Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway Visions 2006Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway Visions 2006prepared by Wyvonne Phillips- October 2006
The Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway-Mountain Branch has completed it's incorporation as a 501(C)(3) nonprofit. This status will allow us to seek new funding sources and leverage our resources. We will preserve, protect and promote the corridor of the Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway- Mountain Branch. We recently completed our third seed grant and will continue to seek a way for financial sustainability for the Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway in the future.
The Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway-Mountain Branch is one of Colorado's Scenic Byway Programs. It is funded by the National Scenic Byways Program of the FHWA. Funds are distributed through a competitive grants process and are administered by CDOT State Scenic Byway Program. This grant is renewable for up to five years and it is our intention to become self sustaining by the year 2009. Our public access point is the Colorado Historical Society property of "Trinidad History Museum" Scenic Byway Visitors Center, 312 East Main Street, Trinidad, CO.
Historical Background
Roberta Cordova the founder of the Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway, the Scenic Byway Committee, Byway Stake holders and Partners, City Governments and prestigious members of our Byway Communities worked for many years to develop our Scenic Byway. In 1992 Governor Roy Romer and the Colorado Department of Transportation designated the Mountain Branch as a Colorado State Scenic Byway. We received National Scenic Byways Program designation in 1998 by the FHWA. The 184 mile Scenic Byway Corridor was based on Colorado portion of the Santa Fe Trail and is dubbed the Trail of Merchants as this is the route which opened trade between the US and Mexico.
The Santa Fe Trail served as a trade route between Missouri and the Mexican frontiers from 1821 to 1880. The Mountain Branch was traveled by caravans of traders, often with four horses abreast. Although the Mountain Branch was 100 miles longer than the Cimarron Route, and the climb over Raton Pass was difficult, the Mountain Route was preferred since water was more accessible and it was less vulnerable to Indian attacks. In 1987 the Santa Fe Trail was designated by Congress as a National Historic Trail. Heritage travelers visit today to discover the magic and retrace authentic steps taken by merchants and traders on the way to Santa Fe. Recreate life along the Trail by visiting historic trading posts like Bent's Old Fort and Boggsville; stage coach ruins, visible wagon ruts, graves, ruins of Trail-era ranches and statues and monuments commemorating famous characters of the west.
"The Commerce of the Prairies" developed from a trickle of traders with pack mules to dozens upon dozens of wagon trains, hundreds of prairie schooners, laden with trade goods pulled by groaning oxen, in an ever increasing stream between Missouri and Santa Fe. It started in a small way - a few caravans of mules from Santa Fe, heavily laden with hides and tallow. In the very year of the Adams-Onis Treaty and the Independence of Mexico, 1821, Missouri Indian trader William Becknell heard that Santa Fe was open to trade from the U.S. He hurried West -- right along our Byway -- to be the first to reach that fabled (and trade-hungry) Royal City. After realizing a neat little 5000% profit, he hastened back to Missouri so he could be the first out the following Spring. He wasn't. At least one and possibly two wagon trains of trade goods set out before him. But the race was on.
Board of Directors
President- Roberta Cordova, founder of the Mountain Branch of the Santa
Fe Trail
Vice President- Michelle Stevens, Heritage Director and Archaeologist for
US Forest Service, Comanche & Cimarron National Grasslands, USDA.
Treasurer- Barbara McKnight one of the original founders of the Scenic Byway
Steering committee, and director of tours to Historic sites for Branson
Hiking Club in our region. Priscilla Opper, Founding Board Treasurer, Trinidad
History Museum docent director.
We have a good representation of the Trail Corridor consisting of well-qualified
individuals which make up our Board of Directors and Executive Director.
Our organization has the vision of making our Scenic Byway recognized as
one of America's great American Heritage highways instilling community pride,
fellowship, and commerce.
The Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway-Mountain Branch is one of
Colorado's Scenic Byway Programs. It is funded by the National Scenic Byways
Program of the FHWA. Funds are distributed through a competitive grants
process and are administered by CDOT State Scenic Byway Program. Our seed
grant is renewable for up to five years and it is our intention to become
self sustaining by the years 2009-2010.
Four Seed Grants - for $25,000 used to implement the Corridor
Management Plan, training, outreach, marketing, interpretation, organization
and capacity building. 2003-2007.
Santa Fe Trail Association Symposium - Trinidad Tourism Board
- $500 for attendance to SFTA Symposium in McPhearson Kansas for research
for Symposium 2007 to be held in Trinidad.
Watchable Wildlife areas - USDA Division of Wildlife - $9,600
for seven interpretive signs at five locations.
Brochure of the Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway-
Mountain Branch. Seed funds were used for the development and printing of
our first brochure in 2004. $1,500 in funding was received from Council
Of Governments to assist with the development of new Byway brochures in
2006. The outer cover of the brochure has been designed. We will seek further
funding to create a fold out map to add to this piece. Total project cost
will be $8,000.
Byway Web site was created by the Byway Director from a NSBO
grant for $3,600 in 2003 and has been developed and maintained with seed
funds. We are requesting additional funds for updating and
incorporating our plans for sustainability on the Byway Website and to give
it a professional technology makeover.
One more seed grant will be applied for in 2007 to complete
our goal for Byway Sustainability. If granted, we anticipate access to these
funds in 2008 or 2009 depending on Federal funding availability.
Colorado Department Of Transportation
National Scenic Byway Organization
Trinidad Historical Society
Trinidad History Museum (a Colorado Historic Property)
USDA
USFS
NPS
Colorado Division of Wildlife
Frontier Pathways Scenic Byway
Santa Fe Trail Association
Roberta Cordova the founder of the Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic
Byway, the Scenic Byway Committee, Byway Stake holders and Partners, City
Governments and prestigious members of our Byway Communities worked for
many years to develop our Scenic Byway. In 1992 Governor Roy Romer and the
Colorado Department of Transportation designated the Mountain Branch as
a Colorado State Scenic Byway. We received National Scenic Byways Program
designation in 1998 by the FHWA.
1. Increase recognition and appreciation of the multi-cultural heritage
in communities within the corridor of the Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic
Byway- Mountain Branch.
Increase information availability about travel in both directions along
the Trail's historic routes and the ties it created between the vastly different
cultures and races.
Preserve the pioneer spirit among the region's population.
Enhance awareness of the Trail's history among persons moving into the
region.
Promote Trail-related activities among all ages and families and to
use connections provided by the Trail to improve inter-community relations.
2. Preserve historic sites and resources for future generations.
Achieve a balance between preservation and development.
Increase public knowledge about significant historic resources along
the Trail.
Encourage preservation and protection of sites on public and private
lands.
3. Enhance the visitor experience by upgrading and improving developed sites
and facilities and by developing additional sites which are not now and
do not have visitor services.
Improve the quality of visits.
4. Increase tourism's contribution to the economy by increasing visitors
and the length of their stay.
Increase the number of sites visited.
5. Support Trail-related activities throughout the corridor of the Santa
Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway- Mountain Branch.
Consistently use a unified Trail-related theme and identity.
Our Executive Director and Byway Board attended public meetings and organizational meetings throughout the Byway region to create new partnerships for the stewardship of the Santa Fe Trail. Meetings were held with Trinidad Historical Society and other Byway Historical Societies, Colorado Preservation Inc., Historic Arkansas Riverwalk Project, Frontier Scenic Byways, Byway County and City Officials, US Forest Service, National Park Service, Santa Fe Trail Association and many other Scenic Byway Stake holders. Some of the issues addressed have been byway sustainability, interpretation, signage projects, visitor readiness, heritage tourism, agri-tourism, land stewardship, economic recovery from drought and industry closures and preservation of historic Santa Fe Trail Sites including Picketwire Canyonlands Dinosaur Tracksite, Historic Wine Glass Rourke Ranch and the stage coach stops of Timpas, Iron Springs, and Sierra Vista.
Our Web Site www.santafetrailscenicandhistoricbyway.org contains everything you need to know about Colorado's Santa Fe Trail S&H Byway. We receive an average of 3,000 visitors a month since it's debut in May 2003. Internet travel planning is encouraged through our virtual tours of historic sites on the Santa Fe Trail. Our web site is directly linked to Colorado Scenic Byway's and America's Byways web sites. Funding is needed to keep it updated and disperse stake holder information. As the popularity of the Santa Fe Trail increases the demand for visitor information increases. The web is an affordable way to meet traveler needs and convey our mission. The web site will be the anchor for our marketing efforts and ways to track our success. Byway incentives such as tour packages, freebies and discounts from merchant program will be given and tracked through visitor sites reporting who and where our marketing services are being used.
An Interpretive CD of the Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic
Byway-Mountain Branch, " Listening For the Sound Of Wheels" A
living History of the Mountain Branch. Excerpts from this CD will be used
as a sound track for our auto tour route broadcasts. With further communities
realizing a need for inclusion in this program, we seek funding to expand
our broadcasting capabilities to accommodate their needs and provide Byway
sustainability through the use of logo grams. Communities will have way
to announce visitor information and local sponsors will pay for the announcements.
Four new Watchable wildlife signs were completed for our Gateway
City Colorado Welcome Centers of Trinidad and Lamar. This project was funded
by the US Division of Wildlife in an effort to increase wildlife's contribution
to our economy and provide visitor ready areas for wildlife enthusiasts.
Santa Fe Trail Days Activities in Trinidad included a new Byway Promotions
Booth, with story boards about the sites of attractions on the Santa Fe
Trail and a Wild West Shootout Booth.
We conducted a Scenic Byway assessment in 2005 with Southeast Colorado
Tourism Group which assisted in the development of our Business Plan and
byway improvements.
We completed our 501 C 3 Designation and are now a non-profit organization
with a recruitment of business entities both from the profit and non-profit
sector.
The Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway- Mountain Branch has an
opportunity to join in the unification of the entire Santa Fe Trail. Multi
state cooperation with Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri,
are planned as these are the states through which the Santa Fe Trail passes.
We will seek opportunities for multi state grants and assist in leveraging
our resources throughout the Santa Fe Trail for improvements, promotions
and education of the Santa Fe Trail.
The Byway has joined forces with Frontier Pathways to organize a Bike
with Pike Century Ride from John Martin Reservoir to Pueblo River Walk.
This event has potential of becoming an annual event.
Southeast Colorado Regional Tourism Group received a Preserve America
Grant for $130,000 and a Department of Local Affairs grant for a total of
combined funding of $260,000 for Heritage Tourism development. We will work
with this group in their efforts to increase Heritage Travel on the Santa
Fe Trail and to develop new sites of heritage importance which are visitor
ready.
The intention of the US Army to expand Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site has
been a controversy which our Byway is faced with. Our Scenic Byway will
be impacted greatly as well as our heritage tourism development hindered.
Stake holder meetings are frequent amongst the US Forest Service, US Army,
County Commissioners, elected congressmen and representatives of our region.
Heritage tourism, public lands and historic treasures, farming, gas drilling,
ranching, tax base, fragile grassland ecosystems, and community survival
will all be greatly impacted. One positive outcome of this land grab by
the US Army has been an enormous amount of bonding amongst stake holders
for a common cause to save our historic treasures and share in the stewardship
of the land on and near the Santa Fe Trail. We are hopeful that the protests
of preservationists, elected officials land owners and stake holders will
be heard by our Federal Government and the destruction and loss of historic
sites will not take place.
Partnerships for the below listed projects:
1. Planning document for the protection and preservation of our DAR markers
and the wagon track sites along the byway. Many are going unnoticed and
are in danger of damage from mowers. These remote sites need to be brought
to the forefront of our heritage protection plans along our Byway.
2. Business plan for the Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway- Mountain
Branch for byway sustainability beyond seed funds.
3. Incorporate a merchants program into our Byway Marketing program. Merchants
would be offered marketing opportunities on our web site, touring guide
and brochures.
4. Auto Tour Radio Broadcast update to include traveler services and expand
transmitter locations. This program will become one of our major contributors
to Byway sustainability.
5. Create a new Byway brochure for printing and distribution. When complete
incorporate add sales for additional printings.
6. Byway website makeover to create an informative, user friendly site which
incorporates state of the art technology and marketing techniques.
7. Complete the below funding projects when funding becomes available from
FHWA.
Pueblo Scenic Byway Visitors Center Santa Fe Trail enhancements and
interpretive sign.
Boggsville Historic Site interpretive signs for their trail.
Trinidad History Museum interpretive Byway sign, media center and Byways
office.
El Moro Rest Area radio broadcast and interpretive signs.
Santa Fe Trail Wagon Rut and Trail marker interpretation.
Create a Santa Fe Trail Mountain Branch day trip and tour guide book.
A children's restaurant placemat for to educate traveling and local
youths about the Santa Fe Trail.
Expand our auto tour broadcast to include Southeast Colorado's six county
entity tourism group.
8. Seek out ways to measure our successes in marketing.
Work with chambers and visitor sites offering incentives through promotions.
Visitors can stop by and pick up an item, a discount, a freebie or any number
of incentives to track our success.