Park Statistics

Stone information kiosk at Canyon Creek site near Billings, MT.

NPS

Nez Perce National Historical Park preserves a continuum of at least 11,000 years of Nez Perce culture. The Park was established as a unit of the National Park Service on May 15, 1965, by Public Law 89-19. At its establishment, Nez Perce National Historical Park consisted of 24 sites. In 1992, Congress passed legislation expanding the park to include 14 additional sites across Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington, for a total of 38 sites. As part of this expansion, Big Hole National Battlefield, a distinct unit of the National Park Service, was added to Nez Perce National Historical Park as an administrative unit.

For information on park visitation and other related statistics, visit the National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics website.

 

Purpose and Significance Statement

The purpose of Nez Perce National Historical Park is to facilitate protection and offer interpretation of Nez Perce sites that have exceptional value in commemorating the history of the United States; to preserve and protect tangible resources that document the history of the Nez Perce peoples and the significant role of the Nez Perce in North American history; and to interpret the culture and history of the Nez Perce peoples and promote documentation to enhance that interpretation.

Resources

The Park protects historical and cultural landmarks that hold profound cultural and spiritual value for the Nez Perce people. Park sites also illustrate the historic role of the Nez Perce people in the westward expansion of the United States. Sites include historic buildings, missions, battlefields, cemeteries, archaeological sites, cultural landscapes, geologic features, and trails. The park sites continue to be used by modern Nez Perce people and allow for continued use of traditional resources.

The Nez Perce National Historical Park museum collection contains over 165,500 museum objects and 200 linear feet of archival collections related to Nez Perce culture and history.

Basic Park Statistics

Interior Region(s): Columbia-Pacific Northwest Region 9
Size: 4564.93 acres
Staffing: 21 permanent and 1 temporary
Annual Visitation:  301,473
Budget: $2,503,000
Economic Benefits to Communities: The most recent National Park Service report shows that 301,473 visitors to Nez Perce National Historical Park in 2020 spent $18 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 242 jobs in the local area, and contributed $22.3 million to the local economy.

Interested Agencies & Organizations

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Clearwater Region
Clearwater Economic Development Association (ID)                 
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Clearwater Management Council (ID)
Discover Your Northwest
Idaho Department of Fish & Game Idaho Transportation Department
Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, National Park Service
Lewis-Clark State College (ID)
Nez Perce Tribe Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) National Historic Trail, USDA Forest Service
Nez Perce Trail Foundation
North Central Idaho Travel Association
Northwest Passage Scenic Byway
Kooskia National Fish Hatchery, US Fish & Wildlife Service
University of Idaho
USDA Forest Service

Congressional District

Senators: Michael Crapo (R-ID), James E. Risch (R-ID), Jon Tester (D-MT), Steve Daines (R-MT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Representatives: Russ Fulcher (R-ID-1), Michael “Mike” Simpson (R-ID-2). Matt Rosendale (R-MT), Cliff Bentz (R-OR-2), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-5)