened. An interpretive trail leads visitors onto the battlefield from the road along White Bird Creek. The Old White Bird Grade runs on the east side of the battlefield, and U.S. Highway 95 runs on the west side. The old grade is maintained as an alternate route. The battlefield boundaries, established in 1965, included approximately 1,900 acres. The NPS owns approximately 1,245 acres and holds scenic easements on 655 acres more. A few parcels of land within the boundary are owned by either the State of Idaho or by private landowners.

MANAGEMENT ISSUES Members of the local community have unfulfilled expectations about the development of this site. The interpretive shelter is on a busy, noisy highway. Vegetation and grazing need better management. The interpretation emphasize the battle; the Nez Perce cultural continuum is not interpreted. Management Zoning The following are the management zones for White Bird Battlefield: The historic zonewill include the actual battlefield site. It will be delineated by White Bird Creek to the southeast, the park boundary that is parallel and just east of U.S. 95, the auto tour route and park boundary to the west, and Poe Saddle to the north. The development zone will cover the pullout and interpretive shelter and the signs adjacent to U.S. 95, the auto tour route, interpretive trail and site for new visitor facility.

ACTION PLAN The "auto tour" will be continued. The Park Service will improve the interpretive trail and pedestrian access. The Nez Perce cultural continuum will be interpreted, a vegetation management plan will be upgraded, and the Park Service will conduct detailed documentation and assessment of natural and cultural resources. The highway overlook will be made into a "portal" introducing visitors to the park as a whole and the entire Nez Perce story and will be redeveloped to reduce noise. A staffed visitor contact facility will be added, and guided interpretation will be offered. (The site and scope for visitor facilities has not yet been determined; detailed planning will be provided with full public involvement.) Additional agreements and easements will be pursued to expand protection of scenic values.