INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

Introduction is located about nine road miles The Klondike Gold Rush National west of Skagway, and contains about Historical Park, authorized by 9,670 acres. The Dyea area encom- Congress (PL94-323) on June 30, passes the tidal flats, remnant wharf 1976, consists of four units. The pilings, the town site, Slide Seattle unit is located in the Pioneer Cemetery, and Chilkoot Trailhead. Square Historic District in down- A NPS campground, ranger station, town Seattle, Washington. The and seasonal ranger residence are Skagway, Chilkoot Trail, and White located adjacent to the site. Pass Trail units, which are the sub- The Chilkoot Trail begins on the jects of this long-range interpretive north edge of Dyea and extends 16.5 plan, are located at the northern miles north in a narrow corridor limit of navigation along the Inside following the east side of the Taiya Passage of southeast Alaska (see River to the Canadian border. Most maps in Appendix B). Skagway, the of the Chilkoot Trail corridor is only major community within the owned by the State of Alaska and is Alaska units, is about 110 road miles managed by the NPS under a coop- south of Whitehorse, Yukon erative agreement. Territory, Canada, 80 air miles north of Juneau, Alaska, 500 air miles The White Pass Trail unit starts southeast of Anchorage, and 900 air seven miles northeast of Skagway miles northwest of Seattle, and extends about five miles north Washington. to the Canadian border. This unit (3,320 acres) is undeveloped and These National Park Service (NPS) contains portions of the historic units also are closely tied geographi- Brackett Wagon Road, remnants of cally and thematically to the White Pass City, and segments of Chilkoot Trail National Historic the White Pass Trail, also known as Site, British Columbia, the Dawson the Dead Horse Trail. Portions of Historical Complex National this unit can be viewed from pull- Historic Site, Yukon Territory, and outs along the Klondike Highway other Klondike Gold Rush units and from the White Pass & Yukon managed by Parks Canada. In fact, Route Railroad right-of-way. There collectively these sites have been are no developed trails within the officially designated by Canada and unit. the United States as the Klondike Gold Rush International Historical Prior to the arrival of European and Park. American explorers and settlers, the land and trails to the interior were The Skagway unit consists of about the homeland of the Coastal and 12 square city blocks within the Inland Tlingit and Tagish of the town's historic district. The NPS greater Chilkoot area. Sites around owns eighteen historic buildings what later became Skagway and most of which have been restored Dyea may have served as fish camps and leased to private operators for and villages, while the Chilkoot Trail commercial businesses. The remain- was used as a trade route to der are used by the park for inter- exchange goods with the people of pretation, offices, curatorial storage, the Alaska interior. White settlers or employee housing. and traders (such as William Opposite page: Taiya Inlet Moore) eventually became part of The Chilkoot Trail unit, including the scene before the discovery of the site of the former town of Dyea, gold.

1 News of the Klondike gold strike in Another Interpretive Prospectus 1896 precipitated a stampede that was developed in 1981. Since then, would change the area forever. many changes have occurred in Through the summer and into the park facilities, resources, visitor use, winter of 1897-98, stampeders resource knowledge, interpretive poured into the newly created tent media, programs, and management and shack towns of Skagway and issues. Historic restoration of park Dyea-the jumping off points for the structures continues; new interpre- 600-mile trek to the goldfields. tive media have been developed; and, other media have become Today the NPS, Parks Canada, the worn and dated. There also is the Tlingit, other local and state agen- need to expand the education pro- cies, and a growing number of pub- gram and implement recommenda- lic and private partners preserve tions in the GMP. valuable natural and cultural resources related to the gold rush This LRIP for Klondike Gold Rush and earlier times, and all are National Historical Park (Alaska involved in relating tangible and Units) is the first component of the intangible elements of the stories park's Comprehensive Interpretive these resources contain. Plan (CIP), as outlined in National Park Service Director's Orders-6 Planning Background (DO-6). Using the park purpose, In 1996 a General Management Plan and resource significance state- (GMP) was completed for all four ments, plus the primary interpretive units of Klondike Gold Rush themes and visitor experience goals, National Historical Park. The GMP this plan articulates a vision for the made a number of proposals aimed park's interpretive future, and rec- at expanding and improving inter- ommends the media, facilities, and pretive programs, media, and facili- programs best suited for meeting ties. More specifically, the plan pro- visitor needs, achieving manage- posed involving members of the ment goals, and telling the park sto- American Indian communities in ries. These foundation elements planning and developing interpre- come directly from or are based on tive media and programs; improving similar statements in the park GMP interpretation at Dyea and along the and Strategic Plan. Chilkoot Trail; improving contacts with cruise ship visitors; and, This plan is not an end in itself, but improving coordination among the rather, it establishes the overall park units and with Parks Canada. framework for the next phases of the process-program planning, and A Long-Range Interpretive Plan media planning, design, and pro- (LRIP) was completed for the duction over the next 10+ years. Seattle unit in October 2003. While Using the recommendations in this most of the recommendations are LRIP, the park will need to develop specific to that unit, the plan did Annual Implementation Plans and reaffirm the need to improve com- an Interpretive Database to com- munication and coordination with plete the remaining two compo- the Alaska units and with Parks nents of the CIP as stated in DO-6. Canada.

The first interpretive plan for the Alaska units was an Interpretive Prospectus produced in 1976, the year of the park's authorization.

2 PLANNING FOUNDATION

Park Purpose • KLGO is the only NPS area authorized and established solely The purpose of Klondike Gold Planning begins by under- to commemorate an American Rush National Historical Park is to: standing why a park was gold rush. established • Preserve and interpret historic • On August 15, 1998, the park sites associated with the Klondike joined with parks in the State of Gold Rush of 1897-98 and to Washington and with Parks allow public use that does not Canada in British Columbia and impair historic values. Yukon Territory to become • Preserve gold rush era artifacts, Klondike Gold Rush International structures, and the historic setting Historical Park. A provision for of Skagway and the surrounding this designation was outlined in area representing the period 1887- special legislation in the US and 1912. Canada and was formalized by proclamations issued by President The Park Purpose was first devel- Clinton and by Prime Minister oped for the park's 2001 Strategic Chrétien. Plan. The second purpose statement • The area has witnessed continu- was modified by the Long-Range ous human use since well before Interpretive Planning Team during the gold rush, and has remained the workshop in the fall of 2004 in part of the Tlingit and Tagish preparation of this plan. The origi- homeland. nal statement used the period 1896- • KLGO commemorates a great 1912. The team changed the dates of human journey, one that pro- the period of representation to 1887- duced enormous change through- 1912 in order to include the Moore out the Pacific Northwest and Cabin in the period of significance. transformed popular images of This period should not be interpret- the North. ed to rule out inclusion of Native • The park commemorates the eco- use of the area prior to the period of nomic, industrial, transportation, representation. Further discussion cultural, and environmental of this purpose statement needs to impacts generated by the be included in future planning for Klondike Gold Rush. the park. The significance statements were Park Significance first developed by park staff for the The following statements describe 2001 Strategic Plan and were modi- the significance of the resources of fied slightly for this document by Significance statements Klondike Gold Rush National the LRIP planning team. describe the importance Historical Park: or distinctiveness of the Primary Interpretive resources of an area. • The park preserves the setting of Themes the Klondike Gold Rush boom Primary interpretive themes are towns. those ideas/concepts about • The trails to the Yukon gold, along Klondike Gold Rush National with many other associated sites Historical Park that are key to help- and artifacts, are important cul- ing visitors gain an understanding of tural landscapes. the park's significance and • Biological communities in the resources. The themes, which are park at the head of the Lynn based on the park's mission, pur- Canal are among the most diverse pose, and resource significance, in Alaska. 3 provide the foundation for all inter- • where gold was actually discov- pretive media and programs in the ered and the circumstances sur- Primary themes should park. The themes do not include rounding it be few enough in number everything that may be interpreted, • what was here before the rush to provide focus for the but they do address those ideas that • the challenges of getting from interpretive program, are critical to understanding and point to point along the various but numerous enough to appreciating the park's importance. routes represent the full range All interpretive efforts (through • the need for a "ton of goods" of park significance. both personal and non-personal • that this was a huge media event There are many ways to services) should relate to one or • the impacts of the development of prepare interpretive more of the themes, and each theme the railroad themes, and there is little should be addressed by some part • the effect of the rush on the devel- evidence that favors one of the overall interpretive program. opment of Seattle, Alaska, and the technique over another. Effective interpretation is achieved Yukon when visitors are able to connect • links among other sites through- the concepts with the resources and out the region derive something meaningful from • the economic condition of the their experience. nation on the eve of the gold rush

The following theme statements will 2. The story of the Klondike Gold provide the basis for interpretation Rush is revealed in thousands of at the park. The themes are priori- historic artifacts, photographs, tized based on the park purpose and archeological features that and significance. The first five can be observed along the themes meet the basic expectations White Pass and Chilkoot trails of park visitors to learn about the and in association with historic compelling stories of the gold rush. buildings in Skagway.

1. The park commemorates the Interpretation of this theme will struggles and accomplishments help visitors better understand and of all who participated in the appreciate: Klondike Gold Rush.

Interpretation of this theme will • the extent and diversity of items help visitors better understand and discarded along the trails appreciate: • how artifacts and features help tell the story of every-day life during • the different routes and modes of the gold rush-the stories of those transportation used to reach the who carried, used, lost or discard- gold fields ed these items are • different motivations for partici- inherent/ascribed within the arti- pating in the rush facts-the value of "real" items, • choices made by people in select- authenticity ing which trail to take, or to • items related to transportation and To Chilkoot Summit remain in town, etc. communication (i.e. tram, roads, • the diversity of people involved dead horses, shoes, boats, tele- • daily life in the gold camps phone/telegraph lines, etc.) • how long it took to get to the gold • the many structures that represent fields various aspects of the vast support • death and disaster on the trails system for the gold rush • those who succeeded and those • the stories behind the gravesites who failed and burials along the trail • the personal stories of those • that things once considered junk involved (many from diaries and now help us to better understand letters) the past

4 • the work done by the NPS and 4. The Klondike Gold Rush had others to record, restore, and pre- lasting and far-reaching eco- serve objects and structures relat- nomic, social, and technological ed to the gold rush impacts. • the importance of preserving these artifacts in place so that all Interpretation of this theme will who follow can capture tangible help visitors better understand and glimpses of the past, and the appreciate: importance of the Archeological Resources Protection Act in help- • that modern technology involving ing to preserve these objects land and water transportation, • contributions made by the families electricity, communications, etc. and descendants of the stamped- were used during the gold rush ers • that the growth and settlement of • that the photographic documenta- Alaska and the Yukon was precipi- tion of the gold rush illustrates the tated by this and subsequent gold importance of the event rushes Mascot Saloon • the issue of sovereignty and the 3. Human use and occupation of location of the US/Canadian bor- the area has influenced and has der been influenced by the diversity • the importance of the develop- of natural communities found ment of the railroad from within the Skagway and Taiya Skagway river valleys. • the history of the development of towns and associated infrastruc- Interpretation of this theme will ture that supported the rush help visitors better understand and • the means of getting to Skagway appreciate: from Seattle and Vancouver • the importance and methods of • Native peoples habitation and use keeping both land and sea routes of the area well before the gold open rush • the development and expansion of • how the stampeders reacted to an communication systems (i.e. the environment that most of them telegraph to Dawson by the fall of had never seen before 1901) • the vast consumption of natural • the purchase and movement of resources during the gold rush supplies and provisions over long • impacts of the fires caused by the distances along with the risk of stampeders and locomotives thievery or loss. • pollution resulting from many fac- tors, including human waste-an 5. Alaskan Natives and First issue that remains pertinent today Nation people, who had long • human-caused changes to the used the Skagway and Taiya Taiya and Skagway River systems river valleys as vital trade routes • the devastating avalanche on the to the interior, were impacted Chilkoot Trail and other natural by the gold rush, played impor- events that occurred during the tant roles during the stampede, stampede, including the Sheep and remain an active and flour- Camp flood of 1897 ishing culture today. • the significance of collections made by scientists during the gold Interpretation of this theme will rush help visitors better understand and • reforestation of the area after the appreciate: rush

5 • the movement of some Tlingit and • important trading routes before Tagish people from the coast to the gold rush the interior and from the interior • the difficulty of getting to the inte- to the coast rior • the differences between Tlingit • the importance of ice-free corri- and EuroAmerican ideas of land dors to the interior (free of gla- ownership and stewardship-that ciers) concern over the use of the • direct routes to the Yukon Chilkoot Trail has a great deal to • how geologic forces and processes do with ideas of responsibility and helped determine access routes to liability for the trail and those who the interior use it • the various means of transporting • traditional uses of the area over goods time • use of the valleys as migration Skagway River • that the glacial era either erased or routes/corridors for wildlife buried evidence of earliest habita- tion of the area under water 7. Extreme diversity in topogra- • the historic fight between the Sitka phy and climate from sea level and Chilkat Tlingits over the right to the summits of Chilkoot Pass to pack goods commercially over and White Pass create dramatic the trail variances in flora and fauna. • the impacts of greatly increased contact with whites during the Interpretation of this theme will gold rush (i.e. racism, disease, lan- help visitors better understand and guage, clothing, intermarriage, appreciate: and other clashes of cultural val- ues) • the area as a meeting place of • the packing of goods for prospec- Boreal, Coastal Rainforest, and tors and expeditions going to the Alpine ecological zones interior before the gold rush • the ecological significance of the • the Tlingit role as packers in the valleys' strong elevation gradients early part of the rush, but that • the diversity of marine and terres- they were eventually pushed aside trial species by others and by technology • seasonal and daily weather • the Tlingit role as longshoremen extremes during the rush • geohazards-dynamic natural • the significance of Indian Town in processes that were haxards for Skagway the stampeders and are still haz- • the ongoing relationship between ards to today's travelers-avalanch- Tlingit and Tagish communities in es, glacial outburst floods, wild Skagway, Haines, Klukwan, and fires, landslides, etc. Carcross and their relations with • landscape dynamics and succes- the NPS and Parks Canada sional processes related to past • post-gold rush era roles of Native and present glacial retreat and people in the tourism industry advance • geological forces and processes 6. The Skagway and Taiya river that shaped the current topogra- valleys have been important phy corridors between the coast and • that Lynn Canal is the longest the interior from prehistoric fjord in North America-a fact that times into the present. enables salt water to influence cli- mate and habitats far inland Interpretation of this theme will • the Skagway area's unique climate help visitors better understand and relative to the rest of SE Alaska, appreciate: 6 and the ecological significance of visitor center, and Mascot pro- the climate grams free of charge) • the effect of natural processes • be aware of the NPS presence (decay, erosion) on gold rush era here artifacts • know what buildings/structures are park-owned 8. The preservation and restora- • discover that this is part of an tion of many gold rush era international historical park structures and artifacts are the • recognize that many of the com- result of continued partnerships mercial activities they attend take with private, city, state, tribal, place within the national park federal, and Canadian entities. • experience the historic scene • find clean rest rooms Interpretation of this theme will • get their questions answered help visitors better understand and • have equal access to park appreciate: resources • reasons for the creation of the • learn about the National Park Chief Isaac (seated) & Chief park System and that KLGO is among Daanáakh (left) • the value of the lease-back pro- 388 other NPS units gram in preserving historic struc- tures (B) Form intellectual and emotional • the nature and extent of the his- connections with park resources toric preservation program and their meanings, which may • connections between the develop- occur when visitors: ment of the tourist industry and • recognize the larger story of the the need for historic preservation Klondike Gold Rush and its inter- • the earlier idea of a Chilkoot national impacts National Park • learn something about one or • reasons for the creation of the more of the primary interpretive international historical park themes • the cooperative/partnership • engage the park story through per- efforts among private, community, sonal interests met via one or state, tribal, federal, and Canadian more interpretive themes entities to preserve gold rush • participate in one or more activi- resources ties from a diverse offering of • the importance of stewardship on accurate and engaging guided many levels to preserve and inter- activities, including ranger-guided pret national and international programs treasures • find interpretive messages pre- Visitor Experience Goals sented through a variety of media Visitors to KLGO will have oppor- and programs tunities to: • obtain educational materials to further explore the park story “Visitor experience” is (A) Have a safe and satisfying visit before, during, or following their what people do, sense, by ensuring opportunities exist visit feel, think, and learn; it where they may: • hike the Chilkoot Trail includes knowledge, atti- • explore Skagway and/or Dyea tudes, behaviors, and val- • receive accurate and up-to-date town site and know what they are ues; it is affected by expe- information about the town and seeing riences prior to the visit the park • stay at the park campground and affects behavior after • get information about the park • explore on their own the visit. before they arrive • see wildlife • interact with park rangers (with core programming-- walks, talks 7 • discover the partnership efforts to ments of purpose, significance, preserve Skagway's historic char- themes, and visitor experience goals acter for their sites. The following • see how the town has changed excerpts from the Commemorative over time Integrity Statement for the Chilkoot • learn about park management Trail National Historic Site have rel- issues and how they can help evance to this plan and to finding • learn about current and on-going ways to further expand cooperative research in the park efforts across our borders. • interact with park staff and other residents about living and working Commemorative intent describes here what is nationally significant about a • experience solitude somewhere in site. The following statement the park describes the commemorative intent • gain a sense of stewardship for the Chilkoot Trail National regarding the continued protec- Historic Site: tion and preservation of park resources and values "The Chilkoot Trail was designated a national historic site because of the Chilkoot Trail National role it played in the mass movement of people to the Yukon during the Historic Site, Parks Canada Klondike Gold Rush" Parks Canada (a major park part- ner) uses different methodologies to Another element of commemorative arrive at and present similar state- integrity is the message of national Canadian border Chilkoot Pass

8 historic significance which must be ration period is integrated and effectively communicated to the balanced. public. The message of National • interpretive media are diversified Historic Significance for the and balanced to ensure a mean- Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site ingful experience for all site is for people to understand: clients. Chilkoot Trail will be pre- sented as a place to learn about a "the role of the Chilkoot Trail in the nationally significant part of mass movement of people into the Canada's past. Yukon during the Klondike gold rush • the messages and the trail are pre- of 1897-1900." sented with integrity. Conjectural Integral to the understanding of the information is acknowledged and significance of the above message of original resources and contempo- national significance are the follow- rary services are distinguished. ing: • community support for and par- ticipation in events and activities • The character, importance and at the site related to the messages reasons for use of the Chilkoot of national significance are Trail as a route between the coast encouraged. and the interior. • The border character of the Other heritage values associated Chilkoot Pass summit. with the Chilkoot Trail relate to the • The lifeways and perceptions of evolution and character of the the historic place by diverse area's natural environment, its his- groups experiencing the Chilkoot tory and continuing use as a First Trail during the commemoration Nation trade and travel route and period. homeland, the pre-rush use of the trail by prospectors exploring the The reasons for the Chilkoot Trail's Upper Yukon River basin, post gold national significance are effectively rush recreational use, and a range of communicated to the public when: related values and linkages within which the Chilkoot Trail gains other • people understand the role of the values. Chilkoot Trail in the mass move- ment of people into the Yukon These other heritage values of the during the Klondike gold rush of Chilkoot Trail are respected by all 1897-1900. those whose decisions and actions • the geographic and historic rela- affects the site when: tionship of the site to the various regional mountain passes and the • the structure and function of the northwest of North America is ecological zones are unimpaired communicated to provide the by stresses induced by human wider context for understanding activity that is likely to persist. the significance of the site. • site visitors understand how the • the importance of the site as a changes evident in the natural whole is understood and interpre- environment help place the trail in tation both on site and off site is a continuum of history. integrated and balanced. • First Nation history, cultural val- • the character, importance, and use ues and resources related to the of the site as a link between the site are acknowledged and Pacific coast and the Yukon interi- respected. or is presented. • First Nation traditions of active • interpretation of the different cul- involvement in the site are contin- tural perspectives of the trail ued. experience during the commemo-

9 • the community and site staff Rush National Historical Park- understand the importance of Alaska over the last 10-years. working together to improve the The Skagway Convention and cultural experience of the site. Visitors Bureau (SCVB) reported • the evolution of the site's use over that 857,405 people visited the town time and its identity, including the in 2004, the highest count ever-a development of recreational use 9.72 percent increase over 2003. of the trail corridor, are acknowl- This is more than 13,000 additional edged. people than reported by the park. • related cultural resources in adja- The discrepancy is likely due to dif- cent properties are identified and ferent counting procedures. The movement to protect and present SCVB states that this increase came these resources is encouraged. largely in the number of cruise ship • the significance of the Chilkoot passengers, which showed a 13 per- Trail as part of the larger system of cent jump from 2003. national historic sites is communi- cated to the visitors. Other 2004 data from the SCVB • the thematic links of the Chilkoot shows that: Trail to other gold rush and abo- riginal sites across Canada are • the number of cruise ship passen- explained. gers jumped from 639,742 in 2003 to 722,095 in 2004. Visitation and Visitor Use • the border station counted 77,837 The following information regard- arriving people in vehicles-a slight ing park visitors and visitor use is increase from 2003, but well derived from data maintained by the below the 90,000 to 100,000 visi- Planning has moved NPS Socio-Economic Services tors in the late 1990s. (The report beyond constructing an Division (WASO) in Denver, a 1998 does not indicate how many of average profile and label- visitor survey, the Skagway these were local people possibly ing him “the visitor.” Convention and Visitors Bureau, the going shopping in Whitehorse.) GMP, and discussions with park • the White Pass & Yukon Route staff. It should be noted that Railroad recorded 13,187 arriving Klondike Gold Rush National passengers from its Fraser trains- Historical Park is the most visited up 122 over last year. Overall, the park in Alaska. railroad carried a record 404,722 passengers, but most were tour Table 1 shows the total number of passengers already counted in the recreation visits to Klondike Gold cruise ship arrival total.

Table 1 Total Annual Visitation

900000

800000

700000

600000

500000

400000

300000

200000

100000

0 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

10 • ferry traffic on the Alaska Marine ber of people who enter the Highway was 23,814, down 2.7 per- exhibit/museum space is not cent from 2003. known. • the Haines-Skagway shuttle pas- • 238,001 visitors entered the senger vessels operated by Chilkat Mascot Saloon. Visitors can enter Cruises and Tours were down this exhibit on their own or as from 23,724 in 2003 to 15,069 in part of a guided walking tour of 2004. the town. • Air arrivals also were down from • 24,994 visitors entered the Moore 6,340 in 2003 to 6,046 in 2004. House. The vast majority of these • Over 100,000 people stopped at visitors were on a guided tour that the Skagway Visitor Center at A.B. ended at the Moore House. Hall, and over 282,000 visited the • 17,294 people attended a park- park's visitor center. guided interpretive walking tour of the Skagway Historic District. Table 2 illustrates monthly visits for • 30,284 visitors viewed the park 2004. orientation film Days of Visitation is closely tied to the Adventure, Dreams of Gold and cruise ship season. The visitor cen- 2,477 visitors viewed other films in

Table 2 Monthly Visitation 2004

250000

200000

150000

100000

50000

0 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

ter and most other interpretive the visitor center auditorium. facilities are only open from early • 5,798 people attended live inter- May through late September. pretive presentations in the audi- torium. The park's 2004 Visitor Report lists • 1,069 visitors participated in the following statistics: ranger-led walking tours of the Dyea town site, and 76 visitors • 282,567 visitors used the visitor went on ranger-guided hikes of center. The visitor center actually the lower portion of the Chilkoot has two main entrances-one to Trail. the information desk, bookstore, • 352 visitors in 9 "special groups," and theater areas, and a separate largely school groups, visited the entrance to the main park and participated in one or exhibit/museum area. The num- more activities.

11 • About 500 written, email, and tele- day at the park (most of these phone inquiries were answered by were probably cruise ship passen- interpretive staff. gers), and 15% spent one to two • The Chilkoot Trail Center issued days. Of those groups that spent 3,001 permits for overnight use of less than a day in the park, 43% the trail. The trail also was used by spent two to four hours. 10,375 other visitors engaged in • Visitors from foreign countries commercially permitted activities. comprised 19% of total visitation, The trail center received a total of with 66% of international visitors 11,041 visitors. from Canada and 9% from England. (The 2003 guest register Table 3 offers a visual comparison of on the front desk of the visitor some of the above data for 2003. center reported visitors from 13

Table 3 Visitor Activity Comparison

900000 800000 700000 600000 500000 400000 300000 200000 100000 0 Total VC Film Mascot Moore Town Tour

The following is a summary of the Canadian provinces and 41 other results of a survey, titled Visitor countries. Visitors from all 50 Services Project Klondike Gold states, plus Guam, Puerto Rico, Rush National Historical Park, U.S. Virgin Islands and which was conducted during July 6- Washington, D.C. also were list- 12, 1998. Survey results are relevant ed.) only for the time period in which • The most common visitor activi- they were conducted; however, ties were taking photographs since almost all park visitation (93%), visiting museums/informa- occurs between May and tion centers (89%), and shopping September, most of the findings will for souvenirs (85%). likely apply throughout the visitor • Fifty-three percent of visitor season. Analysis of the survey groups said they received no results showed that: information about the park prior to their visit. Travel guide/tour • Fifty-four percent of the visitor books (23%), maps and brochures groups were family groups. Fifty- (13%), and ship personnel (11%) two percent of visitor groups were were the most used sources of groups of two. Sixty-three percent information by visitor groups. of visitors were aged 46-70. • Sixty percent of visitor groups • Ninety-one percent of visitors traveled on cruise ships to get to were making their first visit to and from the Skagway area. KLGO. Seventy-seven percent of Smaller percentages of groups the visitor groups spent less than a used RV's (14%), ferries (14%),

12 and cars (13%) to get to and from travelers. This may indicate a need the Skagway area. By comparison, for more information, orientation, the 2004 figures reported by the and interpretive materials accessible SCVB show that 84% of visitors to non-English speakers and those arrived on cruise ships, about 3% with different physical and develop- arrived on ferries, and 9% came mental needs. via the road. This shows a signifi- cant change over a 7-year time Existing Conditions, Issues span, and certainly reflects the and Influences growth of the cruise ship industry The following is a summary in Alaska. description of the visitor experi- • The most commonly visited sites ences and conditions as they existed in the park were the Klondike at the onset of this long-range inter- Gold Rush Visitor Center (86%), pretive planning process. This sec- the Mascot Saloon (50%), the tion is intended to identify baseline Trail Center (40%), the Gold conditions and highlight key issues Rush Cemetery (37%), and the to help justify many of the plan's Moore House (24%). Note: These recommendations. percentages are greatly different from the 2004 figures which show that 32 % of the total visitation Outreach and Marketing stopped at the visitor center, 16% Many visitors, especially cruise ship entered the Mascot Saloon, 2.9% passengers, receive little and/or entered the Moore House, and inconsistent information about the only 1.3% went in the Trail Center. park prior to their arrival. This fact was also reported by the 1998 visitor The significant discrepancies survey. There has been little com- between the 1998 and 2004 data munication between the NPS and may indicate the need for a new sur- the cruise ship companies or with vey to verify changes over time. the Northwest Cruise Ship Association, although a dialogue has Visitation and Visitor Use begun between the NPS, Parks Conclusions Canada, Holland America and other Although all indications are that the interested parties in the marketing majority of visitation is by cruise of the "Klondike Trail" from Seattle ship passengers, the park cannot to Dawson and beyond. simply target that visitor group and exclude independent travelers, Prior to arrival, people learn some- school groups, etc. Further research thing about Skagway, but not about needs to be conducted to determine the presence of a national park. Few which audiences are not being people realize that the Seattle unit is reached, which audiences are being part of the park, or that there are reached, and how many even fail to close connections with gold rush know the park exists at all. sites managed by Parks Canada.

Observations of staff seem to indi- The park has made contacts with cate a growing number of families local and regional schools, and traveling with school age children some informal education programs on cruise ships. This may indicate a have been developed. There is much growing need for interpretive potential to expand the education opportunities targeting families. program and to integrate activities Population demographics in the with other gold rush sites. U.S. also suggest an aging and Park staff members are active in increasingly diverse population of many aspects of Skagway communi-

13 ty life, historic preservation, NHP, and Glacier Bay National resource management, and tourism. Park until the fall of 2005 when the Opportunities to expand and equipment was deemed a total fail- strengthen these connections need ure. There are no plans to replace to be continually explored. this outdated and malfunctioning exhibit. The park web site is very popular and provides a wealth of informa- The entrance for most (over 75%) tion to potential and virtual visitors. visitors to the park is now from one There is a need to expand the site to of four docks either off a cruise ship include more information about or ferry boat. For those arriving by education opportunities, and pro- ferry, the ferry depot contains a vide stronger links to other gold series of large graphic panels of rush sites. eight Skagway historic buildings and 13 large black and white historic Arrival photos associated with the gold By vehicle, one may enter Skagway rush. These give visitors a sense (but and the park either via the Klondike no details) of the gold rush story Highway and Broadway Avenue into and historic downtown Skagway. the Skagway Historic District or via Because of pre-cruise advertising ferry from the south on the Alaska and on-board advertisements and Marine Highway System. The sales, many cruise ship visitors have Klondike Highway in Alaska con- already arranged activities for their tains six turnouts, with a total of one-day stay in Skagway. These pre- seven NPS wayside exhibits and one arranged activities include various private wayside exhibit on regional commercial tours and trips on the history. A PMIS project proposal for White Pass and Yukon Route replacement of all these wayside Railroad. exhibits has been submitted. However, at this time there are no Over 70% of park visitors are "gateway" or entry signs anywhere unaware that they are entering a to the north of the park visitor cen- national park (Visitor Study Report, ter, nor have there ever been any. 1998), let alone Alaska's most-visited national park. As was first formally The Juneau International Airport documented in the 1990 updated provides one entry point via local Interpretive Prospectus, "signing for air services. At the airport in Juneau the visitor center has been less than the NPS provided an introduction adequate." There is no American to KLGO through a brief interactive flag displayed at the park. In 1997 laserdisc/monitor presentation on there were three signs in the down- Klondike Gold Rush NHP, Sitka town area identifying the park's Cruise ships in harbor

14 existence-two on Broadway near 1st established, although a PMIS proj- Avenue, and one on Congress Way ect statement is in the system. east of the park. Today, offsite there is only a single small (13-3/4" x 54") During winter the first visible sign sign on Broadway near 1st Avenue of the park to visitors southbound reading "Klondike Gold Rush on Broadway is a "Closed" sign with National Historical Park" and the NPS arrowhead hanging in the "Skagway Historic District." As visi- entryway glass door of the Mascot tors walk from the docks into town Saloon. Here a number of aged and along Broadway, the town's main deteriorating photographic enlarge- street, this sign is lost amid a sea of ments mounted on foam core are much more attractive, conspicuous placed in windows. These images and larger signs. Many of the visi- show park buildings and street tors who reach the park visitor cen- scenes from a century ago. During ter do not see or comprehend the the summer a seasonal exhibit of park's identifying sign outside the period liquor bottles is placed in the Broadway entrance. On the 2nd window. Avenue side of the park buildings, there is no sign identifying the park, Visitor Center save for the gilded park name on a Located on the first floor of the window of the Railroad Building. restored White Pass and Yukon Route Depot at the corner of As visitors move through Skagway Broadway and Second Avenue, the and inadvertently the park, some KLGO Visitor Center is designed to are informed by their guides of the provide visitors with the informa- park's presence. Cruise passengers tion they need to efficiently use coming ashore who do not pur- their time in Skagway to learn about chase commercial tours either walk the gold rush and experience the or take a shuttle bus from the dock ambiance of a historic "boom area into town. The park visitor town." The visitor center is open center is the first building they daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. from encounter. Lack of any clear symbol May through September, coinciding of a United States government facil- with the cruise ship calendar. A ity (such as a flag), or of prominent staffed information desk provides signs identifying a National Park printed materials, orientation to the Service office or the visitor center park through maps and personal or museum buildings continually services, and helps visitors with complicates the park's ability to activity planning. Additional daily connect with the visitor. activity planning information is available through a "blackboard" In 2001 and 2002 preliminary plans display near the information desk. were made to construct a park The visitor center lobby and book- "gateway" on the loading dock area Depot building past & store are well designed and appear to the south of the visitor center. present to meet most visitor and staff needs. This project was modified in 2004 to include two flagpoles and a way- The visitor center auditorium seats side exhibit plaza adjacent to the 100 visitors. The auditorium is large Trail Center (for the United States enough to accommodate most visi- and Canadian flags, because KLGO tor use. In addition to showing the is an International Historical Park), park film, the space is used for a a sign in a planter box bearing the variety of live interpretive talks and park name, and a low planter box. other audiovisual presentations. At this time no schedule for imple- The park film, Days of Adventure, mentation of the gateway has been Dreams of Gold, produced in 1973, is

15 dated and does not cover some of able in French. An update of the the important aspects of the pri- equipment to DVD format will be mary interpretive themes. The film included. also does not provide information about the NPS and its role in devel- The visitor center is closed for the oping and protecting the park. It is winter season (end of Sept. through shown hourly, daily throughout the early May). The fall, winter, and cruise ship season and shown by early spring visitors (few though request in the conference room in they may be) are served by the the winter months. headquarters and museum building. The offices and museum exhibits Twice a day in the visitor center are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. auditorium at 10 am and 3 pm weekdays through the off-season. rangers present interpretive pro- Visitors may see the movie on video grams. These programs are on a in the conference room upon variety of topics based on the park's request. Passports stamps are avail- interpretive themes. A dedicated able at the administration desk. laptop computer and LCD projector Groups can be accommodated in are used for ranger presentations. the off-season as the chief of inter- pretation and the visitor center The visitor center has a few supervisor are around to lead tours, exhibits, including temporary show the movie, and provide orien- exhibit cases done annually by the tation and information. curator and photographic "murals" on the walls of the theater and Walking Tours - Ranger-led ANHA sales space. These photo- walking tours of the Skagway graphic enlargements are in poor Historic District are the park's most and declining condition and await popular seasonal personal services replacement. program. The 45-minute tours begin at the visitor center at 9, 10, and 11 A laserdisc audiovisual presentation a.m. and at 2 and 3 p.m., and usually is available in the part of the visitor take visitors through a 4-block tour center that was once the Depot of downtown historic properties. Ticket Office. The visitor-activated The tours put the buildings in their 13-minute program orients visitors historical context and describe their to the Chilkoot Trail. Unfortunately architectural features, and introduce the program is a decade old, and visitors to some of the town's most was produced prior to the establish- well known historical figures and ment of the Chilkoot Trail fee pro- events. The tours are limited to 30 gram and campground fees. The persons by agreement with the city program does not contain bear safe- because of the congestion down- ty messages. The room is small, town when the cruise ship visitors accommodating no more than 6 or are in port and commercial tours 7 people at a time, and outside light- and other vehicles block the streets. ing is intrusive. Hikers are required When demand is demonstrated and to obtain a permit from the trail staffing permits, a second ranger center (across the street) and leads a simultaneous tour on an receive a mandatory orientation talk alternative route. Numbers are there. The park is currently working maintained at 30 with the issuance with a grant and matching funds to of free tickets to only up to 30 per- develop a new Chilkoot Trail sons for each tour on a first-come, Orientation program to replace this first-served basis. Tickets are not old one. It will include options to issued prior to the day of the tour. see a bear safety section, the orien- Constant reminders to the group tation program, and it will be avail- 16 Skagway walking tour

that they must have tickets to con- nearby stores. There was a great tinue with the tour helps maintain deal of controversy within the com- the group size as well. munity when the bookstore first opened. All walking tours originate in the lobby of the Visitor Center. Museum (Railroad Building) Walking tours usually end at the Exhibits in the museum adjacent to Moore Homestead, with an intro- the visitor center (Railroad duction to Captain William Moore Building) include displays of origi- and his son Ben, their significance nal artifacts, historic photos, a in Skagway history, and an invita- raised relief map model of the gold tion to come inside the Moore rush period trails through the Coast House to learn more about family Mountains, historic accounts of life in this gold rush boomtown. travelers on the White Pass and Chilkoot Trails, and a life-sized The park does not allow guided exhibit of a stampeder with the "ton commercial tour groups to conduct of goods" required of all entering presentations in park facilities, Canada. Visitors experience these because of the congestion that displays at their own pace and have occurs and the conflicts with other opportunities to contemplate what visitors in the facilities. life was like for those who partici- Alaska Natural History pated in the Klondike Gold Rush. The Ton of Goods exhibit is proba- Association Bookstore bly the most popular interpretive In 1996 the park entered into a exhibit in the park, and is frequently cooperative agreement with the used by interpretive staff as part of Alaska Natural History Association their walking tours of the Skagway (ANHA) for operation of a sales Historic District. outlet. The ~20' x 20' outlet is now located in the "lobby" inside from Seasonal exhibits are developed and the original railroad loading plat- displayed annually in both the "Ton form, just outside the auditorium. of Goods" room of the museum Some rearrangement and removal of and in the visitor center lobby. original exhibits was done to These displays often present other accommodate this sales area. A perspectives or contemporary Scope of Sales exists but needs to be reflections on the Klondike Gold rewritten. Care must be taken to Rush. The windows of the Railroad watch for undue competition with

17 Building have been used from 2001 view a video about hiking the trail. to 2005 to display tools, equipment, It is not known how many hikers and objects from everyday life dur- actually do this. ing the gold rush. The curator removed many of the objects from In addition to hikers seeking per- these windows in 2005 due to dete- mits, many other visitors wander in rioration from sunlight. Displays in from curiosity. There is little to let the windows have a great deal of people know about the building's potential to attract visitors into the history or its former owner. museum. The museum is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Mascot Saloon May through September, and on The Mascot Saloon located at weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. dur- Broadway and 3rd Avenue is a pop- Museum relief map ing the rest of the year. Rangers ular stop on walking tours of the occasionally rove the museum area Skagway Historic District. The as time allows during the summer restored building has public rest- season. rooms and features a fully furnished barroom scene (circa 1912), com- The exhibit area is accessed through plete with manikins in historic a separate entrance, and it is not clothing. Wall exhibits depict peo- known how many visitors discover ple of Skagway and the glitz and it. The walking tours of the historic glitter of the boomtown. An exhibit district begin in the exhibit area and of archeological objects found some visitors may return after the under the Mascot Saloon during its tour. Generally, the exhibits are in renovation and an exhibit contain- good condition and address theme- ing goods that were for sale during related topics to help visitors make the gold rush complete the build- connections with the resources and ing's interpretive exhibits. Summer their meanings. However, some window exhibits display beer and exhibits do require updating, and liquor bottles of the time, although rehab, and some topics are not ade- there is no labeling to identify to the quately presented. passerby what the display is about The Trail Center or what the building actually is. Across the street from the visitor center is the trail center. Also During the winter season the bottle known as the Martin Itjen House display is removed from the win- after an early owner, this small facil- dows and replaced with old photo ity is managed by the park in coop- murals of the town. These photos eration with Parks Canada, as each are old, worn, and have no interpre- agency manages one-half of the tive labeling. trail's 33-mile length. Here permits Since the historic furnishing plan Martin Itjen House may be obtained as well as daily weather and trail condition reports, was completed, a photograph of the and presentations on bear safety. actual saloon has been discovered. The trail center is open daily from 8 While the current furnishings are a.m. to 5 p.m. during June, July, remarkably close to the photo, it August through mid-September. does raise the issue of whether to amend the furnishing plan. The space functions well for this The Mascot Saloon is open daily purpose, although the furnishings from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. from May appear to have been cobbled through September. It is unstaffed together from various places. Those except for periods of time, usually 9 visitors receiving trail permits are a.m. to 12 noon, when a roving asked to walk across the street to

18 ranger is available. That ranger has Skagway founder "Captain" William the option of being in uniform or in Moore and his son Ben over the period costume. The costumed course of several summers begin- interpretation works well for this ning in 1887. This homestead is sig- roving duty as it invites participa- nificant partly because it is the locus tion and questions from those wan- of the Moore Homestead, the dering through. beginning of the White Pass Trail, and the oldest structure in Skagway. Static visitor counters comparing The Moore Cabin is closed to the visitation at the visitor center and public, but visitors can look though Mascot Saloon in 2000 and 2001 the windows. found that the unstaffed Mascot Mascot Saloon Exhibit received 84% as much use as the The J. Bernard Moore House was visitor center. To help reach these built for the family of the son of visitors, a brochure rack was Captain William Moore. Located installed and is kept stocked with adjacent to the Moore Cabin on park publications. The Mascot Spring Street and 5th Avenue, the Saloon is utilized by many inter- Moore House has been restored to preters during their walking tours of depict the house as it was in 1904. the Skagway Historic District. There The Late Victorian Period-fur- is a SMART bus stop right in front nished interior gives visitors an of the building and the drivers fre- opportunity to experience a quently mention the clean rest- Skagway home from the post-Gold rooms and nice exhibit inside. Rush era, and learn about family life There is some congestion when our of that time in Skagway. The historic guided walks coincide with busy furnishings in the Moore House are SMART bus deliveries, but the well done and no changes are pro- rangers accommodate by managing posed in this long-range interpretive their groups well. plan.

Improvements to the recorded Currently three wayside exhibits are soundscape in the saloon are need- in place: The First Wave-1897- ed. Organizing a Town,Trail of Dead Horses, and Before the Gold Rush. Moore House and Cabin The current orientation of one of The Moore Cabin at 5th Avenue and the panels does not relate to the text Spring Street was constructed by

Moore Cabin (above) Moore House (left)

19 description, and the screening The c. 1903 ice house is one of the process applied to the waysides to last remaining in Skagway, and one make the photographs appear "his- of few remaining in Alaska. The toric" obscures the clarity of the cigar store has been restored on the originals. A series of four interpre- exterior. Other than structural tive panels were developed as a restoration, no interpretive use of product of the Cultural Landscape these buildings has yet been pro- Report/Treatment Plan for the posed. Many of the walking tours Moore Homestead. These exhibits include these structures as illustra- are part of a larger plan that tions of the various stages of stabi- includes reconstruction of the out- lization, restoration, renovation, and house, fencing, and kitchen garden reuse. components of the original home- stead as it developed. The fencing Dyea and outhouse are currently in place Although located 12 miles from the with archaeological work being Skagway Visitor Center, the Dyea done on the gardens. The wayside town site is visited by relatively few exhibits produced under this plan of Skagway's visitors. The park esti- were designed by the regional office mated 35,000 Dyea visitors in 2002, staff and have not yet been installed. compared with 750,000 to Skagway. They should be evaluated for inter- Most visitors arrive via commercial pretive effectiveness once they are tours or private vehicles. About in place. 3,000 visitors to Dyea hike the entire Chilkoot Trail annually, while The Moore House is the terminus most choose to sightsee or to partic- of most walking tours of the ipate in commercial recreation Skagway Historic District. It is open activities such as horseback tours, daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from hiking, bicycling, rafting, and/or a May through September and inter- short hike on the beginning of the pretive staff stationed there provide Chilkoot Trail. Most of these tours personal tours and site information. are recreational in nature, and peo- ple often do not realize the historic A donation box is now located at significance of the site. the Moore House, and it collects a good deal of money, sometimes The Dyea area includes a small more than the donation box at the National Park Service ranger station visitor center. An experimental user and a 22-site, primitive campground fee was tried at the Moore House in located mainly on State of Alaska the late 90s for a couple of years. property. Day-use visitors come via Visitation diminished and the cost taxi, tour shuttle, or bus from of collection far exceeded the take. Skagway. The historic Dyea town The practice was discontinued in site is in mixed land ownership with favor of a donation box. significant cultural and natural resources in state, city and private Goldberg Cigar Store & Ice ownership. Visitors travel between House NPS and city managed lands These two historic structures were unaware they are crossing jurisdic- acquired by the park and moved to tions. High quality visitor experi- a vacant lot near the Moore House. ence depends on collaboration to While it was common historically protect and interpret these for buildings to be moved around resources. Goldberg Cigar Store Skagway, neither building ever sat at its current location. A tangle of trails lead visitors through the site (now mostly over-

20 grown) and wayside exhibits inter- ing an exciting opportunity to link pret some of the features. In some the impact of natural processes, cases the waysides are located such as isostatic rebound, to the where a historic photo was taken, transitions experienced by a gold and in one instance a remnant wall rush boom town gone bust. A of an original structure has been human-caused fire in 1998 on the preserved to help visitors make con- hillside above the Dyea Road pro- nections between the photograph vides opportunities to interpret the and the landscape. Since little is left role of fire in the ecosystem and the of the town of Dyea, it is very diffi- succession of local plant communi- cult for the unescorted visitor to ties. even picture a town here. Trails are overgrown and it looks like a lovely Daily from June through late August forest has been there all along. a park ranger leads visitors on a 1-1/2 hour town site tour. Visitors are Ten wayside exhibits are scattered provided with a brochure of the throughout the area, some in the town site and several of the princi- town site-Taiya Estuary, Exploring pal ruins are identified. A much- Dyea, a three-sided kiosk across the False front building, expanded Dyea Town site Self Dyea Dyea Road from the Chilkoot Trail Guiding Tour is in the planning trailhead provides trail information, process. What Dyea Has to Offer,The Pullen Barn, Dyea-Disappearing Town, Chilkoot Trail Historic Litter, Slide Cemetery, Dyea This internationally-famous 33 mile Wharf, and Vining and Wilkes trail begins at the north edge of Warehouse. Unfortunately, when Dyea. Sixteen and one-half miles of these exhibits were produced, a the trail (from Dyea to Chilkoot screening process was applied to Pass) are in the United States, the make the photographs appear remaining sixteen and one-half "more historic." This obscures the miles in British Columbia, Canada. outstanding clarity of the images The Chilkoot Trail is not on NPS and detracts from their visual aes- land, but is managed by the NPS thetic and effectiveness. under a 1977 Memorandum of Understanding with the State of The Cultural Landscape Treatment Alaska Department of Natural Recommendations for the Dyea Resources. This may soon change as town site will suggest on-the- a land exchange is in the works. ground management actions such as traffic configuration, picnic area A large sign on the Dyea Road iden- location and design, and trail sug- tifies the Chilkoot trailhead. Across gestions for the original street grid. the road from the sign are a unisex These recommendations from the toilet facility and an informational Alaska Regional Office should be kiosk. In the United States portion available soon. of the trail corridor there are four camping areas: Finnegan's Point, Isostatic rebound has changed the Canyon City, Pleasant Camp, and historic landscape, especially with Sheep Camp. Both Canyon City and regard to the shoreline, making it an Sheep Camp have cabin/warming interpretive challenge for visitors to huts. A backcountry ranger station make some connections. The Dyea at Sheep Camp provides hikers with town site is experiencing vegetative information about hiking, camping, succession from a meadow to safety, trail history, trail/weather woodland, while the open tidal conditions, and preservation of cul- meadow that used to be at the town tural resources. In the evening at site has moved to the south, provid- 21 Chilkoot trailhead sign

Sheep Camp, rangers provide Other interpretive wayside exhibits campers with an hour-long presen- are in place along the Canadian side tation on a variety of topics. There of the trail. A PMIS Project is potential for interpretive media at Proposal has been submitted to the warming shelters and bulletin replace all of the U.S. exhibits. boards. Reference materials could also be provided for hikers to look Approximately 3,000 hikers travel up flowers, berries, birds, etc. the entire length of the Chilkoot Trail annually between June and NPS interpreters have offered a few September, with most hikers taking conducted interpretive hikes on the three to five days to complete the lower portion of the trail on an challenging trek. Day use of the experimental basis, but there was trail has increased dramatically, too much competition for space largely as a result of short hikes on along the trail with commercial the initial segment of the trail by vis- groups, and attendance was unpre- itors on commercial tours who want dictable. to claim that "I Hiked the Chilkoot Trail." Many of these day hikers For most hikers, wayside exhibits then float down the Taiya River with and A Hiker's Guide to the Chilkoot commercial trips. Trail provide the bulk of the inter- pretive experience. Dispersed along Many visitors want to know if they the United States' portion of the can see the pass without hiking the trail are a Trail Registry with photo- trail; however, no part of Chilkoot graphs and 10 wayside exhibits that Pass can be seen from any vantage interpret the gold rush of 1897-98. point along a road. These wayside exhibits include Finnegan's Point, Canyon City, White Pass Trail Aerial Tramway, Frozen Highway, The White Pass Trail begins in Pleasant Camp, Sheep Camp, Tram Skagway and extends to the Tower,The Scales, Golden Stairs, and Canadian border and on to Lake The Summit-"A Ton of Goods." Lindeman. It is not maintained, and Unfortunately, when these exhibits is essentially nonexistent. Portions were produced, a screening process of the park's White Pass Trail unit, was applied to make the photo- including sections of the historic graphs appear "more historic." This Brackett Wagon Road and remnants obscures the outstanding clarity of of White Pass City, can be viewed the images and detracts from their from pullouts along the Klondike visual aesthetic and effectiveness. Highway and from the White Pass &

22 Yukon Route Railroad right-of-way. NPS graphic identity standards, There are no developed trails within provide accurate orientation infor- the unit. mation, or convey adequate safety or resource management messages. This section of the park is interpret- Wayside exhibits produced by the ed through seven wayside exhibits town and by Parks Canada are of along the Klondike Highway, which separate designs, and raise the issue parallels most of the trail. These of the need to present a unified wayside exhibits cover the topics of look. Parks Canada is required to the White Pass and Yukon Route present all interpretive messages in Railroad, the Brackett Wagon Road, English and French. This will need The Dead Horse Trail, White Pass to be a design consideration, espe- City, the Klondike Highway, the use cially for waysides on the Chilkoot of both White Pass and Chilkoot Trail. Pass as Migration Corridors for both people and animals, and the Two new wayside exhibits have just International Boundary. been placed on the Dyea Road in the Department of Transportation No plans currently exist to open the right-of-way. They interpret the White Pass Trail or White Pass City Taiya Inlet from the Tlingit perspec- for recreational use, although this tive as well as the gold rush era per- may change when studies and spective. They fully incorporate the inventories are completed and a NPS graphic identity standards. Five management presence is estab- other waysides exhibits are being lished. A Historic Resource Study planned, funded by BIA and (HRS) has been completed for the designed mostly by the NPS and White Pass Trail and White Pass Skagway Traditional Council. These City, but does not contain detailed waysides will be placed throughout management guidance for the area. Dyea with one in downtown Skagway. They will tell Tlingit per- Visitors on the White Pass & Yukon spective on place names, cemetery, Route Railroad tour (which and Chilkoot Trail. includes many of the cruise ship passengers) pass through this unit, Leased Buildings in Skagway - The but often do not know that it is part National Park Service owns several of the national historical park. buildings in Skagway that are leased to business with the proceeds going Wayside Exhibits toward building upkeep and reno- Wayside exhibits in the park repre- vation. Most of these buildings are sent a multitude of design styles and closed for the winter season and the conditions. For some, the panels business owners take everything out were designed to reflect the 1890s; of the window spaces. This space is however, the graphics (mostly his- not currently utilized and could Wayside exhibit at Dyea toric photos) were purposely made possibly be used to house displays fuzzy. The fuzziness ruins the quali- for winter visitors (many from ty of the images and thus diminishes Whitehorse during the holiday sea- the overall impact of the exhibits. son). There may also be potential for interpretive exhibits in these Some waysides do an excellent job buildings year-round. of captioning the landscape, while Personal Services others, such as those near the The park offers a variety of personal Moore House, make no connection services interpretive programs with visible resources at all. None of throughout the year as mentioned the wayside exhibits conform to the in many of these sections. A sched-

23 Table 4 Personal Services During Summer of 2005

Historic District Daily 9,10,11,2,3 45 -60 minutes Walking Tour Ranger Talks Daily 10 and 3 30-45 minutes Dyea Walk Daily 2 p.m. with 1.5 hours additional ones at 10 on Fri/Sat/Sun Movie Hourly with each 8,9,11,12,1,2,4,5 10-15 minutes Introduction showing of movie Mascot Rove Mon-Thurs 9-12 3 hours Moore House Daily 10-5 Available all day Rove Special Speakers Twice Monthy 7 p.m. generally 1 hour or so ule of summer programs for 2005 is Mascot Saloon, Moore House, visi- shown in Table 4. The programs are tor center and headquarters are theme-related, and most are well decorated with lights, as is the cus- attended and well received by visi- tom in Skagway for all businesses tors and residents. open during the holidays. Other events in which the NPS is asked to Any proposed expansion of the donate or participate in smaller interpretive program needs to con- scale are Flag Day, Klondike Road sider the value of personal services Relay, Buckwheat Ski Classic, and activities as part of the mix. This is Spring Stroll. especially true with enhancements to the interpretive program at the Publications Mascot Saloon and the Moore House. The park has produced many free documents since its inception. In Most of the participation in the the last six years KLGO has more ranger-led programs is by cruise than doubled the number of avail- ship and independent travelers. able popular park publications, pro- Locals will sometimes attend early ducing more than 15 since 1997, and and late in the season as they find now provides the following free time. We also get some of the local publications: guides using our programs as train- Park brochure - This is the ing in the early part of the season. Unigrid brochure done by Local attendance is greatest at spe- Harpers Ferry Center that covers cial speakers programs. Speakers equally the Skagway and Seattle have included visiting archaeolo- units. Unfortunately, the 1997 park gists, historians, glaciologists, geolo- brochure is visually confusing, dif- gists, park staff with expertise in ficult to read, and not well birds, bears, etc. and two locals, received by visitors. It also lacks a Buckwheat Donahue (Robert good map of the routes to the Service recitations) and Jeff Brady Klondike, and does not clearly (Stroller White readings). describe the park itself. When that brochure was produced, a pri- Special events the park participates mary objective was to reduce in are the annual 4th of July parade printing costs by combining both (NPS float) and the Yuletide parks into a single document. Weekend. For Yuletide the NPS Unfortunately, in the process both hosts an open house at either the parks lost much of their identity, Mascot or the visitor center, and we and the brochure lost effective- show a holiday movie in the visitor ness in both Seattle and Skagway. center auditorium. Windows of the 24 The park is currently on the list materials on the area's resources, for redesign of the Unigrid, with activities and opportunities. The the plan being to make two sepa- park has contributed text, editorial rate but similar publications for assistance and developmental sup- KLGO and KLSE. The gold rush port for many for-sale products, story and timeline, and references including two map/guides to the to the international historical park Chilkoot Trail and a park handbook will be the same for both parks, that is underway at this time and but the other side of the brochure expected for publication in the will contain separate and unique spring of 2006. maps and details for each park.

This will be published in a new Partnerships smaller fold out format. At the current time the park has Park Activity Flyer and map many partnerships, some formal, (updated annually)-Provides visi- many informal, with other agencies, tors with a schedule of park organizations and individuals. ranger-led activities and movies as Those involving interpretation well as a map of Skagway include: Translations of park materials into French, German, Japanese and Parks Canada (Trail Center and Spanish the Chilkoot Trail) Junior Ranger (to age 8) Seattle Unit of Klondike Gold Junior Ranger (over age 9) Rush National Historical Park Moore House Flyer Skagway Traditional Council Geology, Glaciers and Gold (Tlingit) Gold Rush Buildings in City of Skagway Skagway Restored by the Skagway Fine Arts Council (sup- National Park Service port for special speakers and now The Stampeder Visitor Guide-dis- defunct artists in residence) continued in 2004 and 2005 due Alaska Natural History to cost and layout/design con- Association (educational and cerns, this publication was community support for the park) designed and printed through Skagway City School (financial ANHA with Aid to NPS funds and support and educational activities, supplemented with ONPS funds including National History Day) to make it possible US Forest Service (training) Dyea Town site Tour Flyer State of Alaska (Chilkoot Trail) Wild Klondike Cooperating partner ANHA sells Walking Tour tickets books, maps, guides, videos, com- Particularly noteworthy materials pact discs, trinkets, clothing and developed by the park include the other items. A park handbook is "Klondike Stampeder Kit" for now under development with schools, An Educator's Guide to ANHA, and is expected for release America's "last grand adventure", in 2006. and the Teaching With Historic Outreach and Education Places Field Trip-Skagway: Gateway Programs to the Klondike. These materials are Offsite programs are presented to aging rapidly and are not tied to requesting groups as time and fund- current Alaska State Educational ing allow. Many opportunities exist Standards. to link the park to local and regional Through ANHA, the park also schools and other educational insti- makes available a range of non-NPS tutions. Field trips from Juneau,

25 Auke Bay, Haines, Klukwan, Sitka Klondike Gold Rush Curriculum and Whitehorse have all asked for Materials for the History of the ranger-led trips, and the park has Pacific Northwest in the Washington accommodated them with existing Public Schools. staff. In addition Vivian Meyer, an educa- The Alaska State Educational tor in the Skagway City School and Standards clearly delineate ties to a member of this planning team, has the themes of the park. Under the developed a gold rush unit for stu- History section of the standards dents as part of her Master's degree four expectations are listed: program.

A) A student should understand The park, however, does not have a that history is a record of full-time education specialist on human experiences that links staff. This limits the extent to which the past to the present and the the education program can develop future. and meet the growing needs of B) A student should understand teachers and students locally and historical themes through fac- throughout Alaska. It also limits the tual knowledge of time, places, extent to which the park can part- ideas, institutions, cultures, ner with education programs in people and events. Canada and Seattle. C) A student should develop the skills and processes of histori- Website cal inquiry. D) A student should be able to The park maintains a website with integrate historical knowledge many links at www.nps.gov/klgo. with historical skill to effective- Here visitors can get information ly participate as a citizen and about the park, park activities, and as a lifelong learner. the Kolndike Gold Rush story before they visit the park. The web- Each grade is to some extent site has maps of Alaska, the exposed to history as part of the Chilkoot-White Pass Area, Skagway curriculum. Historic District, and the Dyea town site. In addition to the maps, other In addition, Alaska schools have trip planning tools include: current started to participate in National activity schedules, campground History Day. information, Chilkoot Trail condi- tions and precautions, recommend- Ironically, many of the requests ed backpacking equipment, other from the local school have more to local trails, and other tour and hik- do with outings on the Chilkoot ing information. The website also Trail, government jobs, survival provides a selection of interpretive skills, and natural history than gold features about the gold rush, the rush themes. natural history of the Skagway area, and the preservation mission of the The park web site offers two park. Teaching with Historic Places lesson plans: Skagway-Gateway to the Two very interesting features are the Klondike, and Gold Fever! Seattle link to genealogy sites where visitors Outfits the Klondike Gold Rush. can track relatives who were part of Links to two other programs are the Klondike Gold Rush and an also provided: Alaska's Gold-devel- education page that has a lesson oped by the Alaska Rich Mining plan for using the historic structures Project Committee and The in Skagway as part of a strategy to

26 enrich students' learning of history. more of the IBP holders will want The park is currently migrating this to participate. website to the new NPS Common • Cruise ships make money from Spot system. shore excursions sold on board. There is no incentive for them to Issues provide information about NPS • The walking tours are limited by services. As a result, most of their the agreement with the city and passengers are surprised to see a we are vulnerable to the whims of visitor center, rangers, free pro- city government as to whether we grams and a park! can even continue to provide this • Lack of an education specialist has service. Thus far the city has limited the ability of the division grandfathered us in since they put to develop outreach and educa- a moratorium on the number of tion programs. walking tours using Broadway. We • Many organized tours would like are limited to 30 people at pres- special programming, but they sel- ent, but that number could change dom plan ahead enough to as the city sees fit. A more perma- arrange for these activities. This nent agreement needs to be nego- includes bus tours and interna- tiated. tional travel groups on the ferries. • The Historic District Commission Elderhostel seldom comes in sum- has approval authority over signs mer and the winter ferry schedule and developments in the historic limits their time here and forces district of Skagway. This slows odd hours of visitation. things down a bit but is overall a • Exhibits are technically under the good thing for the town in keep- wing of the curator, not the chief ing "the look" of the gold rush. of interpretation. Cooperation is • Incidental Business Permit holders excellent, but perhaps it would be operating in the park, particularly beneficial to separate the idea of Dyea, are under no obligation to exhibits from the idea of objects provide factual or interpretive in exhibits. This would enable a tours. This results in some ques- more collaborative approach to tionable information being pre- exhibit text and design, and it sented about the history and man- would help exhibit project fund- agement of the park. Training is ing requests to compete on a offered each spring to the permit regional and national level. Under holders, but few take advantage of this approach, each profession interpretive training. Interest is offers its expertise, but exhibits growing in the local guide com- are managed by the chief of inter- munity though, and hopefully pretation. Native packers

27 RECOMMENDATIONS

The following is a description of number of years. Cruise ship pas- program and media recommenda- sengers represent a huge segment of tions designed to further define, Alaska's tourism, and to date there Recommendations support, and communicate the has been only limited success in should constitute the park's mission, purpose, resource ensuring that these visitors are well most effective means of significance, interpretive themes, informed about the national parks achieving desired out- and visitor experience goals. they will visit on their cruise. comes. Implementation of these recom- mendations will help ensure that Through workshop discussions and visitors are well prepared and related correspondence, a number informed, and that they will be able of potential recommendations were to develop meaningful connections developed. These should be consid- with tangible and intangible ered as topics for further considera- resources. tion, not as absolute proposals.

The discussion of each program or • The planning team felt strongly media proposal identifies its pur- that success in this area will pose, special considerations, and require Regional Office coordina- sometimes suggests specific means tion with active involvement of of presentation. It is important to individual parks, including the remember that the latter are only KLGO Seattle unit and possibly suggestions and should not in any Parks Canada. On the cruise ship way limit the creativity essential side, success will require coordi- during the media and program nation through the Northwest planning and design processes. On Cruiseship Association, Cruise the other hand, proposals will be West, and the Alaska Travel specific enough to provide mean- Industry Association (ATIA), with ingful guidance, develop Class C active involvement of individual cost estimates, prepare PMIS sub- cruise ship companies. missions, and define the parameters • Meetings with Holland America, within which these creative energies Parks Canada, and Klondike can flow. Seattle as well as interested Skagway leaders should continue More than one of the primary inter- with the goal of developing and pretive themes makes direct refer- marketing the "Klondike Trail" ence to the Tlingit and other First idea, emphasizing the Nation people and their long and International Historical Park. continuing associations with the • Work with individual tour direc- land. It is essential that the park tors to provide park familiariza- maintain a dialogue and active par- tion tours for appropriate staff on ticipation with tribal leaders regard- the first port of call in the spring. ing the planning, design, and pro- • Offer information/training pack- duction of theme-related media and ages to cruise ship staff, possibly programs. through the Internet, with down- loadable materials that can be Outreach and Marketing used prior to each NPS port of Improving communications and call. expanding partnership opportuni- • Develop and/or assist in the devel- ties with cruise ship companies and opment of short audiovisual pro- their affiliates has been an interest ductions (probably in DVD for- and concern for KLGO and other mat) about each national park national park units in Alaska for a area included on a cruise. The 28 Cruise ships at Skagway

programs would be shown on The exhibits would be kept on- ship TV and viewed by passengers board and set up by ship person- in their rooms or at special pro- nel prior to the next port of call. grams which prepare folks for The exhibits would introduce the their next stop. Each cruise ship next NPS site, show some of the could select the segments tailored significant resources, describe to their next port of call. things to see and do, and address • Provide electronic data about indi- some of the primary interpretive vidual park visits and activities to themes. the cruise ships for use in their • Explore the potential of providing daily passenger newsletters. a high quality interpretive pro- • Work with cruise ship companies gram as a commercial/fee shore and their affiliates to provide offi- excursion in partnership with the cial park brochures to passengers Alaska Natural History prior to their visit. This will likely Association or other entity. This require some cost sharing to print would satisfy both the financial the number of brochures neces- need of the cruise lines and the sary. Brochure distribution could identity need of the NPS and its be coordinated through the partners. Northwest Cruiseship Association • Provide park visitation statistics Cruise West, and/or ATIA. and survey results to further illus- • Provide uniformed NPS and Parks trate how we all can benefit and Canada interpreters in Seattle and enhance the visitor experience by Vancouver at the cruise ship working together. docks or in ship lobbies (prior to • Attend the annual Northwest departure) to provide information Cruiseship Association confer- on NPS and Parks Canada sites ence (and possibly others such as included on the cruise. ATIA) to share ideas and concerns • Continue to work toward a pres- and develop partnerships. Specific ence of rangers on cruise ships in participant benefits listed in the port in Skagway, particularly con- 2004 Northwest Cruiseship tacting disembarking passengers Association conference literature early in the day. included: • Encourage cruise lines and their affiliates to establish web links to • Gaining insight on what the NPS sites. cruise industry's needs are and • Develop or assist in the develop- what they are looking for in ment of portable/changeable terms of products, services, exhibits for use on cruise ships. and ports of call.

29 • Learning how to work success- accurate historical programming fully with the cruise lines. and recognize that they cannot do • Meeting with cruise executives, all of the programming them- suppliers, tour and attraction selves. operators, and tourism and • That some proposals can be very port representatives to discuss labor intensive and current and the industry, business projected park budgets preclude prospects, and current issues. any major increases in staffing. • Pursue possibilities to link with Success in these areas may depend Glacier Bay's existing on-board on developing or expanding part- programming and services (Jr. nerships with others. Ranger, information services, • Some cruise ship companies feel etc.). Linking the Jr. Ranger paper that they are already giving pas- with that of GLBA would enable sengers enough, or even too children to obtain their booklet much, literature. here, work on KLGO pages, and then have it for their cruise in In addition to the cruise ships, the GLBA. GLBA staff could distrib- Alaska Marine Highway ferries ute both badges as appropriate. bring over 20,000 people to Each park would also have a sepa- Skagway each year. The U.S. Forest rate program for non-cruising Service has provided an on-board Alaska Ferry Fairweather children. interpreter for a number of years. This service should continue, and Except for Glacier Bay National the NPS should continue to play a Park, the prospect of placing park supportive role and provide litera- interpreters on-board cruise ships ture for distribution. The on-board while underway in the Inside interpreter should be equipped with Passage was considered, but reject- accurate and up-to-date informa- ed. The cost of doing this at other tion about park programs and activ- sites, especially in times of budget ities. constraints, would be prohibitive. In other areas of outreach and mar- In opening discussions on these keting, the park should initiate or potential recommendations, there continue to: are a number of other issues that may need to be addressed first. • Work with the local and regional These include: travel industry and let them know that the park is here, that we have • The fact that some cruise line and what they and their clients are land-based tour providers see looking for, and that we are open NPS programs and activities as for business. actual or potential competition, • Encourage and provide reviews of and for this reason they may be tourism literature (including web reluctant to promote anything that sites, radio and television spots) has the possibility of taking busi- which promote or provide infor- ness away. mation about the park to ensure • That the people who run the that it is accurate, appropriate, cruise ships often have different and current. agendas and priorities from those • Provide park visitation statistics who run the land-based pro- and survey results to further illus- grams. trate how we all can benefit and • That parks such as KLGO are enhance the visitor experience by interested in bringing more visi- working together. tors in contact with high quality, • Promote a coordinated effort to create or expand tourism oppor- 30 tunities. For example, visitation to to specific content should be as sim- Dyea is very low and reliable on- ple and intuitive as possible. This demand transportation to the unit means that a virtual visitor should is lacking. If more visitors are be able to gain access to any docu- made aware of Dyea, the demand ments, images, or information with- to visit will likely increase, and in two clicks or fewer. Content private enterprise would respond. should be arranged in a thematic • Offer continuing education and consistent manner. Developing opportunities to private and pub- an interface that allows a visitor lic service providers. This could easy access to all content available is include basic park information essential for those looking for spe- and orientation, a focus on pri- cific information and are not just mary themes, interpretive skill "surfers." development, etc. The "courses," which might be open to the pub- Children are no strangers to the lic, could be offered in the World Wide Web, and they poten- U.S. Canada border at evenings or made available on- tially can account for much of the White Pass line. This continuing education online visitation to parks. It is program should be holistic important that children feel con- approach of collaboration and nected to the park even though they partnering with tour providers. It may not be able to visit in person. could include training, historical The park should explore the devel- certification, interpretive and opment of both virtual and interac- presentation skills, and product tive activities to help children make and organization familiarization. meaningful connections with the The use of partners as instructors park resources and themes. and trainees would emphasize mutual respect and aid in the Virtual tours of some of the sharing of knowlwdge. exhibits, the Chilkoot Trail, or the evolution of the area from the gla- The park will continue to enhance cial era to the present would help its web site in order to reach larger people better understand aspects of and more diverse audiences. This the interpretive themes. Since few should include the continued devel- actual visitors get to experience the opment of the park's education Chilkoot Trail, a virtual tour may be program materials for use by stu- the only way for many people to dents via the Internet. It may be experience this resource. necessary to contract some of the web site development proposals. Further web site development also should comply with NPS graphic Two-way web links or references to identity standards. other sites, museums, and programs that deal with or touch upon ele- Arrival ments of the Klondike Gold Rush An official park entrance sign has should be explored and developed. been proposed. It will be located at A direct link with the cooperating the west corner of the visitor center association web site will allow peo- and will be visible as visitors ple to purchase theme-related mate- approach from the docks on rials before and/or after their visit. Broadway. This sign will help identi- fy the NPS presence in Skagway. In making improvements to web site material, it is important that the The park will work with the City of front page become a portal directly Skagway, the Alaska Department of to all of the online content. Access Transportation and Public Facilities,

31 and Canadian highway officials to need to be in harmony with the his- assess park sign conditions and toric character of the building and needs. Visitors will easily find how comply with historic district stan- far it is to the park from key loca- dards, they also need to clearly indi- tions, and they will easily find their cate the building's current function. way to the park visitor center. While Visitors approaching the building the signs should be easy to see, they need to clearly see that this is the also need to meet certain standards national park visitor center and that and get the approval of Skagway's this is the entrance. Historic District Commission. Window Displays Signs at the park entrance along the The window displays need to attract White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad visitor attention, reinforce the right-of-way are needed. Visitors building's function, and entice peo- should know that they are entering ple to come inside. a unit of KLGO and be curious about its significance. For safety and climate control rea- sons, sensitive or valuable original A new visitor contact kiosk is pro- artifacts should not be displayed in posed near the railroad docks, as a the windows. Also, due to the diffi- part of the city's Seawalk project. It culty of accessing the spaces, the will be run by the city, although the displays also should be easy to park will have a presence there. This install and maintain. Visitor Center small new facility will attract some people getting off the ships and Some initial suggestions include: (1) preparing to board the tour train. It a specially designed movie poster to is proposed that a couple of advertise the new park film, (2) dis- exhibits be included that will intro- plays of enlarged historic photos, or duce the park, explain why it is (3) a diorama depicting a theme- here, and possibly inform visitors related historic scene or activity. that they will be passing through a unit of the park on their train tour. Good quality dioramas are quite expensive and may be hard to main- Visitor Center tain in a window. Paper items may tend to fade quickly; therefore, the Exterior use of wayside exhibit materials Exterior signs for the visitor center (such as porcelain enamel) should need to be redesigned. While they be considered. Visitor center information desk

32 Window displays should also be • Rehab the map on the "Down the designed for NPS-owned buildings River to Dawson" exhibit. Some that are vacated in winter. Before of the paint has been picked off. and after rehab photos of those • Text elements for several exhibits buildings could illustrate NPS have been placed way too high to improvements and provide off-sea- read. These need to the son visitors and local residents with redesigned and located at a more opportunities to make connections acceptable height. Ton of Goods Exhibit with the ideas of stewardship and • In the initial planning for the visi- community enhancement. tor center/museum Harpers Ferry Center assembled an original 16- Museum/Exhibit Room foot kit boat. These were boats While most of the exhibits are in that were to be sold to the miners good condition and relate valid for completing their journey to theme-related topics, some the gold fields, but were never improvements are recommended. used. This boat is currently in These include: Anchorage. It is recommended that it be returned to KLGO and • Rotate the "Ton of Goods" exhibit displayed in the museum (possibly 180° so that the mannequin is fac- suspended from the ceiling) along ing in the direction of the trail. with an unassembled boat kit Add recorded narration using from the park's collection. If excerpts from original letters and space prohibits its use in the journals. The use of phone museum, the boat could be placed receivers or similar devises will in the exhibit area in the visitor avoid adding more sound to the center directly outside the audito- exhibit area which might compete rium. with the proposed narration of • Improve the quality of the PA sys- the relief map. tem. This recommendation actual- • Rehab the relief map to provide ly applies to the whole visitor cen- tactile trails for the visually ter. impaired. Add an overhead laser unit to identify key features, thus Audiovisual Program eliminating the need to place A new park film is recommended labels on the map. A narration that will give a more complete pic- with language options would be ture of the gold rush and demon- included. A switch should be pro- strate that it did not just begin and vided so that the sound can be end in Skagway. The film will illus- turned off during the start of the trate the diversity of those partici- historic district walking tours. pating in the gold rush. In establish- • Produce a permanent map show- ing context, viewers will see how ing the various routes to the gold the area looked before the rush and fields. This would replace the one be aware of the historic and current used by interpreters during the presence of Native peoples. The use introduction to the walking tour of aerial shots will show the terrain and is otherwise hidden behind the gold seekers had to traverse. an exhibit case. This permanent map, which is important to under- The film also will describe the standing the overall context of the development of the park. gold rush, would be accessible to Preservation messages and NPS all museum visitors. identity must be included in order • Rehab the "Gold" exhibit case to encourage stewardship of natural that originally was designed for and cultural resources. Care should placement in a corner location. be taken to create a movie that ori-

33 ents the visitor to the larger geo- Trail Center graphic context of the gold rush, The Martin Itjen House will contin- oriented to Skagway, but avoids ue to serve as the trail center for repeating the same story that is told providing information and issuing in Seattle, Whitehorse, and Dawson. Chilkoot Trail permits for the time being. Options for moving the trail The film will be about 20-22 min- permit operations to Dyea should utes long to allow for two showings not be ruled out for the future. This per hour and potential use on tele- will remain the only location for vision. It will be shot in wide screen hikers traveling in either direction format for showing in the visitor on the trail to obtain the required center auditorium. permit. The facility also will contin- Both the current and new films will ue to be staffed in partnership with be available for sale through the Parks Canada. cooperating association. They could even be combined on a DVD and New furnishings should replace the sold as a two-for-one package. diverse collection of items currently Copies also could be loaned to in the building; however, the basic schools as part of the park's educa- functional elements will remain. tion program. These include an information desk, trip planning table, seating, The new film will retain the flavor brochure storage, and staff work of the current film, Days of space. Adventure, Dreams of Gold. The his- toric portions (using the vast store Professionally designed text/graphic of original photos) will be black and panels would display information of white. A judicious use of color will a more permanent nature. A chalk- be limited to contemporary scenes. board or other device would con- tinue to be used for temporary or To varying degrees the new film will changeable information. touch on each of the primary inter- pretive themes. Along with the use The park is currently revising the of excellent visuals, the script writ- trail orientation audiovisual pro- ing and musical score will be critical gram. The revision will be geared components of the production. more to demonstrating good back- country camping practices. To The new film also will require an ensure that hikers view this pro- equipment upgrade in the auditori- gram, it is recommended that it be um. This will include surround shown in the trail center via a lap- sound, high definition, new projec- top or LCD monitor that would sit tors, the use of audio description, on the counter, or in some reconfig- and off-screen captioning. Multiple ured location within the building. language options also will be avail- Segments of the program also could able via headphones with multiple be adapted for the park web site and channels if economically feasible. available for anyone considering hiking the Chilkoot Trail. Circulation In addition to signs that will clearly Although small, the building has identify the visitor center and the enough space for some wall-mount- entrances from outside the building, ed interpretive displays. Since the signs inside need to clearly identify Chilkoot Trail is the primary focus and direct people to the bookstore, of the center's operation, exhibits auditorium, and museum/exhibit dealing with historic and contempo- room. rary use of the trail would be of 34 interest to hikers and to the many • A lot of good research went into visitors who come in out of curiosi- the original furnishing plan that is ty. supported by the photograph. • While interpreting aspects of the One element of a Chilkoot Trail historic restoration process in exhibit might include a scale relief Skagway is important, the primary model/map of the trail. As in the reason to furnish the saloon was museum/exhibit room at the visitor to interpret the building's historic center, the map could be equipped use and how it relates to the pri- with an overhead laser program to mary themes. point out key features; however, in • It would be very expensive and such a small space any sound asso- unnecessary to totally refurnish ciated with the program may the saloon to completely match Interpretation at Mascot Saloon intrude on other activities. The map the photo. could be a valuable orientation tool • Some amendments to the furnish- for both hikers and casual visitors. ing plan, such as reproducing some of the actual signs visible in Another exhibit about the house the photo, would be beneficial to and Martin Itjen would be appro- the interpretation of both the his- priate. The fact that he was probably toric saloon and the park's efforts the first tour operator in Skagway to restore the historic character of would make connections with the town. tourism in the city today. Improvements to the quality of the The yard space of the Itjen House is soundscape recording and to the proposed to be modified into a sound system are recommended. plaza that will include seating for those waiting for permits, wayside Interpretation of the Mascot Saloon exhibits about the International would be greatly enhanced by hav- Historical Trail, and flagpoles for ing interpreters present during peak both the U.S. and Canadian flags. visitation periods. Live interpreters can provide more in-depth discus- Mascot Saloon sions, respond to individual inter- In 1991, a Historic Furnishing Plan ests and questions, and reinforce was implemented for the front por- the NPS presence in Skagway. tion of the Mascot Saloon. This was Having some interpreters in period done without the benefit of any his- clothing also would add a living ele- toric images of the building interior. ment to an otherwise static exhibit. Recently, an original photograph of the saloon has been discovered, and A small interpretive text panel it is amazing how close the current would be added to the window dis- furnishings are to the original. play in the front of the building to explain the building, the bottles, The discovery of this photo has and to invite people to enter. raised the question of whether to leave the current furnishings in Winter window displays should be place and use the photo to show improved in order to provide a how close we came, or to change "before and after" illustration of the furnishings to match what the restoration work on this entire room actually did look like. After block. Off-season visitors and locals consultation with the historic fur- alike would benefit from such an nishing specialists at Harpers Ferry exhibit. Center, including the person who did the original plan, it is felt that:

35 Moore House and Cabin toric functions and significance of No changes to the exhibits or his- the buildings. The wayside exhibits toric furnishing of the Moore also will relate the fact that moving House are proposed in this plan. buildings around Skagway was a However, as with the Mascot common practice, but that neither Saloon, improvements to the quality of these buildings ever sat at this of the soundscape recording and to location. These exhibits will be pro- the sound system are recommend- duced as part of a parkwide wayside ed. exhibit proposal (see Wayside Exhibit section). The furnishings and other media in the Moore House present aspects of Prior to the restoration of the ice some of the primary interpretive house, it should be determined themes that are addressed nowhere whether it will ever be opened to else in the park. Thus, if people do the public. This decision will dictate not come to the house, they miss certain structural treatments and important aspects of some themes. compliance with different construc- In this regard, it is important to tion and accessibility standards. If explore ways to encourage people visitor access is provided, elements (other than those attending the his- of the original fabric and how they contributed to the building's func- Historic Moore House photos toric district walking tours) to visit the house. tion would be the focus of the visi- tor experience. Some of the themes relevant to the Moore House also could be pre- Dyea sented in an improved and promi- This LRIP supports the recently nently displayed self-guiding tour completed Cultural Landscape publication. Treatment Recommendations for Dyea to open a portion of the street Because of the low ceiling, visitors grid system to trail width, and to will not be able to enter the Moore identify the streets at the intersec- Cabin, but they can continue to tions. This, along with the use of a look inside from the front door. self-guiding tour publication and Installation of a viewing barricade is map, will assist visitors in touring recommended. the site and visualizing the size and layout of the former town. Since the original newspaper wall- paper is to be removed and con- The visitor experience in Dyea served, it is recommended that por- should be that of an undeveloped tions of it be reproduced and rein- front country site. Visitor amenities stalled. A text/graphic panel, per- should be limited to picnic area, haps on the order of an interior waysides, self-guided brochure, wayside exhibit, just inside the door informal contact, and campground. could interpret the use of the struc- Large-scale formal development of ture and focus on the significance of Dyea would diminish some of the the wallpaper. qualities of quiet and solitude that some may seek in getting out of the Goldberg Cigar Store and hubbub and rush of Skagway. Ice House Wayside exhibits, developed as part The significance of both these of the parkwide wayside exhibit structures will be interpreted from proposal (see Wayside Exhibit sec- the exterior by wayside exhibits. tion), will highlight key town sites Visitors should understand the his- and utilize historic photos. Where

36 Dyea aerial photo

possible the waysides will be locat- not possible to return it to its origi- ed close to the point where historic nal location. photos were taken. The waysides and the self-guiding tour publica- The planning team discussed the tion will offer a fairly in-depth inter- possible use of the cabin as an pretive experience at Dyea; howev- unstaffed visitor contact station. In er, the wayside exhibits will be able addition to providing basic informa- to stand on their own for people tion and orientation to Dyea, some who arrive without a tour booklet. exhibits could be developed to interpret aspects of the site stories In addition to the gold rush era, vis- that cannot be conveyed well via itors to Dyea also should gain an wayside exhibits or a self-guiding understanding of earlier use of the tour publication. One idea was to site by the Tlingit and as a former use a timeline format. trading post. The use of the site as a military post by the Buffalo Soldiers, The proposed new location of the along with changes to the area cabin is a considerable distance caused by isostatic rebound and the from the start of the Dyea walking Taiya River also should be interpret- tour. Visitors arriving in their own ed. However, wayside exhibits and vehicles can certainly stop at the self-guiding tour publications are cabin and then drive on to the trail dependent on visitors making direct parking area. However, this could visual connections with landscape, be a problem for visitors using a and interpretation of some theme shuttle service to get to Dyea. Will elements may not be conducive to shuttle drivers be willing to stop at these media formats. the cabin so their passengers can view the exhibits and then take Along with a road realignment, the them on to the trailhead, or will vis- Cultural Landscape Treatment itors be forced to walk? Recommendations propose moving the McDermott Cabin to a location From the standpoint of the visitor at the entrance to the NPS property. experience, and to ensure that most The cabin was used historically to visitors will view the exhibits, it collect tolls on the Chilkoot Trail. It would be preferable to locate the already has been moved once to cabin close to the entry to the town protect it from flooding, and it is site. This, of course, would not be a

37 point of discussion if the cabin were some success with Core 10 steel for to be relocated on its original site; wayside bases. The park has also however, the fact that the proposed removed the legs from some of the location is closer to the original site exhibits above tree line. This helps than the trailhead parking will likely with snow loading problems and be lost on most visitors. eliminates the need for maintenance staff to dig holes in rock to place the Another idea is to use the cabin as a exhibits. As an unintended conse- trail center, locating it near the quence, the visual impact of the Chilkoot Trailhead. This would signs on this open landscaped is solve some of the problems hikers lessened. Hiker on Chilkoot Trail now encounter with trying to get their permits in town and get on the In partnership with Parks Canada, trail as quickly as possible. all wayside exhibits along the trail should be in English and French. The park will continue to offer Both parties also should work interpretive walking tours of Dyea. toward a uniform wayside exhibit Park staff also will work with com- design. mercial tour guides (who utilize the area for a variety of activities) to With the exception of large objects provide more interpretation of that are not at risk of "walking Dyea resources. away," it is important that wayside Chilkoot Trail exhibits do not draw undue atten- tion to the many artifacts along the Replacement , addition, or deletion trail. Resource protection messages of wayside exhibits along the should be integrated into a number Chilkoot Trail will be evaluated dur- of the exhibits. ing the development of a parkwide wayside exhibit proposal (see The proposed rehab of the State Wayside Exhibit section). This Cabin (built in the 1960s) at Sheep would include a proposal for adding Camp should include the addition a bulletin case to the trailhead of some interpretive media. To exhibit. Interpretation of the use of retain the rustic feel of the trail, the the trail by Native peoples before use of modern "professional" dis- and during the gold rush also is plays is not recommended. Rather, needed. framed historic photos, notebooks Snow loading is an issue, especially or flipbooks with additional photos above tree line. The park has had and journal entries might be used. Pack train approaching White Pass summit

38 The Parks Canada interpretive tents for visitor services. The update of at Bennett and Lindemann could this long-range interpretive plan in serve as models for these interpre- the future should include such tive cabins. Visitors should realize interpretive opportunities. that this site once was a community of 8,000 people who lived here as Wayside Exhibits they hauled their ton-of-goods to Wayside exhibits tell the park story the summit of the pass. A similar on location. They "caption the land- cabin at Canyon City could be uti- scape" and help visitors make direct lized in the same manner. connections with resources they see before them. With the use of good Warming shelters at Finnegan's, graphics waysides also can show Pleasant Camp, Canyon City, and what a site looked like historically Sheep Camp all have potential for and bring the story of another era to informal interpretive displays. life. The park is fortunate to have a Bulletin boards are available to post graphic collection that includes interpretive materials. many site-specific images.

White Pass Trail A parkwide wayside exhibit propos- The White Pass Trail will continue al is recommended to guide wayside to be interpreted with six wayside development at KLGO toward a exhibits located at various pullouts complete, high-quality, unified sys- along the Klondike Highway (see tem of waysides with NPS identity. Wayside Exhibit section). It is rec- A wayside exhibit proposal is a doc- ommended that all the current way- ument to identify all desired way- sides be rehabbed to comply with side exhibits within the park and current NPS identity standards. All potentially with park neighbors and of the current topics would remain partners. It brings a unified, coher- the same, and no additional wayside ent approach to wayside exhibit exhibits are proposed. This phase of development, thereby avoiding hap- the proposed parkwide wayside hazard development that results in exhibit proposal (see Wayside multigenerational waysides that Exhibit section) will need to be have no common look or quality coordinated with the Alaska standard. The proposal can set pri- Department of Transportation, as orities to guide wayside develop- the exhibits in their right-of-way. ment in phases as funding allows. These exhibits are removed each winter by NPS maintenance staff The City of Skagway and Parks and stored. Canada have their own wayside exhibits that are of a different Elements of the White Pass Trail design than the park waysides. will continue to be interpreted on Current park waysides also do not the White Pass & Yukon Route meet approved NPS identity stan- Railroad excursions. A portion of dards guidelines. For the best visitor the route passes through NPS prop- experience, it would be best if all erty and this should be stated/iden- wayside exhibits in the area shared tified on the tours. Interpreters on some common design elements. the train should participate in the Visitors often do not know when proposed training courses (see they are on NPS, city, state, or Outreach and Marketing section). Canadian property, but they soon learn to recognize a common exhib- Resource inventories and landscape it design and know that it contains planning for the White Pass Unit valuable information or interpreta- must precede interpretive planning tion of an important resource.

39 Reaching consensus on a unified ings in the town, the geology of design approach to wayside devel- the tidal flats and the effects of opment in the area will require isostatic rebound, historic and meetings with the city and Parks recent fires and their impacts on Canada. This may also require the succession, the Taiya River's effect development of alternatives to strict on the town site, and small street compliance to NPS graphic identity signs to help visitors identify the standards. town layout on the landscape today. The following areas/topics are can- didates for potential wayside exhibit • Downtown Historic Skagway. A development in the proposed park- park orientation wayside exhibit wide wayside exhibit proposal: kiosk will be needed, perhaps in one of the vacant NPS lots as visi- • Orientation. Park orientation tors enter the town from the waysides (perhaps in a multi- waterfront. The park owns several panel kiosk format) are needed at other vacant lots, and if photos of various locations including the these sites during the gold rush cruise ship docks, the downtown era are available, waysides in some historic district of Skagway, Dyea of these locations could help visi- town site trailhead, and Chilkoot tors visualize their historic trailhead. These waysides would appearance. include a park map, safety and The park will work in partnership cultural resource preservation with the city to explore options of messages, and orientation to the achieving a unified wayside exhib- park and its resources. A bulletin it design. case for changeable information could be part of these exhibits. • Moore House Complex. Depending on what the park does A wayside in the vacant lot next to with the buildings recently moved the Trail Center could introduce to this site, the following exhibits the Klondike Gold Rush may be appropriate: International Historical Park and emphasize the link with the • Moore House panel on the KLGO Seattle unit and the part- family and their importance in nership with Parks Canada. the history of Skagway. • Building preservation panel to • Dyea. The development of way- include reference to the Ice side exhibits at Dyea will depend House and Goldberg Cigar on decisions made in the Cultural Store. It may be possible to Landscape Treatment place these panels inside the Recommendations. Where possi- buildings in order to reduce ble the waysides should be located wayside clutter on the proper- close to the point where historic ty. photos were taken. The waysides • Moore Cabin panel to describe and the proposed self-guiding the building's significance and tour publication will offer a fairly the newspaper wallpaper in-depth interpretive experience inside. (This panel could be at Dyea. located outside or inside the front door of the cabin.) Suggested waysides for the area • "Mooresville" and the story of include: a trailhead exhibit about Captain Moore's battle to save the former town, interpretive pan- his property. els on the various features/build-

40 The current wayside exhibits near • Klondike Highway. The current the Moore House (which do not NPS waysides along the Klondike interpret anything visitors see in Highway will be rehabbed to com- the landscape) will be removed. ply with current NPS identity standards. All of the current top- • Chilkoot Trail. Wayside exhibits ics will remain the same, with on the Chilkoot Trail will be rewording of text to include developed in partnership with resource preservation/stewardship Parks Canada. All of the trail way- messages where appropriate. The sides should be in English and exhibit about boundary issues French, and both parties should should be examined carefully and work toward a uniform wayside coordinated with Parks Canada exhibit design. when it is redone. Sensitivity should be exercised in the word- Snow loading is an issue, especial- ing of international dispute issues. ly above tree line. The park has No additional wayside exhibits are had some success with Core 10 proposed. steel for wayside bases. Consideration should be made to • BIA/Skagway Traditional intentionally design waysides in Council. Wayside exhibits cur- the alpine area to sit on the rently in the works with BIA and ground rather than using legs. Skagway Traditional Council for Rock substrate and snow loading placement in Dyea should fill a make legs impractical. Visual gap in the interpretive themes rel- intrusion is also minimized when evant to Tlingit use of the area. legs are not used. These will also be a model for how the NPS identity standards With the exception of large are used in partnership projects. objects that are not at risk of "walking away," it is important • City of Skagway Seawalk that wayside exhibits do not draw Project. The park will cooperate undue attention to the many arti- with the city of Skagway and other facts along the trail. Resource pro- partners in the planning, design, tection messages should be inte- and placement of wayside exhibits grated into a number of the for the soon to be started Seawalk exhibits. that extends from the Broadway Dock to the small boat harbor Wayside exhibits on the trail will entrance. All efforts should be include: made to make reference to the park, and orientation to the park • An orientation wayside exhibit should be included in any orienta- kiosk at the trailhead. tion panels. • A series of about 20 interpre- tive panels along the trail that Personal Services include preservation messages A variety of personal services activi- where appropriate and where ties will continue to be an essential repetition does not render component of the overall interpre- them ineffective. tive program at KLGO. The park • An interpretive panel on the currently provides a nice range of use of the trail by Native peo- personal services that attract large ples before and during the gold numbers of visitors, particularly the rush. walking tours of the historic district. • A resource preservation panel Current programming should con- on Saintly Hill. tinue. These programs have the

41 Walking tour at Moore House

unparalleled advantage of being Interpretation of the Mascot Saloon inspiring, versatile, alive, and tai- would be greatly enhanced by hav- lored to the needs of individuals ing interpreters present during peak and groups. An interpretive staff visitation periods. Live interpreters presence helps with the protection can provide more in-depth discus- of fragile resources. Interpreters, sions, respond to individual inter- whether behind an information ests and questions, and reinforce desk, roving, leading a tour, giving a the NPS presence in Skagway. talk, or conducting a demonstra- Having some interpreters in period tion, are the best of all interactive clothing would add a living element tools in enabling visitors to experi- to an otherwise static exhibit. (See ence, understand, appreciate, and staffing section for a listing of spe- make personal connections with cific needs.) resources. Since personal services interpretive The diversity of the park's overall programs are relatively easy to interpretive program presents change, the activities should be eval- almost limitless opportunities for uated on a regular basis to discon- both standard and innovative activi- tinue those that are not effective, ties. Keeping within the parameters modify and improve those that of the interpretive themes and visi- require it, and validate those that tor experience goals, park staff are successful. should be given a high degree of creative freedom to explore and Education Program experiment with new programs, The park web site will continue to providing visitor expectations are provide the Teaching with Historic met. This will help to maintain a Places lesson plans: Skagway- creative edge and attract new and Gateway to the Klondike, and Gold returning audiences. Fever! Seattle Outfits the Klondike Gold Rush. Both of these programs Discussions and recommendations also are offered through the regarding personal services inter- Parkwise web site which is main- pretation appear throughout this tained through the Alaska Regional document, but are repeated here to Office. The park web site provides reinforce their importance in com- links to two other education pro- municating the interpretive themes grams: Alaska's Gold-developed by and meeting visitor experience the Alaska Rich Mining Project goals. Committee and The Klondike Gold Rush Curriculum Materials for the 42 History of the Pacific Northwest in • Involve the Tlingit and Tagish peo- the Washington Public Schools. ple in developing education pro- grams that stress the long and Future growth of the park educa- continued ties of the tribes to the tion program is primarily contingent area and how they interconnect on having a full-time education spe- with the park interpretive themes. cialist on staff (see Staffing section). • Set up teacher training workshops. The lack of an education specialist • Coordinate expansion of the park limits the extent to which the edu- web site to include the posting of cation program can develop and new downloadable education meet the growing needs of teachers programs for schools planning a and students locally and throughout visit, for home-schooled students, Alaska. It also limits the extent to and for those who may never be which the park can partner with able to travel to Skagway. education programs in Canada and • Establish and maintain an ongoing Seattle. and active partnership with the education programs offered A primary role of the park educa- through the Klondike Seattle unit, tion specialist would be to secure Parks Canada, and with nearby resources to facilitate the develop- Canadian schools. ment and growth of a curriculum- • Continue providing books and based program based on national other resources (i.e. copies of his- and Alaska education standards, toric photos) to the Skagway and to conduct such programs. The school. park will continue to utilize inter- • Explore ways to eventually expand preters and staff from other divi- the program to include working sions to present programs to with colleges, universities, and schools and other groups as need- elder hostels. ed. • Develop alternatives for hands-on activities and classroon space for Considering the geographic remote- students and life-long learners. ness of Skagway relative to commu- • Coordinate the park's Junior nities with large numbers of schools Ranger program and consider the and students, a secondary role for development of a family-oriented the education program is the devel- Skagway exploration kit geared to opment of a comprehensive educa- families traveling on cruise ships. tion program as prescribed in the • Coordinate the continuation of 2003 Report to the NLC: Renewing the off-season speaker series for Our Education Mission. This would the community. include the development and facili- • Use web and educational pro- tation of programming (off-site, on- gramming to publicize and site, and electronic) for life-long explain the International learners, including volunteers and Historical Park and the "Klondike cooperators. Trail" • Make results of park science and Other roles for the education spe- research activities accessible to cialist and goals of the education park visitors, students, and local programs will be to: communities • Bring together students and park • Set up workshops with park staff, staff to increase knowledge of partners, and professional educa- NPS career opportunities. tors to develop additional curricu- lum-based programs and lesson plans for pre-, on-, and post-visit activities. 43 Publications • Work with the Skagway It is suggested that the park periodi- Convention and Visitors Bureau cally review the official park to revise the Skagway Walking brochure, various site bulletins, and Tour guide and make it more self-guiding trail publications for available to visitors. For example, needed updates. New self-guiding the current edition lists the Moore publications are proposed in other Cabin but not the Moore House. sections of this document, and • Provide ongoing review and revi- should be added to the park and/or sion of the official park brochure. cooperating association publica- One immediate need is to more tions program. All new or updated clearly identify the NPS buildings items should be added to a change- on the Skagway map. able display of free literature so that • Pursue the separation of the visitors know what is available. KLGO and KLSE Unigrids to more effectively serve both units. A review of all publications, includ- • Develop a guide to the "Klondike ing those sold through the cooper- Trail" to be sold through cruise ating association, is recommended. ships. This often takes the form of a Scope • Finalize the ANHA publication of Sales review, which evaluates all that will serve as a "handbook" to publications in light of price, KLGO. intended audiences, and interpre- • Develop a guide for "guides" to tive themes addressed. The review help in training IBP and other can identify strengths as well as commercial guides as well as park areas where the publication pro- staff. Coordinate this with the gram needs to concentrate its Skagway Museum, as they have efforts. A similar review also could already begun a similar project. evaluate how prominently publica- tions key to the on-site experience Special Populations are displayed. Provisions will be made to accom- modate the needs of special popula- Specific recommendations include: tions who visit Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Special • Review all park booklets and site populations are identified as those bulletins (i.e. Geology, Glaciers & with sight, hearing, learning, and Gold; Wild Klondike; Moore House, mobility impairments; visitors who and Gold Rush Buildings in do not speak English; and, the eld- erly and young children. Skagway) with the goal to present- ing a unified design the meets Public Law 90-480, the NPS graphic identity standards. Architectural Barriers Act, and the These and other park produced Americans with Disabilities Act of publications also should be 1990 establish standards for physical reviewed periodically with regard access. Other regulations, laws, and to the quality of the writing and to standards include Sections 504 and ensure their accuracy. 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of • Produce a free and perhaps a 1973, Director's Orders No. 42, and more in-depth sales publication the Accessibility for Visitors with on the park's archeological and Disabilities in National Park Service historic preservation efforts. Programs, Facilities, and Services. • Developing a new book on All newly constructed facilities, as a Captain Moore. matter of course, will be designed • Produce a hiker journal that hikers for accessibility for physically dis- can take on the trail. abled visitors and employees. For • Develop a new self-guiding tour this plan it would include providing publication for Dyea. 44 access to buildings, pathways, and ranger, primarily during the off-sea- wayside exhibit locations along son. roads and at accessible portions of sidewalks and trails. Seasonal staff should come on at least two weeks (preferably three) Every effort will be made to provide before the first cruise ships arrive. full access to interpretive media and This will allow for two weeks of programs to ensure that people with training and a week of preparation physical and mental disabilities have time before they are expected to access to the same information nec- perform full duties. Park ranger essary for a safe and meaningful intern positions are student hires, visit to Klondike Gold Rush preferably from Alaska, and should National Historical Park. All new be recruited from diverse pools of interpretive media will follow the applicants. standards for accessibility as described in the NPS, June 1999 Hiring should be carried out in all Programmatic Accessibility ways possible in order to generate a Guidelines for Interpretive Media. wide diversity of education and These guidelines (see Appendix A) experience levels. The Seasonal will be consulted by park staff and Employment Unit, STEP authority, media developers during the plan- local hiring, and other methods ning and design of new interpretive should be used to obtain a wide media. Park staff will determine the array of applicants for seasonal most common languages spoken by positions. Under the SEP, develop those who do not speak or compre- selection criteria and factor weight- hend English and will endeavor to ing values that can result in appli- provide appropriate information, cants with unique combinations of interpretive media, or personal skills such as history/foreign lan- services in those languages. guage, ecology/sign language. Efforts should be made to have Staffing and Training French and German speakers on Table 5 summarizes existing staff staff whenever possible, as these are levels and additional staffing the most common languages heard requirements needed to fully imple- here. Hiring of permanent employ- ment the recommendations of this ees should follow the same philoso- long-range interpretive plan. phy of casting a wide net for multi- ple talents. The staff is small, and Furlough of the education ranger the more skills that can be packed should match school holidays, etc. into each employee the better off The list of this person's duties must the park will be. Local hiring for be consulted in order to time the both seasonal and permanent furlough to not interfere with employees helps solve tight housing accomplishing duties assigned. issues. Additional media projects would be taken on by the chief of interpreta- Interpretive skills training will tion and the interpretation park implement the Interpretive

Table 5

POSITION GRADE YR/SEAS EXISTING NEEDED TOTAL Chief of Interpretation GS-12 YR 1 1 Park Ranger, Interp. GS-9 YR 1 1 Park Ranger, Educ. GS-9 STF 1 1 Park Ranger, Interp. GS-5 SEAS 9 4 13 Park Ranger, Intern GS-4 SEAS 2 2

45 Development Program curriculum faction levels? What can be done to and encourage participation in the increase visitor stays and interaction competencies certification program. with park resources? Who doesn't Programs will be evaluated accord- visit and why? How do answers to ing to national standards. these and other questions vary from season to season? Cruise ship com- Training should always include criti- panies and others would be inter- cal resource issues, effective infor- ested in what we learn, and in turn, mal interpretation and communica- they may be willing to share some of tion skills, formal interpretation, their client data. resource updates, subject matter knowledge, operations procedures, Research also is important in the an overview of NPS programs, poli- development of specific media and cies, and initiatives. programs and will be planned as part of all substantial media projects The park will expand opportunities and specialized programming. For to collaborate in interpretive skills example, front-end evaluations and resource training with non- would query potential users of pro- NPS locals who engage in interpre- grams, facilities, and media before tive, education and information/ori- products and activities are devel- entation activities. Training could be oped. This type of research is tar- offered through scheduled courses, geted so that practical use can be workshops, etc. made of the results. Formative eval- uations would be conducted during It is imperative that training be high conceptual design, and would test on the list of budget needs each inexpensive mockups of interpre- year for permanent staff. Employee tive media and programs before development is a key in keeping fully investing in final products. people with strong skills in this Summative evaluations are valuable small, expensive place. in helping to determine the effec- tiveness of final media, facilities, Research Needs and programs-i.e. whether the The interpretive division needs to intended themes are being commu- continue working closely with the nicated, if people actually make use resource management staff to keep of the information, or if visitor up to date on research activities and behavior is affected. results. Resource management spe- cialists should be encouraged to present regular briefings on projects to the entire park staff, especially interpreters. Agency and contract researchers also should be encour- aged to produce executive sum- maries and programs that translate research results for park staff and the public. Interpretive staff should identify research and information needs to the resource management staff as well. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park needs to learn more about its actual and potential audi- ences: Who visits? What are their Broadway, 1897 motivations, expectations, and satis-

46 SUMMARIES

SUMMARY OF PRODUCTS • Improve communications and AND ACTIONS partnership opportunities with local and regional travel industry The following is a summation of the (ongoing). action items and products proposed • Review tourism media to ensure in this long-range interpretive plan. that information about the park is Each of these items is described in accurate, appropriate, and current greater detail in the narrative sec- (ongoing). tions of the document. This list is • Offer continuing education designed to help develop the imple- opportunities in interpretation mentation schedule, annual and and resource knowledge to private long-term priorities, assign respon- and public service providers sibilities, and develop cost esti- (ongoing). mates. • Enhance park web site and links to related sites (ongoing). It must be emphasized that the fol- lowing list deals specifically with Arrival actions and products for media and • Develop and install official park programs related directly to infor- entrance sign. mation, orientation, interpretation, • Work with city, state and Canadian and education. Although new, authorities to assess and improve restored, or relocated facilities are park signing. proposed or referenced, actions • Partner with the city in developing related to these structures will need exhibits and staffing needs for the to be developed in greater detail proposed new visitor contact cen- during other planning, design, and ter near the railroad docks. construction processes. Staffing requirements to implement the fol- Visitor Center lowing actions are identified sepa- • Redesign exterior signing. rately in the Staffing section. • Develop interior directional sign- ing. Outreach and Marketing • Redesign window displays. • Improve communications and • Rehab existing exhibits and pro- partnership opportunities with duce proposed additions (some cruise ship companies and their with audio components). affiliates (ongoing). (Note: It is • Improve quality of PA system. recommended that proposals be • Produce new park film. coordinated through the Alaska • Upgrade audiovisual projection Regional Office and organizations equipment. such as the Northwest Cruiseship Association, Cruise West, and Trail Center Alaska Travel Industry • Upgrade furnishings. Association). • Produce new information and • Improve communications and interpretive exhibits (including a partnership opportunities with relief map). Parks Canada, Tlingit and Tagish • Produce new trail orientation First Nations, KLSE, and the City audiovisual program and acquire of Skagway (ongoing). needed equipment. • Provide support to U.S. Forest Service interpreters on-board the Mascot Saloon Alaska Marine Highway ferries • Upgrade historic furnishings. (ongoing).

47 • Provide interpretive staff (see • Increase interpretive staff pres- Staffing section). ence at Mascot Saloon and be • Upgrade sound system. ready to assist with staffing part- time at the Skagway Seawalk Moore House and Cabin interpretive kiosk (see Staffing • Upgrade sound system in Moore section). House. • Improve communications, train- • Reproduce portion of historic ing, and partnership opportunities wallpaper in Moore Cabin with commercial tour providers • Produce interpretive panel for (ongoing). Moore Cabin. • Produce wayside exhibit(s). Education Program • Hire education specialist. Goldberg Cigar Store and Ice • Expand education programs in House partnership with the Skagway • Produce wayside exhibit. School, KLSE, Parks Canada, and • Produce interior interpretive others. exhibits if either building is to be open to the public. Publications • Conduct Scope of Sales survey. Dyea • Produce self-guiding trail publica- • Implement appropriate actions tion for Dyea. from the Cultural Landscape • Assist the Skagway Convention & Treatment Recommendations. Visitors Bureau in • Produce wayside exhibits. revising/upgrading the Skagway • Determine best location for the Walking Tour publication. McDermott Cabin. • Revise official park brochure • Produce exhibits for unstaffed vis- (ongoing). itor contact station in McDermott • Upgrade site bulletins and other Cabin. park literature to comply with NPS graphic identity standards. Chilkoot Trail • Produce wayside exhibits in part- Research nership with Parks Canada. • Update 1998 visitor survey data. • Produce interpretive media for • Evaluate media and program State Cabin, Finnegan's, Pleasant effectiveness (ongoing). Camp, Canyon City, and Sheep • Share research findings with entire Camp. park staff and partners (ongoing). • Identify historical and natural White Pass Trail research needs to further inter- • Replace wayside exhibits on pretive efforts. Klondike Highway. • Produce park signs along railroad. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Implementing some of the items Wayside Exhibits from the extensive products and • Produce parkwide wayside exhibit partnership recommendations lists proposal and plan in partnership will require independent planning with city, state, and Parks Canada. efforts and other actions over the next 3-7 years. Other action items Personal Services can be implemented in a very short • Provide variety of peak and off- time within existing funds and season interpretive programs and staffing levels. In future years, the special activities (ongoing). priority setting process will be

48 reflected in the Annual • Improve visitor center signage Implementation Plan component of (interior and exterior) the park's Comprehensive • Temporary media for Chilkoot Interpretive Plan. shelters • Upgrade Dyea self-guided tour The following are recommendations brochure and print for the steps that should be taken • Upgrade web offerings and infor- over the coming years. As funding is mation obtained for the major projects they may move forward or backward a Step Two (3-5 years) step or two. The projects are not in • Design and install park entrance any particular order within each sign step, as they are simultaneously • Upgrade Trail Center furnishings occurring. • Design and install International Historical Park plaza at Itjen Step One (1 to 2 years) House • Plan and design Seawalk project in • Provide more Mascot staffing coordination with city partners • Upgrade Mascot sound system • Redesign window displays in • Upgrade Moore House sound sys- museum space tem • Produce park film (funding should • Implement applicable interpretive be near) recommendations from Dyea • Upgrade AV equipment in audito- Cultural rium • Landscape Treatment Plan • Produce Chilkoot Trail orientation • Dyea waysides video • Chilkoot Trail waysides • Plan, design and install BIA/STC • Interpretive media for trail cabins waysides in coord. with those and shelters after evaluation of partners temp. media • Produce a wayside exhibit plan • Klondike Highway waysides and a parkwide communications • Family Adventure kit plan • Revise Unigrid through HFC • Provide personal services as has • "Klondike Trail" publication been established through ANHA • Develop formal training program • Reproduce wallpaper and create with partners interpretive panel for Moore • Hire education specialist ranger Cabin • Upgrade Jr. Ranger program • Develop curriculum-based educa- Step Three (5-7 years) tion program • Rehab museum • Revisit Scope of Sales and do • Improve PA system Scope of Sales review • Produce Trail Center Displays • Revise Skagway Walking Tour • Upgrade Mascot furnishings brochure with city • Interpret Goldberg and Ice House • Upgrade existing publications to • McDermott Cabin exhibits and identity standards placement as contact station • Produce "Guide's Guide" • Update Visitor Survey data • Evaluate media and programming • Interpretive/Identifier signs along effectiveness railroad right-of-way • Identify research needs • Share research findings with com- munity, staff • Assess/improve park signage

49 PLANNING TEAM AND CONSULTANTS

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park James Corless, Superintendent Bruce Noble, former Superintendent Sandy Snell-Dobert, Chief of Interpretation Theresa Thibault, Chief, Resource Management Reed McCluskey, Chief Ranger Billy Strasser, Park Ranger, Interpretation Karl Gurcke, Historian Debbie Sanders, Curator Tim Steidel, Park Ranger Meg Hahr, Natural Resource Program Manager, Biologist Shari Quinn, Park Ranger, Interpretation David Eslinger, former Chief of Interpretation

Alaska Regional Office Nancy Stimson, Interpretive Specialist

Park Partners and Consultants Dan Verhalle, Klondike Trail National Historic Site, Parks Canada Rose Margeson, Dawson Historical Complex National Historic Site, Parks Canada Vivian Meyer, Teacher, Skagway City School John McDermott, Dyea Advisory Board/Taiya Inlet Watershed Council Glenda Choate, White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad Lance Twitchell, Skagway Traditional Council Buster Shepherd, Skagway Traditional Council Betsy Duncan-Clark, Chief of Interpretation, Great Basin National Park Barbara Kalen, Skagway business owner, lifelong resident, and gold rush family descendant

Harpers Ferry Center Winnie Frost, Wayside Exhibit Specialist, Workflow Management Department Mark Southern, Associate Manager, Audiovisual Department Paul Lee, Interpretive Planner, Interpretive Planning Department

50 APPENDIX A: PROGRAMMATIC ACCESSIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR INTERPRETIVE MEDIA

Special Populations: Programmatic Accessibility Guidelines for Interpretive Media

National Park Service Harpers Ferry Center

June 1999

Prepared by Harpers Ferry Center Accessibility Task Force

Contents: Statement of Purpose Audiovisual Programs Exhibits Historic Furnishings Publications Wayside Exhibits

51 Statement of Purpose "…to provide the highest level of This document is a guide for pro- accessibility possible and feasible moting full access to interpretive for persons with visual, hearing, media to ensure that people with mobility, and mental impairments, physical and mental disabilities have consistent with the obligation to access to the same information nec- conserve park resources and pre- essary for safe and meaningful visits serve the quality of the park experi- to National Parks. Just as the needs ence for everyone." and abilities of individuals cannot NPS Special Directive 83-3, be reduced to simple statements, it Accessibility for Disabled Persons is impossible to construct guidelines for interpretive media that can Audiovisual Programs apply to every situation in the Audiovisual programs include video National Park System. programs, and audio and interactive programs. As a matter of policy, all These guidelines define a high level audiovisual programs produced by of programmatic access which can the Harpers Ferry Center will be met in most situations. They include some method of captioning. articulate key areas of concern and The approach used will vary note generally accepted solutions. according to the conditions of the Due to the diversity of park installation area and the format resources and the variety of inter- used, and will be selected in consul- pretive situations, flexibility and tation with the parks and regions. versatility are important. The captioning method will be Each interpretive medium con- identified as early as possible in the tributes to the total park program. planning process and will be pre- All media have inherent strengths sented in an integrated setting and weaknesses, and it is our intent where possible. To the extent possi- to capitalize on their strengths and ble, visitors will be offered a choice provide alternatives where they are in viewing captioned or uncap- deficient. It should also be under- tioned versions, but in situations stood that any interpretive medium where a choice is not possible or is just one component of the overall feasible, a captioned version of all park experience. In some instances, programs will be made available. especially with regard to learning Park management will decide on the disabilities, personal services, that is most appropriate operational one-on-one interaction, may be the approach for the particular site. most appropriate and versatile interpretive approach. Guidelines Affecting Visitors with Mobility Impairments In the final analysis, interpretive 1. The theater, auditorium, or view- design is subjective, and dependent ing area should be accessible and on aesthetic considerations as well free of architectural barriers, or as the particular characteristics and alternative accommodations will resources available for a specific be provided. UFAS 4.1. program. Success or failure should 2. Wheelchair locations will be pro- be evaluated by examining all inter- vided according to ratios outlined pretive offerings of a park. Due to in UFAS 4.1.2(18a). the unique characteristics of each 3. Viewing heights and angles will be situation, parks should be evaluated favorable for those in designated on a case by case basis. wheelchair locations. Nonetheless, the goal is to fully 4. In designing video or interactive comply with NOS policy: components, control mechanisms

52 will be places in accessible loca- they may incorporate large or tions, usually between 9" and 48" unyielding specimens, they may from the ground and no more incorporate sensitive artifacts which than 24" deep. require special environmental con- trols; and room décor or architec- Guidelines Affecting Visitors tural features may dictate certain with Visual Impairments solutions. All in all, exhibit design is Simultaneous audio description will an art which defies simple descrip- be considered for installations tion. However, one central concern where the equipment can be prop- is to communicate the message to erly installed and maintained. the largest audience possible. Every reasonable effort will be made to Guidelines Affecting Visitors eliminate ant factors limiting com- with Hearing Impairments munication through physical modi- 1. All audiovisual programs will be fication or by providing alternate produced with appropriate cap- means of communication. tions. 2. Copies of scripts will be provided Guidelines Affecting Visitors to the parks as a standard proce- with Mobility Impairments dure. Note: The Americans with 3. Audio amplification and listening Disabilities Act Accessibility systems will be provided in accor- Guidelines (ADAAG) is the stan- dance with UFAS 4.1.2(18b). dard followed by the National Park Service and is therefore the basis for Guidelines Affecting Visitors the accessibility standards for with Learning Impairments exhibits, where applicable. 1. Unnecessarily complex and con- fusing concepts will be avoided. 1. Height/position of labels: Body 2. Graphic elements will be chosen copy on vertical exhibit walls to communicate without reliance should be placed between 36" and on the verbal component. 60" from the floor. 3. Narration will be concise and free 2. Artifact Cases: of unnecessary jargon and techni- a. Maximum height of floor of cal information. artifact case display shall be no higher than 30" from the floor Exhibits of the room. This includes vit- rines that are recessed into an Numerous factors affect the design exhibit wall. of exhibits, reflecting the unique b. Artifact labels should be circumstances of the specific space placed so as to be visible to a and the nature of the materials to be person within a 43" to 51" eye interpreted. It is clear that thought- level. This includes mounting ful, sensitive design can go a long labels within the case at an way in producing exhibits that can angle to maximize its visibility be enjoyed by a broad range of peo- to all viewers. ple. Yet, due to the diversity of situa- 3. Touchable Exhibits: Touchable tions encountered, it is impossible exhibits positioned horizontally to articulate guidelines that can be should be placed no higher than applied universally. 30" from the floor. Also, if the exhibit is approachable only on In some situations, the exhibit one side, it should be no deeper designer has little or no control over than 31". the space. Often exhibits are placed 4. Railings/barriers: Railings around in areas ill suited for that purpose; any horizontal model or exhibit

53 shall have a maximum height of on posts or pylons may over- 36" from the floor. hang a maximum of 12" from 5. Information Desks: Information 27" to 80" above the floor. desks and sales counters shall (ADAAG 4.4.1) include a section made to accom- e. Protruding objects shall not modate both a visitor in a wheel- reduce the clear width of an chair and an employee in a wheel- accessible route to less than chair working on the other side. A the minimum required section of the desk/counter shall amount. (ADAAG 4.4.1) have the following dimensions: f. Passageways or other circula- a. Height from the floor to the tion spaces shall have a mini- top: 28" to 34". (ADAAG mum clear head room of 80". 4.32.4) For example, signage hanging b. Minimum knee clearance from the ceiling must allow at space: 27" high, 30" wide, and least 80" from the floor to the 19" deep of clearance under- bottom of the sign. (ADAAG neath the desk is the minimum 4.4.2) space required under ADAAG 7. Floors: 4.32.3, but a space 30" high, 36" a. Floors and ramps shall be sta- wide, and 24" deep is recom- ble, level, firm, and slip-resist- mended. ant. c. Width of top surface of sec- b. Changes in levels between ¼" tion: at least 36". Additional and ½" shall be beveled with a space must be provided for any slope no greater than 1:2. equipment such as a cash reg- Changes in level greater than ister. ½" shall be accomplished by d. Area underneath desk: Since means of a ramp that complies both sides of the desk may with ADAAG 4.7 or 4.8. have to accommodate a wheel- (ADAAG 4.5.2) chair, this area should be open c. Carpet in exhibits shall com- all the way through to the ply with ADAAG 4.5.3 for pile other side. In addition, there height, texture, pad thickness, should be no sharp or abrasive and trim. surfaces underneath the desk. 8. Seating for Interactive The floor space behind the Stations/Work Areas: The mini- counter shall be free of mum knee space underneath a obstructions. work desk is 27" high, 30" wide, 6. Circulation Space: and 19" deep, with a clear floor a. Passageways through exhibits space of at least 30" by 30" in shall be at least 36" wide. front. The top of the desk or work b. If an exhibit passageway surface shall be between 28" and reaches a dead-end, and area 34" from the floor. (ADAAG 4.32, 60" by 78" should be provided Fig. 45) at the end for turning around. c. Objects projecting from walls Guidelines Affecting Visitors with their leading edges with Visual Impairments between 27" and 80" above the 1. Tactile models and other touch- floor shall protrude no more able exhibit items should be used than 4" in passageways or whenever possible. Examples of aisles. Objects projecting from touchable exhibit elements wall with their leading edges at include relief maps, scale models, or below 27" above the floor raised images of simple graphics, can protrude ant amount. reproduction objects, and d. Freestanding objects mounted replaceable objects (such as natu-

54 ral history or geologic specimens, 5. Exhibit Lighting: cultural items, etc.). a. All labels shall receive suffi- 2. Typography: Readability of exhib- cient, even light for good read- it labels by visitors with various ability. Exhibit text in areas degrees of visual impairment shall where light levels have been be maximized by using the follow- reduced for conservation pur- ing guidelines: poses should have a minimum a. Type Size: No type in the of 10 footcandles of illumina- exhibit shall be smaller than 24 tion. point. b. Harsh reflections and glare b. Typeface: The most readable should be avoided. typefaces should be used c. The lighting system shall be whenever possible, particularly flexible enough to allow for body copy. They are: Times adjustments on-site. Roman, Palatine, Century, d. Transitions between the floor Helvetica, and Universe. and walls, columns or other (Note: since the development structures should be made of these guidelines, typefaces clearly visible. Finishes for ver- NPS Rawlinson and Frutiger tical surfaces should contrast should be added.) clearly with the floor finish. c. Styles/Spacing: Text set in Floor circulation routes should both caps and lower case is have a minimum of 10 footcan- easier to read than all caps. dles of illumination. Choose letter spacing and 6. Signage: When permanent build- word spacing for maximum ing signage is required as a part of readability. Avoid too much an exhibit project, the ADAAG italic type. guidelines shall be consulted. d. Line length: Limit the line Signs which designate permanent length for body copy to no rooms and spaces shall comply more than 45 to 50 characters with ADAAG 4.30.1, 4.30.4, 4.30.5, per line. and 4.30.6. Other signs which pro- e. Amount of Text: Each unit of vide direction to or information body copy should have a maxi- about functional spaces of the mum of 45-60 words. building shall comply with f. Margins: Flush left, ragged ADAAG 4.30.1, 4.30.2, 4.30.3, and right margins are easiest to 4.30.5. Note: When the read. International Symbol of 3. Color: Accessibility (wheelchair symbol) a. Type/Background Contrast: is used, the word "Handicapped" Percentage of contrast shall not be used beneath the between the type and the symbol. Instead, use the word background should be a mini- "Accessible". mum of 70%. b. Red/Green: Do not use red on Guidelines Affecting Visitors green or green on red as the with Hearing Impairments type/background color. 1. Information presented via audio c. Do not place body copy on formats will be duplicated in a top of graphic images that visual medium, such as in the impair readability. exhibit label copy or by caption- 4. Samples: During the design ing. All video programs incorpo- process, it is recommended that rated into the exhibit, which con- samples be made for review of all tain audio, shall be open cap- size, typeface, and color combina- tioned. tions for labels in an exhibit.

55 2. Amplification systems and vol- The approach used to convey the ume controls should be incorpo- experience of historically furnished rated with audio equipment used spaces will vary from site to site. individually by the visitor, such as The goals, however, will remain the audio handsets. same, to give the public as rich an 3. Information desks shall allow for interpretive experience as possible Telecommunication Devices for given the nature of the structure. the Deaf (TDD) equipment. Guidelines Affecting Visitors Guidelines Affecting Visitors with Mobility Impairments with Learning Impairments 1. The exhibit space should be free 1. The exhibits will present the main of architectural barriers, or a interpretive themes on a variety of method of alternate accommoda- levels of complexity, so people tion should be provided, such as with varying abilities and interests slide programs, video tours, visual can understand them. aids, dioramas, etc. 2. The exhibits should avoid unnec- 2. All pathways, aisles, and clear- essarily complex and confusing ances shall (when possible) meet topics, technical terms, and unfa- standards set forth in UFAS 4.3 to miliar expressions. Pronunciation provide adequate clearance for aids should be provided where wheelchair routes. appropriate. 3. Ramps shall be as gradual as pos- 3. Graphic elements shall be used to sible and not exceed a 1" rise in a communicate non-verbally. 12" run, and conform to UFAS 4.8. 4. The exhibits shall be a multi-sen- 4. Railings and room barriers will be sory experience. Techniques to constructed in such a way as to maximize the number of senses provide unobstructed viewing by used in the exhibits should be persons in wheelchairs. encouraged. 5. In the planning and design 5. Exhibit design shall use color and process, furnishing inaccessible other creative approaches to facil- areas, such as upper floors of his- itate comprehension of maps by toric buildings, will be discour- visitors with directional impair- aged, unless essential for interpre- ments. tation. 6. Lighting will be designed to Historic Furnishings reduce glare or reflections when Historically refurnished rooms offer viewed from a wheelchair. the public a unique interpretive 7. Alternative methods of interpreta- experience by placing visitors with- tion, such as audiovisual pro- in historic spaces. Surrounded by grams, audio description, photo historic artifacts, visitors can feel albums, and personal services will the spaces "come alive" and relate be used in areas which present more directly to the historic events difficulty for visitors with physical or personalities commemorated by impairments. the park. Guidelines Affecting Visitors Accessibility is problematic in many with Visual Impairments NPS furnished sites because of the 1. Exhibit typefaces will be selected very nature of historic architecture. for readability and legibility, and Buildings were erected with a func- conform to good industry prac- tional point of view that many times tice. is at odds with our modern views of 2. Audio description will be used to accessibility. describe furnished rooms, where appropriate.

56 3. Windows will be treated with film ed that each park produce an easily to provide balanced light levels updatable "Accessibility Site and minimize glare. Bulletin" which could include 4. Where appropriate, visitor-con- detailed information about the spe- trolled rheostat-type lighting will cific programs, services, and oppor- be provided to augment general tunities available for visitors with room lighting. disabilities and to describe barriers 5. Where appropriate and when which are present in a park. A tem- proper clearance has been plate for this site bulletin will be on approved, surplus artifacts or the Harpers Ferry Center website reproductions will be utilized as for parks to create with ease, a con- "hands-on" tactile interpretive sistent look throughout the park devices. service. These bulletins should be in large type. 16 points minimum and Guidelines Affecting Visitors follow the large-print criteria below. with Hearing Impairments Guidelines Affecting Visitors 1. Information about room interiors with Mobility Impairments will be presented in a visual medi- 1. Park brochures, site bulletins, and um such as exhibit copy, text, sales literature will be distributed pamphlets, etc. from accessible locations and 2. Captions will be provided for all heights. AV programs relating to historic 2. Park brochures and Accessibility furnishings. Site Bulletins should endeavor to Guidelines Affecting Visitors carry information on the accessi- bility of buildings, trails, and pro- with Learning Impairments grams by visitors with disabilities. 1. Where appropriate, hands-on participatory elements geared to Guidelines Affecting Visitors the level of visitor capabilities will with Visual Impairments be used. 1. Publications for the general pub- 2. Living history activities and lic: demonstrations which utilize the a. Text physical space as a method of pro- i. Size: the largest type size viding multi-sensory experiences appropriate for the format. will be encouraged. (preferred main body of text should be 10 point) Publications ii. Leading should be at least A variety of publications are offered 20% greater than the font to visitors, ranging from park size used. brochures which provide an iii. Proportional letterspacing. overview and orientation to a park, iv. Main body of text set in to more comprehensive handbooks. caps and lower case. Each park brochure should give a v. Margins are flush left and brief description of services avail- ragged right. able to visitors with disabilities, list vi. Little or no hyphenation is significant barriers, and note the used at ends of lines. existence of TDD phone numbers, vii. Ink coverage is dense. if available. viii. Underlining does not con- nect with the letters being In addition, informal site bulletins underlined. are often produced to provide more ix. Contrast of typeface and specialized information about a spe- illustrations to background is cific site or topic. It is recommend- high (70% contrast is recom- mended).

57 x. Photographs have a wide other designs. range of gray scale variation. xvii. Document has a flexible xi. Line drawings or floor binding, preferably one that plans are clear and bold, allows the publication to lie with limited detail and mini- flat. mum 8 point type. xviii. Gutter margins are a xii. No extreme extended or minimum of 22mm; outside compressed typefaces are margin smaller, but not less used for main text. than 13mm. xiii. Reversal type should be a b. Paper: minimum of 11 point medi- i. Surface is off-white or natu- um or bold sans-serif type. ral with matte finish. b. Paper: ii. Has sufficient weight to i. Surface preferred is a matte avoid "show-through" on finish. Dull-coated stock is pages printed on both sides. acceptable. 3. Maps ii. Has sufficient weight to a. The less cluttered the map, the avoid "shoe through" on more visitors can use it. pages printed on both sides. b. The ultimate is a map that has 2. Large-print version publications: large print and is tactile. a. Text c. Raised line/tactile maps can be i. Size: minimum 16 point type. developed using digital files ii. Leading is 16 on 20 point. and a thermoform machine. iii. Proportional letterspacing. Lines are distinguished by iv. Main body if text set in caps lineweight, color, and height. and lower case. Areas are distinguished by v. Margins are flush left and color, height, and texture. ragged right. d. Digital maps are located on an vi. Little or no hyphenation is accessible website. used at ends of lines. e. Same paper guidelines as vii. Ink coverage is dense. above. viii. Underlining does not con- f. Contrast of typeface back- nect with letters being ground is high (70% contrast is underlined. recommended). ix. Contrast of typeface and g. Proportional letterspacing. illustrations to background is h. Labels set in caps and lower high (70% contrast is recom- case. mended). i. Map notes are flush left and x. Photographs have a wide ragged right. range of gray scale variation. j. Little or no hyphenation is xi. Line drawings or floor used at ends of lines. plans are clear and bold, k. No extreme extended or com- with limited detail and mini- pressed typefaces are used for mum 14 point type. main text. xii. No extreme extended or l. Sans-serif or simple-serif type- compressed typefaces are face. used for main text. 4. The text contained in the park xiii. Sans-serif or simple-serif brochure should also be available typefaces. on audiocassette, CD and accessi- xiv. No oblique or italic type- ble website. Handbooks, accessi- faces. bility guides, and other publica- xv. Maximum of 50 characters tions should be similarly recorded (average) per line. where possible. xvi. No type is printed over

58 5. The official park brochure is Although a limited number of NPS available in a word processing for- wayside exhibits will always be inac- mat. This could be translated into cessible to visitors with mobility Braille as needed. impairments, the great majority are placed at accessible pullouts, view- Guidelines Affecting Visitors points, parking areas, and trail- with Hearing Impairments heads. Park site bulletins will note the availability of such special services The NPS accessibility guidelines for as sign language interpretation and wayside exhibits help insure a stan- captioned programs. dard of quality that will be appreci- ated by all visitors. Nearly everyone Guidelines Affecting Visitors benefits from high quality graphics, with Learning Impairments readable type, comfortable base 1. The park site bulletin should list designs, accessible locations, hard- ant special services available to surfaced exhibit pads, and well- these visitors. landscaped exhibit sites. 2. Publications: a. Use language that appropriate- While waysides are valuable on-site ly describes persons with dis- "interpreters," it should be remem- abilities. bered that the park resources them- b. Topics will be specific and of selves are the primary things visitors general interest. Unnecessary come to experience. Good waysides complexity will be avoided. focus attention on the features they c. Whenever possible, easy to interpret, and not on themselves. A understand graphics will be wayside exhibit is only one of many used to convey ideas, rather interpretive tools which visitors can then text alone. use to enhance their appreciation of d. Unfamiliar expressions, tech- a park. nical terms, and jargon will be avoided. Pronunciation aids Guidelines Affecting Visitors and definitions will be provid- with Mobility Impairments ed where needed. 1. Wayside exhibits will be installed e. Text will be concise and free at accessible locations whenever of long paragraphs and wordy possible. language. 2. Wayside exhibits will be installed at heights and angles favorable for Wayside Exhibits viewing by most visitors, including those in wheelchairs. For standard Wayside exhibits, which include NPS low-profile units, the recom- outdoor interpretive exhibits and mended height is 30" from the signs, orientation shelter exhibits, bottom of the exhibit panel to the and bulletin boards, offer special finished grade; for vertical advantages to visitors with disabili- exhibits the height of 6-28". ties. The liberal use of photographs, 3. Trailhead exhibits will include artwork, diagrams, and maps, com- information on trail conditions bined with highly readable type, which affect accessibility. make wayside exhibits an excellent 4. Wayside exhibit sites will have medium for visitors with hearing level, hard surfaced exhibit pads. and learning impairments. For visi- 5. Exhibit sites will offer clear, unre- tors with sight impairments, way- stricted views of park features sides offer large type and high legi- described in the exhibits. bility.

59 Guidelines Affecting Visitors with Visual Impairments 1. Exhibit type will be as legible and readable as possible. 2. Panel colors will be selected to reduce eyestrain and glare, and to provide excellent readability under field conditions. White should not be used as a back- ground color. 3. Selected wayside exhibits may incorporate audio stations or tac- tile elements such as models, tex- ture blocks, and relief maps. 4. For all major features interpreted by wayside exhibits, the park should offer non-visual interpre- tation covering the same subject matter. Examples include audio tours, radio messages, and ranger talks. 5. Appropriate tactile cues should be provided to help visually impaired visitors locate exhibits. Guidelines Affecting Visitors with Hearing Impairments 1. Wayside exhibits will communi- cate visually, and will rely on graphics to interpret park resources. 2. Essential information included in audio station messages will be duplicated in written form, either as part of the exhibit text or with printed material. Guidelines Affecting Visitors with Learning Impairments 1. Topics for wayside exhibits will be specific and of general interest. Unnecessary complexity will be a voided. 2. Whenever possible, easy to understand graphics will be used to convey ideas, rather than text alone. 3. Unfamiliar expressions, technical terms, and jargon will be avoided. Pronunciation aids and defini- tions will be provided where needed. 4. Text will be concise and free of long paragraphs and wordy lan- guage. 60 APPENDIX B: MAPS

Contents: Routes to the Klondike U.S. Canada park map Skagway Town map Dyea map Chilkoot & White Pass Trails map

61 Routes to the Klondike

62 Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park and Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site of Canada

63 Skagway Town

64 Dyea

65 Chilkoot and White Pass Trails

66