Harpers Ferry Center National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior River Raisin National Battlefield Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan July 2015 Prepared by River Raisin National Battlefield Park Midwest Region of the National Park Service Harpers Ferry Center Interpretive Planning U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Table of Contents Foundation Planning Background 1 Park Purpose 2 Fundamental Resources and Values 3 Battlefield Significance Statements 5 Interpretive Themes 5 Table of Significance Statements and Interpretive Themes 6 Interpretive Theme Matrices: Concepts, Topics and Stories 7 The Most Appropriate Sites to Interpret Park Themes Relating to the Battles or its Aftermath within Monroe and Wayne Counties, but Outside of Park Boundaries 12 The Most Appropriate Sites to Interpret Park Themes Relating to the Battles or its Aftermath Outside of Monroe and Wayne Counties and Park Boundaries 13 Management Goals Relating to Interpretation 14 Visitor Experience Goals 14 Existing Conditions 16 Facilities 17 Core Operations 18 Educational Programs and Projects 19 Interpretive Programs and Projects 22 Media Developed by the Battlefield or in Partnership 26 Partnerships and Collaborating Entities 28 Visitor Destination Programs that Overlap with River Raisin NBP 31 Audience Profiles 32 Current Programs and Media 35 Project Management Information System (PMIS) 36 Opportunities Relating to Interpretation 38 Research Needs 42 Recommendations 44 Summary of Recommendations 45 Interpretive and Educational Base-Funding Investment Priorities 47 Strategy for Development of Park Signage 47 Strategy for Research 49 Visitor Education Center 51 Matrices of Goals and Recommendations 53 Implementation Plan 56 Appendix 58 The Planning Team 58 Hull’s Trace Sign Plan 59 National Park Service c Foundation for Planning d River Raisin National Battlefield Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan Foundation for Planning River Raisin National Battlefield Park (Park) covers roughly 42 acres in Monroe, Michigan, and is a new rapidly growing park in southeast Michigan. The January 1813 Battles of Frenchtown were significant historic events that resulted from the convergence of incongruent cultures colliding for more than 60 years. The Park represents the greatest victory for the American Indian Confederation who sought to prevent U.S. expansion and to establish an American Indian territory in the War of 1812. The Indian nations engaged in the battles power of the Confederation, armed The 2012 Foundation Document regardless of which side they aligned. was developed as a joint through alliances with Great Britain, For the Wyandotte (Wyandot\Huron), effort among members of the successfully took control of the Shawnee, Potawatomi (Bodéwadmi), academic community, municipal Michigan Territory and struck fear Odawa\Ottawa, Chippewa (Ojibwe), government representatives, throughout the United States. The Wyandot of Anderdon Nation Delaware\Lenape (Lunaapeew), battles, subsequent killing of wounded members, and a local advisory Miami (Myaamiaki), Winnebago (Ho- U.S. prisoners and destruction of group along with National Park Chunk), Creek (Muscogee), Kickapoo Frenchtown directly contributed to Service staff. (Kiikaapoi), Sauk or Sac (Thâkîwa), regional and national developments Fox (Meskwaki), and Seneca-Cayuga during and following the War. The (Mingoes) the Aftermath of the Battles battles of Frenchtown remain the resulted in intense force removal and largest conflict to ever have occur struggles that continue today. within the present boundaries of Michigan and proved the deadliest The Park’s headquarters is located 40 engagement for U.S. forces during the miles south of Detroit and 20 miles War of 1812. This loss inspired the north of Toledo, in close proximity battle cry “Remember the Raisin!” for to the western shores of Lake Erie, U.S. forces in subsequent battles during adjacent to the River Raisin. This the War of 1812, including the decisive strategic location played a significant U.S. victory at the Battle of the Thames role in the historic events and Battles in Upper Canada where British forces that took place along the banks of the surrendered and the famous Shawnee River Raisin. leader Tecumseh was killed. The events along the River Raisin mark the last Planning Background hours of Frenchtown, one of the only French ribbon farm settlements to be In 2012, River Raisin National established within the United States Battlefield Park completed the after the Revolutionary War. In the park’s Foundation Document. The western Great Lakes, the aftermath of Foundation Document articulates the Battles spurred the United States the park’s purpose and significance, to achieving the goal of defeating interpretive themes, and other critical the American Indian Confederacy elements of park planning. Using the and driving the British out of the Foundation Document materials, a region. In the end, the victory was Long-Range Interpretive Plan (LRIP) as complete for the United States as Foundation Section workshop was the defeat was for the 12 American held in September of 2013. Following National Park Service 1 review of the draft Foundation Section, a contract with Dr. Mark David an Interpretive Recommendations Spence. The Historic Resource Workshop was conducted in March Study will provide a historical of 2014 to outline interpretive and overview of the park and region, educational priorities for the next identifying and evaluating the 7-10 years. Some of the important park’s cultural resources within factors considered in crafting the historic context and will be a key recommendations include: tool to frame the development of interpretive media, programs, and • characteristics and needs of activities. The Historic Resource various park audiences; Study is projected to be completed • management goals relating to in 2015. A primary component of the Historic Resource Study interpretation; is the updating of the existing • fundamental resources and values; National Register of Historic Places nomination (1982) to reflect current • visitor experience goals; conditions. • park purpose and significance; and Reference Library & Materials: In 2012, with the help of Battlefield • interpretive themes. volunteers, a basic reference library Several key planning documents have and files system was developed. been used in creation of this Long- Cataloging and expansion of the Range Interpretive Plan, including: reference materials continues to be a major project. Efforts are Foundation Document: In underway to inventory and connect December of 2012, the Battlefield other existing reference materials staff and stakeholders worked with throughout the region to the the Midwest Regional Office and Battlefield. Denver Service Center to craft the Battlefield Purpose, Statements of Park Purpose Significance, Fundamental Resources and Values, and Interpretive Themes. The purpose statement identifies the This Long-Range Interpretive Plan specific reason(s) a particular park is works from these statements as a established. The purpose statement for guiding framework. River Raisin National Battlefield Park was drafted through a careful analysis Cultural Landscape Study and of its enabling legislation and the Report: In 2012, the Monroe County legislative history that influenced its Historical Society provided funding development. for the Battlefield to develop a Cultural Landscape Study and The following purpose statement lays Report in partnership with the the foundation for understanding what Jeff Green and Eastern Michigan is most important about River Raisin University. Research continues on National Battlefield Park: this project and a draft is expected for review in 2015. River Raisin National Battlefield Park preserves, commemorates, and Historic Resource Study: In 2013, interprets the January 1813 battles of River Raisin National Battlefield the War of 1812 and their aftermath. Park and the Midwest Region of the National Park Service initiated a Historic Resource Study through 2 River Raisin National Battlefield Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan Fundamental Resources and Values Fundamental Resources and Values during planning and management are those features, systems, processes, processes because they are essential to experiences, stories, scenes, sounds, achieving the purpose of the park and smells, or other attributes determined maintaining its significance. to merit primary consideration 1. Fundamental Resource -Archeological Evidence and Research River Raisin National Battlefield Park protects archeological evidence, which has the potential to yield information important to our understanding of the historic events that took place at this site. Numerous investigations, testing, and research have already identified the likelihood of a rich archeological record that requires the stewardship and protection of the park. This archeological evidence includes the possible development of collections associated with the battles of River Raisin. 2. Fundamental Resource - Battlefield Landscape The land owned and managed by the National Park Service consists of core areas of the battle site where the historic events of January 1813 took place. Key features within the existing park boundary include Mason Run and access points to River Raisin. The physical location of the battles of River Raisin provides an opportunity for stewardship and interpretation. Military band concerts have been hosted to honor all veterans and members of the U.S. Armed forces, reinforcing the