Kass Hardy's Centennial Blog - 2009
NPS Photo by David Restivo Land of Many Stories Centennial Exhibit
December 18, 2009 The Land of Many Stories On November 5, 2009, the Land of Many Stories, a Glacier Centennial exhibit, was unveiled at the Montana Historical Society Museum in Helena. One of the elements of the exhibit will be a virtual tour-- to increase the accessibility of seeing the exhibit during it's installation. I recently had the chance to interview a colleague, David Restivo, who is developing the virtual tour...and here are a few words that he offered to share. Q: What was the most captivating part of the exhibit? David: The diversity of tangible artifacts and the time periods that they represented. It goes from the 19-teens to today. It was really neat to contrast the ornate Great Northern Railway china cup to the USGS hidden video of grizzly bears. I really like how the exhibit gives you a relevant digital representation of the history that we are making everyday, today. It helped me connect with an exhibit that really could have been all about Glacier 100 years ago. Q: What was your favorite part of the exhibit? David: There are many pieces that are featured in the exhibit that come from private individuals. For instance, Bill Lungren has shared a lunch box that would have been used by horse outfitters in the early days. It was smaller than a shoebox. Visitors would have been given this boxed lunch that included a paper cup a vile of cream- and instructions, reading: (paraphrased) per park regulations the outfitter will prepare this for you and will burn it for you. Q: What's your role in this project? David: I'm tasked with developing a virtual exhibit of the Land of Many Stories to help make the exhibit accessible to more people. Our hope is to have it complete by the end of February. Deirde Shaw, GNP Park Archivist and Jennifer Bottomly-O'Looney, MHS Archivist, are developing the content for the virtual exhibit. Not every artifact will be highlighted- but it will give people a taste of the exhibit. Video and still photography will be used. One of the objects is an old camera from the 30s- when you scroll over the camera you will see the actual photage that would have been taken from a camera similar to that. Q: If you could sum up the exhibit in one word, what would it be? David: Impressive. It is so fascinating to see over 100 years of history- captured in one location. It is an impressive representation of the park because it covers so much history. There are a few sections that are dedicated to Native American Indian history. I really enjoyed reading about the tribes and seeing some of the artifacts that the park and the Montana Historical Society have, such as: moccasins, baby carriers, tools, and arrowheads. In addition, there are several beautiful pieces of art that complement this section. Joe Cosley was another piece of history that I had always found fascinating. Joe was a rogue ranger in the Belly River and was known for his trapping abilities. He is also well known for carving his name into aspen trees. It was really cool to see one of the trees that was a part of his collection. I was most amazed to see how prominent the Great Northern Railway was in the early days of the park. They made the park accessible for a lot of people-- it looked like a classy time and experience. In some ways it was sad to see pictures of the view from chalet dining rooms or balconies...I can just imagine standing on those balconies and what it would have been like to be looking over the wide sweeping valleys and glacier lakes. Q: Is there anything else that you would like to share? David: This exhibit is a rare and unique opportunity to see the collection of these objects in person- the fact the we don't have a museum in the park makes this huge for the park to see it all together. It made me want to see and learn more. From a child's perspective- there are other permanent exhibits on display at the Montana Historical Museum that complement the Land of Many Stories really well. The online exhibit will have audio capabilities, such as oral histories of long time residents and early settlers. First time visitor should give 2 hours to this unique exhibit. This exhibit was made possible due to the good partnership between the Montana Historical Society, Glacier National Park Fund, and Glacier National Park. Burlington Northern Santa Fe Foundation is the lead sponsor. For more photos of the exhibit, visit our Centennial Photo Gallery.
December 10, 2009 December eNews Wow- the centennial is here! Please check out our latest Centennial eNews. Just a reminder-- each section of the eNewsletter includes a 'clickable link' for ease of finding more information for each highlight. Highlights for December:
Enjoy- and have a safe and happy holiday season!
100 Years, 100 Stories
Commemorative Centennial Book December 3, 2009 Stories Galore! Who would of thought that 115 minds could compile and publish a group of riveting stories in 11 months? Well, the Glacier Centennial Program, along with 100 selected authors have launched a commemorative story book. The stories range from tales of adventures in Glacier's high peaks to recollections of growing up on Lake McDonald. There are Ranger Tales and stories recalling Hootenannys. And pictures-- Oh, the pictures tell stories all by themselves. Glacier's Centennial Program is pleased to share this project and product with the world. We are leaving a legacy for Glacier National Park through these stories-- and we hope that you will continue to share your stories with your friends, family, and neighbors. You can find A View Inside Glacier National Park at the Glacier Association, one of our cooperating park partners. Enjoy!
Commemorative story book in the printing process.
November 23, 2009 100 Years, 100 Stories: A View Inside Glacier National Park As you know, our commemorative story book is on schedule for a December 1st release through the Glacier Association. I thought it might be interesting to share some insights of how this book came to be and share some photos from our press check. It's powerful to watch a project of this magnitude come together. It all started with a conversation in the carpool to work from Whitefish. We often share stories of our weekend adventures on Monday mornings. We share, we laugh, and recollect old times. I thought to myself, gosh- what a neat idea this would be for the centennial. Well, the project launched in December 2008 with a call for stories, poems, and photos. Over a four month window we received over 200 stories from individuals located all over the country and from several other countries. Through the Centennial Program, we pulled together a selection committee and a 'light-editing' committee. These folks read as the stories streamed in, keeping in mind the guidelines for submitting a story, our mission: Celebrate the rich history of preservation, Inspire personal connections and partnerships, and Engage future stewards. We selected 100 stories that captured 'A View Inside Glacier National Park.' First time visitors or visitor experiences was the most popular recurring theme. We have stories from land owners and people who grew up beneath these peaks. We selected stories from employees who work here year round and stories from seasonals. And we chose stories that aspired to make a toast to the park's 100th birthday-- all the while helping us move into the second century of Glacier. Step 4 was to design the layout and cover. Glacier National Park Interpretive Specialist Bill Hayden assisted greatly in this task. We moved files around, saved them centrally, and worked on three separate computers. We hung proofs on the walls of headquarters, we changed colors and leading, and we mounted quotes on a historic backdrop (among a million other things!!!) The final stretch was working with the printers. Signing off on proofs and learning about the production: matte vs. gloss, 50 lb vs. 80 lb weight paper, stitched vs. perfect binding. We are anxious to share the book with everyone! We hope you can join the Glacier Association and Glacier National Park at the unveiling reception on December 12, 2009 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at their new office in Columbia Falls, 402 9th Street West. Enjoy! Kass Hardy, Centennial Coordinator
November 15, 2009 November eNews Check out our November newsletter! Highlights for November and upcoming Highlights for December include:
As a reminder-- details for all of the activities can be found on the Glacier Centennial calendar. In addition, there are CLICKABLE LINKS throughout the eNewsletter! We hope to see many of you at upcoming activities!
October 14, 2009 Our Latest eNews! Check out the Glacier Centennial Highlights for October, through our monthly eNewsletter.
September 25, 2009 Glacier National Park Invites Students to Celebrate, Inspire, and Engage Through Art for a Postcard Contest Glacier National Park’s Education Program and the Glacier Association are again sponsoring a postcard contest for K-12 students. As Glacier approaches its 100th anniverary, the focus for this year’s contest relates to the Centennial themes of "Celebrate, Inspire, and Engage." In particular, to "engagement" as the next 100 years of Glacier’s future depends on the participation of today’s youth in helping to protect and preserve park resources. The purpose of the poscard contest is to promote learning and stewardship of Glacier National Park through the creation of messages from local students to future Glacier National Park visitors. First place winning entries in each category will be made into postcards to be given to the visiting public at Glacier Association bookstores throughout the park. Winners will be announced by the end of November. The first place winning entry in each category will receive a Glacier Association gift certificate for $25 and be made into a free postcard to be handed out at Association sales areas. The second place winner will receive a $15 gift certificate. Third place and honorable mention entries in each category will receive a book from the Association. The Glacier Association is a non-profit cooperating association of the National Park Service. Glacier Association helps to support Glacier National Park’s educational, interpretive, cultural and scientific program needs. For complete details, see: The 2009 postcard contest.
September 23, 2009 Setting the Stage- Describing the Crown Region It was another successful evening for the Flathead Valley Community College, the hosts of the second Centennial Crown of the Continent Lecture Series. Presented by Geography Department Chairman Dr. Jim Byrne of the University of Lethbridge, Byrne was tasked with establishing the broader geographical elements that help define the Crown of the Continent. His canadian spontaneity brought many laughs to the room as he quickly moved into a serious notion regarding the Crown of the Continent's responsibility in being the headwaters for most of our continent's watershed. Through graphs and images, Jim illustrated how the region's water moves west via the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean, south via the Missouri to the Gulf of Mexico, and north via the St. Mary River to Hudson Bay. Byrne explained that the St. Mary drainage is extraordinarily vital to Alberta's agriculture economy, as many of the other drainages have dried up or are not available throughout the growing season. He concluded his perspective of the Crown with a case study focusing on Lake Winnipeg. He and his students at the University of Lethbridge are developing a feature film on the pollution pouring into our vast bodies of water. Join us for the next centennial lecture: When: Sept 29, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Description: Defining the Ecology of the Crown of the Continent This lecture will focus on the unique collision of four major climatic zones, the characteristics and diversity of flora and fauna in the Crown of the Continent, and what distinguishes the Crown of the Continent from neighboring and global ecosystems. Speaker: Dr. Chris Servheen For more information on Glacier's Centennial, please visit www.glaciercentennial.org
September 16, 2009 Flathead Valley Community College in partnership with the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) kicked off their Crown of the Continent Centennial Lecture Series last night. The evening consisted of a conversation with leaders of the Blackfoot Confederacy, Salish-Pend Oreille, and the Kootenai/Ktnuxa nations. Speakers included Herman Many Guns from the Piikani Blackfoot Tribes, Tony Incashola from the Salish Tribes, and Vernon Finley from the Kootenai Tribes. Herman Many Guns commenced the conversation with a traditional prayer, a perfect opening to what followed. The dialogue spanned a great deal of wisdom and story telling. Values of each culture were shared- such as that of Vernan Finely’s grandmother’s teaching of the importance of using our five senses to Tony Incashola’s comments on remembering where we all come from. It was acknowledged by each of the tribes that this was an ideal space for such a series– the location is known as the Village Center to the Kootenai peoples. It happens to be the center of the Crown of the Continent National Geographic Geotourism Map, as well. The lecture ended with wise words encouraging all people to work together to protect these resources and the special culture that exists here in the Crown of the Continent. Each tribal member expressed their gratitude for their invitation to the table. Vernon regarded that it is not of their interest that such an event exists– instead it is the interest of each of the audience members that the conversation has taken place, suggesting that it is up to us to continue the discussion. Join us on Monday for the second lecture: Sep 21, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Setting the Stage- Describing the Crown Speaker: Dr. Jim Byrne Flathead Valley Community College Continuing Education Center For more information on Glacier’s Centennial, please visit www.glaciercentennial.org
September 14, 2009 September eNews! It's that time again-- please check our latest eNewsletter! Highlights for this month include:
Please be sure to check out the NEW centennial calendar! Fall is certainly in the air in Glacier National Park-- the leaves are beginning to turn their beautiful hues of gold!
Centennial Picnic in the Park August 24, 2009 Centennial Picnic was a Success! First, for those of you who had the chance to attend the picnic in the park this weekend, thanks for joining us! If you couldn't make it, we reached out to over 600 people throughout the day. We had genuine picnickers with blankets and baskets, children playing frisbee and learning about Leave No Trace principles, hours of Glacier National Park music, bright sunshine, and dancing mountain goats! The cake was delicious and was gone within the first few hours at Lake McDonald Lodge-- we had a mere 12 pieces left at Glacier Park Lodge. The calendar was a huge hit and we are looking forward to the upcoming activities and projects. Our Picnic in the Park Photo Album (double click on the album for a slide show) Please be sure to check out the new centennial calendar on the website!
August 14, 2009 August eNews Check out our latest eNews! Highlights:
August 1, 2009 Kicking off the Centennial with a Picnic in the Park-- August 23, 2009 As a kick-off to Glacier National Park’s 100th anniversary commemoration, we are offering a free-admission day to the park with picnics on both the East and West sides. Come and enjoy the park as families have for 100 years. Learn more about the Centennial kick-off Picnic in the Park! Details include: DATE: August 23, 2009, 11 AM- 4 PM LOCATION(s): Lake McDonald Lodge and Glacier Park Lodge WHAT: Picnic in Glacier National Park as families have for the past 100 years. Family activities and music will be available. Glacier Park, Inc will be selling picnic lunches and centennial retail products. Free cake will be provided.
July 15, 2009 July eNews! Our latest eNewsletter: July 2009! Highlights for this month and upcoming months:
Sign up for the monthly eNewsletter!
National Folk Festival, July 10-12, 2009 July 14, 2009 The National Folk Festival The National Folk Festival, one of the nation’s largest and most prestigious celebrations of the arts, has taken up residence in Butte, Montana until 2010. This year, it was predicted that twice as many people would attend as last year. And gosh, was that prediction right! Over 100,000 people attended this national festival and nearly 5,000 of them stopped by our Glacier National Park Centennial booth! Most visitors were on their way from Yellowstone, stopping for some culture in Butte, and heading north to Glacier!
July 13, 2009 Centennial Preview Join us on July 18th at the Montana House in Apgar Village at 5 PM to learn about the Centennial Program! We will be sharing an overview of what is lined up for the anniversary year-long celebration-- including what educational programs, commemorative events, and legacy projects we are working on!
Chuck Stearns (Whitefish City Manager), Kass Hardy (Centennial Coordinator), and Michelle Tafoya (Clearn Air and Climate Coordinator, NPCA)
June 1, 2009 The First Glacier Centennial Green City The National Parks Conservation Association and the Glacier Centennial Program proudly presented a plaque to the City of Whitefish, our first city to commit to implementing sustainable practices in city operations on behalf of the Glacier Centennial Green Business Program. What has the City of Whitefish done to become a 'Green City'? The City of Whitefish has committed to energy conservation efforts such as: purchasing energy star appliances, putting a dark skies ordinance into practice, and unplugging or turning off unnecessary appliances when not in use. They have committed to solid waste reduction through recycling cardboard, alumninum, paper, plastics, tin, wood waste, and other products-- and more importantly, where appropriate they implemented a reuse program to decrease the production of waste. In addition, the City of Whitefish has invested in a highly efficient vehicle and they have supported their employees in organizing a work carpool, biking or walking to work. Finally, they have stopped purchasing water in plastic bottles and have supported the program 'Take Back the Tap'. We commend the City of Whitefish! Learn about the Glacier Centennial Green Business Program!
Photo By Bret Bouda Official Centennial Art
May 27, 2009 The Art of Preservation: Official Centennial Art of Glacier National Park This past weekend, the Glacier Centennial Program unveiled the Official Centennial Art at Glacier National Park's four park partner's annual Spring for Glacier Gala. Over 200 people were there for the viewing-- and we are now ready to showcase it to the rest of the world! The Art of Preservation will tour the state of Montana throughout the next year. The schedule is the following: June 15-July 3, 2009 Fischworks, Whitefish July 8-August 25, 2009 Glacier National Park Fund & Glacier Association, Columbia Falls September 3-30, 2009 Village of Bigfork, Bigfork October 5-27, 2009 The History Museum, Great Falls November 5, 2009-January 2, 2010 Montana Historical Society Museum, Helena January 14-February 24, 2010 The Natural History Museum, Missoula March 4-May 15, 2010 Hockaday, Kalispell May 21, 2010 Spring for Glacier, Lake McDonald Lodge (Official Centennial Art is auctioned) We hope the selected art inspires and engages you in the Centennial Celebration of Glacier National Park today and for years to come. Consider this an introduction into the legacy of preserving Glacier National Park for the next 100 years. Check out the art!
See the Art First! May 18, 2009 As part of the Glacier National Park Centennial celebration, the centennial committee hosted a juried art competition to continue the tradition of preserving our heritage for the future through art. On May 22, 2009, the official centennial art will make its grand debut at Spring for Glacier. Several artists will be in attendance to accompany the unveiling. ‘Saddle up for the Centennial’ is this year’s theme. Spring for Glacier is an annual gala hosted by Glacier National Park’s four park partners: Glacier National Park Fund, Glacier Association, Glacier Institute, and Glacier National Park Associates. For more information about Spring for Glacier, please visit the Glacier National Park Fund website: www.glaciernationalparkfund.org
Granite Park Chalet
May 11, 2009 Happy 99th, Glacier National Park! That's right, 99 years ago today Glacier National Park was signed into law as the tenth national park by President Taft. Just a year from now we will be commemorating Glacier's 100th Anniversary. Highlights from our latest eNews:
Enjoy our latest eNews!
April eNews
April eNews April 15, 2009 Spring is here! Well, at least there are signs of spring on it's way. Temperatures are warming up and the snow is slowly melting away. And spring plowing has begun along the Going-to-the-Sun Road! With this good news, we also bring you the lates eNews: April 2009. A few highlights from this month's newsletter include:
Glacier Centennial booth at 2009 Governor's Conference
Governor's Conference April 1, 2009 We have just returned from a weekend of presentations and meet and greets with the 'Made in Montana' Tradeshow in Great Falls and the annual Governor's Conference on Tourism and Recreation in Helena. The snow is still flying up here, but the support and excitement of others in regards to the centennial was warming! There were hundreds in attendance at the Made in Montana Trade Show. The vendors- most of which are artisans, were displaying Montana made foods and goods such as honey, photography, tshirts, and jewelry. The centennial message was well received. A major theme of the Governor's Conference this year was Sustainability. Every where you looked the concept was integrated- from real plates and mugs, to take away tote bags for use in the market...and even a Green Village full of ways that businesses can implement more sustainable practices in their operations. The keynote launched the conference with a message on authenticity and the importance of returning to our roots of treating the land with respect. A 25 minute Centennial presentation was shared and we are looking forward to having the Governor's Conference in Kalispell in April 2010!
Montana House Presentation March 21, 2009 Thank You, Montana House! March 21, 2009 We had a wonderful time sharing the Centennial Program through our presentation at the Montana House today! Two dozen or so people came to hear about the centennial planning, many of which had a interest in volunteering! If you are not familiar with the Montana House, for over a year now, the Montana House has partnered with the Glacier National Park Fund to host a lecture series called: Look, Listen, and Learn. If you have an interest in volunteering- let us know!
March eNews March 12, 2009 Check out our latest eNewsletter. A few quick highlights:
ARTchu gonna submit a Glacier Story? February 21, 2009 The deadlines for the Official Centennial Art Contest and the submissions of stories for our Centennial Commemorative Book (100 Years, 100 Stories) are both March 1, 2009. The Official art will be auctioned off at Spring for Glacier: Saddle up for the Centennial on May 22, 2009. The selected stories will be compiled into a commemorative book to be on the shelves in fall 2009.
Green Business Program
Green Business Program January 26, 2009 Glacier Centennial Green Business Program As Glacier approaches its birthday, one of the goals is to embrace, celebrate and enhance many of the designations and partnerships. Glacier was designated a Climate Friendly Park in 2003. Climate Friendly Parks are tasked with designing and implementing a plan to help increase energy efficiency and reduce the impact of park operations. One of the many centennial partners is the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA). NPCA and the Centennial Program are launching the Glacier Centennial Green Business Program. This program, launched on behalf of Glacier’s Centennial, will allow local businesses to reduce their environmental impact, resulting in a more efficient and sustainable means of doing business in our region. Incentives to being a Glacier Centennial Green Business:
Through collective action, Glacier Centennial Green Businesses will also help to reduce the environmental impact on our region; decrease the amount of unnecessary waste that goes into our landfill, reduce energy use, conserve water, and foster a healthy local economy by supporting local businesses. Apply to be a Glacier Centennial Green Business
January eNews January 15, 2009 January eNews I am pleased to share with you a few great opportunities. This month's eNewsletter highlights ways to become engaged and dates to mark on your calendar!
Mark your calendar!
As always, if you would like a story (100 words) or photo to be featured in the eNewsletter- feel free to send it along! Sign up to receive this eNewsletter
Official Centennial Art Contest
January 8, 2009 Applications Galore That's right- we have oodles of Centennial Applications in the heat of their life. As we ring in the 99th year of Glacier National Park, be sure to submit your application for one or more of the following:
For more information on any of the applications above, contact us! |
Did You Know?
Did you know that in 1985, the Going-to-the-Sun Road was dedicated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark?