Update on the Bozeman Trail National Historic Trail Committee

A covered wagon (Display at the Fort Phil Kearny Museum)

In a news release from the Bozeman National Historic Trail Committee the committee said that for the past 21 months the Fort Phil Kearny/Bozeman Trail Association and Our Montana, two 501(C)(3) non-profit organizations, have conducted extensive public outreach to garner support and provide information on the benefits for our communities of designating the Bozeman Trail as a National Historic Trail.

The historic Bozeman Trail provided a travel route from the Oregon Trail in Wyoming to the gold fields of southwest Montana for fortune seekers and settlers during the 1860’s. During this short period of use the trail would serve as the stage for conflict between Plains Indian Tribes and the new arrivals, commonly called Red Cloud’s War. Use of the trail route for travel by indigenous peoples predated historic use by millennia.

The group has had good success with their outreach to inform people of the benefits of National Historic Trail designation. In addition to documentation and preservation of our history, benefits include increased interest and visitation to our staffed historic sites and museums. Increased visitation will be an economic benefit to these sites and our communities. We have now formally asked our Congressional Delegations in Montana and Wyoming to pass a bill in Congress to direct that a feasibility study be completed.

The feasibility and suitability study requires public meetings and full public participation. The study team will use the process to fairly measure the level of public support for National Historic Trail designation. This process provides the opportunity for citizens to ask specific questions and learn how the Bozeman Trail would be managed on federal and split estate lands. Results of the study will provide information on recreation opportunities and economic benefits for our communities with a focus on along the Interstate travel corridor which parallels the historic trail route.

We are confident the feasibility and suitability study will confirm protection of private property as specifically stated in the National Trails Act. A finding of feasible and suitable does not result in National designation. If the findings of the study supported national designation, we would follow prescribed steps in the National Trails Act by coming back to our Congressional Delegations to request the final National Historic Trail designation legislation.

In summary, the history of the Bozeman Trail is a significant historic and cultural component for current and future generations of Wyoming and Montana citizens. Completion of the feasibility and suitability study will allow us as a community to make an informed decision about how we move forward to preserve, promote, and protect our heritage.

To learn more about our organizations and the Bozeman National Historic Trail Initiative please see: https://www.fortphilkearny.com/bozeman-nht

We are available at any time to discuss our request, answer questions, and provide additional information. We are asking for letters of support. Here is the link to the briefing paper, and the Chisholm Trail Senate and House legislation, implementing the feasibility study for the Chisholm and Western Trails Stock Trails for review.

Interested readers can contact: Mike Penfold, Field Program Director, Our Montana, 406-672-6630, penrodmt@gmail.com or Dave McKee, President, Fort Phil Kearny/Bozeman Trail Association, bozemannht@gmail.com