of facilities. Opportunities for heritage tourism related to DHS facilities (as well as military installations and many Department of Energy [DOE] facilities) are limited due to security concerns which DHS does not anticipate changing. However, many agencies have robust use and visitation programs. Highlights: ›› While it pursues on- and off-site opportunities to inform the public about its historic properties and foster heritage tourism, Reclamation reports the agency lacks a system for tracking visitation. However, the following examples illustrate how Reclamation is promoting heritage tourism and interpreting the historic significance of communities: • To make the sites more accessible without creating security and safety concerns, Reclamation and NPS partnered with CyArk to create a virtual tour of the historic Shoshone Powerplant at Buffalo Bill Dam, Wyoming, available to view on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MvabiF-zXw); • The Montana Area Office renewed a special use permit allowing the Fairfield, Montana, Chamber of Commerce to use the historic Greenfields Irrigation District office building for a local museum and RV parking; • The Dakotas Area Office installed interpretative signage at the former location of the Daniel Winter House, at the Lonetree Wildlife Management Area, North Dakota. Using text and HABS photography, the sign presents information on the unique puddled mud architecture used by early 20th century German-Russian homesteaders in the area. ›› The VA’s two oldest buildings, both dating from ca. 1750, were recently renovated by the VA Medical Center Perry Point, Maryland. Building 501, the Mansion, will continue to be used for staff training, and formerly vacant Building 504, the Mill, will now house a museum interpreting the site’s history.
BLM visitor data for FY15 indicated 3,412,888 visits to cultural sites; in FY16, that number increased almost a quarter-million to 3,637,818. Recreation on BLM lands contributed from more than $162 million to more than $186 million to local economies.
In 2016, 331 million visitors came to the national parks—America’s special places cared for by the NPS family of 22,000 employees and 221,000 volunteers. In addition to spending the day exploring history and experiencing nature, national park visitors also spend money in nearby gateway communities helping to fuel local economies. An NPS report, 2016 National Park Visitor Spending Effects: Economic Contributions to Local Communities, States, and the Nation, underscores the fact that national parks play a major role in attracting and sustaining local businesses and communities. According to the report, which was prepared by economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas of the U.S. Geological Survey and Lynne Koontz of the NPS, in 2016 visitors spent more than $18.4 billion in communities near national parks, a sum that translates into 318,000 local jobs.
Partnerships in using historic properties: Federal agencies continue to report diligent efforts to partner with other federal agencies, state and local organizations, Indian tribes, and private organizations to share the knowledge and experience of federal historic properties with the public. Judging from the attendance numbers some agencies provided, the interest in these properties out there is vast and growing.
IN A SPIRIT OF STEWARDSHIP: A REPORT ON FEDERAL HISTORIC PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 2018 | 47
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