Bear Paw Battlefield Gets A Facelift

By Ronald Fischer

mailto:bcj_fischer@yahoo.com - bcj_fischer@yahoo.com

The Bear Paw Battlefield south of Chinook has just completed the installation of nine interpretive wayside markers. The new waysides are part of a cultural landscape restoration project that is taking place across the entire Nez Perce National Historic Park. In all, 38 waysides are being installed at several sites.

Robert West of the National Park Service explains the background leading up to this project:

“In 2001, The Nez Perce National Historic Park   received $280,000 to plan, design and install interpretive signs at various sites throughout the park. After fours years of discussion and consultation, the signs arrived at the park. In July, 2006 new interpretive waysides were installed at Big Hole National Battlefield, the Canyon Creek skirmish site and Bear Paw Battlefield.

This fall, panels will also be installed at the overlook and along the trail of Whitebird Battlefield. These new signs will provide visitors with new opportunities to connect the meanings inherent in sites associated with the events of 1877.”

West goes on to add information about the artist involved in the project: 

“An important component of the park’s wayside plan was the commissioning of original artwork by Nez Perce Artist Nakia Williamson-Cloud to illustrate many of the events of 1877. To honor his important contribution to the project, in association with the U.S. Forest Service, the park mounted an exhibit of Nakia’s Artwork. These paintings and illustrations were commissioned for the park’s wayside program and for the Forest Service’s signage project along Highway 12 and at Lolo Pass, The exhibit is located at the Spalding Visitor Center and will be on display until October 31^st, 2006.”

The waysides at the Bear Paw Battlefield were installed by Park Rangers Robert West and Kelsie Whitney and work was completed on August 1^st. West and Whitney invite people from the surrounding area to come out to the battlefield and view the new signage, which adds much to the character and educational value of the site. 

Future Projects

Other upcoming projects include a Traveler’s Information System (TIS), which is a radio transmitter allowing drivers on highway 2 in Blaine County to tune in and listen to radio messages about the park.

This project is being spearheaded by Friends of Bear Paw, Big Hole and Canyon Creek Battlefields, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting these sites along the Nez Perce National Historic Park. Earlier this year, the Friends group procured two park benches, one of which will be placed at Bear Paw Battlefield.

Funding for the TIS is underway, and updates will follow. Several local and area firms have made substantial donations to the completion of this system and the city of Chinook has pledged matching funds up to 50% of the cost.

For more information on the Friends group, you can call Bob Inman at 357.2227 or visit the group’s website at http://www.friendsnezpercebattlefields.org - http://www.friendsnezpercebattlefields.org .