Superintendent's Reports

The annual superintendent’s report covers accomplishments and activities achieved by NTIR teams and their partners.

2020

Accomplishments include staff completing in-house design for twenty-five wayside exhibits across TRTE, SAFE, ELTE, and CALI. Sixteen of those exhibits were fabricated and sent to partner sites within the sameFY. The office also entered into seven new task agreements with seven different recipients for the purposes of trail development and interpretation for a total of sixteen active partner agreements. Staff planned for and ordered road and pedestrian signs to mark the NHT historic route and crossing locations across twenty-one counties in twelve states in FY20. The office also came to an agreement with the FHWA on a new MUTCD-compliant standard template for NHT signs.

2019

Accomplishments include the addition of the national historic trails to the NPS service-wide mobile application, additions of new permanent staff on the Interpretation and History teams, as well as the beginning of the transition back into our office spaces at the Old Santa Fe Trail Building.

2018

Accomplishments include forming a planning team and hiring a Student Conservation Association intern to encourage broad participation in events celebrating the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System Act. Other noteworthy happenings include the Solar Challenge, in which solar-power vehicle teams race along the approximate route of the Oregon Trail. Staff also invested considerable time in preparing a trails course at the University of New Mexico.

2017

Accomplishments include establishing a working group to address high potential sites and segments, develop standard eligibility criteria, and re-evaluate resources along the various trails accordingly. Other noteworthy events include the office's first engagement with the National Park Service's Southwest Border Resource Protection Program (SWBRPP) and 25 new partnership certifications with non-federal property owners. The office also hosted a Teacher to Ranger to Teacher, who reviewed trail-related curriculum and created new lesson plans for hosting on each trail website.

2016

Accomplishments include celebrating the NPS centennial with events along nine historic trails. Staff also planned and executed a binational data-sharing workshop. Working with students at Oglala Lakota College and with Humboldt State University, the office produced a film on the impact of the California, Oregon, and Mormon Pioneer trails on plains tribes like the Oglala Lakota. Other accomplishments include 18 new certification partnerships, including 14 new properties along El Camino Real de los Tejas.

2015 Accomplishments include completing a MOU with the University of New Mexico (UNM) where interns have a space to work. This year we hired two students for the Latino Heritage Internship Program and developed two Volunteers-in-Parks student opportunities. NTIR pursued a CESU partnership with Stephen F. Austin State University and employed a digital media intern. For the NPS Centennial, a committee created goals and objectives, and planned for 16 events across all nine national historic trails. Other accomplishments include two capacity building interpretation workshops; five National Register nominations; five certifications; 56 waysides exhibits; 300 mobile app stops; two design and interpretation charettes; and 28 sign plans for 542 signs across 244 miles for eight NHTs.

2014: Accomplishments include the NTIR organization website; three interpretive media workshops; two trail mapping workshops; a National Pony Express Association Strategic Plan; 36 National Register nominations; 13 certifications; 21 wayside exhibits; 322 mobile app stops; closed captioning for 10 videos; and 45 sign plans for 805 road signs across 262 miles for seven national historic trails.

2013: Accomplishments include a 5-year Strategic Plan; a Leadership and Tribal Outreach Workshop; three mapping workshops; 21 National Register nominations; 11 videos posted to YouTube; 15 certified sites; 39 wayside exhibits; and 210 highway and pedestrian signs installed across 63 miles.

2012: Highlighted achievements include feasibility studies for the Chisholm and Great Western National Historic Trails and for Butterfield Overland Trail; a comprehensive management plan for El Camino Real de los Tejas; 30 National Register nominations for three trails; 18 completed Challenge Cost Share projects; 12 new certified sites; four tribal listening sessions; 56 new wayside exhibits, and much more.

2011: Accomplishments include feasibility study work on possible route additions to Oregon, California, Mormon Pioneer, and Pony Express national historic trails; a draft NTIR Five-Year Strategic Plan; 18 Challenge Cost Share Projects completed; Social Media Strategy completed; 37 National Register of Historic Places nominations; a Cultural Resource Workshop in Albuquerque; 76 new wayside exhibits; and a trip to Mexico City to collaborate on the preservation and protection of El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro and El Camino Real del los Tejas cultural resources.

2010: Accomplishments include feasibility study and environmental assessment work on possible route additions to Oregon, California, Mormon Pioneer, and Pony Express national historic trails; three tribal listening sessions; the 2010 Sesquicentennial Anniversary of the Pony Express; a Long Range Interpretive Plan for Oregon, California, Pony Express, and Mormon Pioneer NHTs; seven Challenge Cost Share Projects completed/16 initiated; 11 National Register of Historic Places nominations; 24 site certifications; an interpretive film for Trail of Tears NHT; and much more.

2009: Highlighted achievements include feasibility study amendment and environmental assessment work on Trail of Tears to authorize the addition of thousands of miles of alternate routes; continued work on the Long Walk feasibility study; 19 National Register of Historic Places nominations; 38 site certifications; two archeological field projects along El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro initiated; an Auto Tour Route Interpretive Guide for the California and Oregon NHTs across Idaho; and El Camino Real de los Tejas NHT oral history project.