President Bush Signs Bill To Create
Lewis & Clark
National Historical Park
November 1, 2004
Office of the Secretary
Contact: Dan DuBray
For Immediate Release: November 1, 2004
202-208-6416
http://www.lewisandclarknationalpark.com
WASHINGTON, D.C. - President George W. Bush
has signed into law a plan
to create the new Lewis & Clark National Historical Park by
incorporating state parks in Washington and Oregon along with the
current Fort Clatsop National Memorial Park.
"President Bush is providing enthusiastic leadership in the nation’s
commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Lewis and Clark’s historic
journey,” Interior Secretary Gale Norton said. “With the
president’s
signature on this legislation, we are protecting key sites in
Washington that were part of the Corps of Discovery’s encampment
in
the harsh winter of 1805. This will help to ensure that the people
of
Washington and Oregon can roll out the welcome mat to the world’s
visitors who are now following the footsteps of America’s legendary
explorers 200 years later.”
Secretary Norton praised the local communities which developed the
plan in preparation for local bicentennial commemorations: “This
is
truly a grassroots achievement spurred by folks at the local level.
They have realized their vision - preserving their historic
legacy for
future generations while strengthening their heritage tourism economy.”
President Bush launched the nation’s commemoration of the Lewis
and
Clark bicentennial in a ceremony with Native American leaders in
the
East Room of the White House in July of 2002. Secretary Norton, the
chair of the federal Bicentennial commemoration, took part in the
opening of the national observance in January 2003 at Thomas
Jefferson's Monticello home in Virginia.
Released in February 2004, a National Park Study recommended addition
of the three sites in Washington to Fort Clatsop National Memorial.
The legislation signed into law by President Bush authorizes
incorporation of the sites with Fort Clatsop into the new Lewis and
Clark National Historical Park.
The sites include: Station Camp off U.S. 101, Megler's Safety Rest
Area, a few yards down 101--Clark's Dismal Nitch that was the site
of
an historic Corps of Discovery vote--and federal land within Fort
Canby State Park, where a memorial to Thomas Jefferson would be
developed. The sites will be protected through a partnership of
federal and state governments and willing private sellers.
More information on Fort Clatsop and its role in the Lewis and Clark
story, visit http://www.nps.gov/focl/index.htm.
Information on Lewis and Clark Bicentennial commemorations across
the nation is available
at http://www.lewisandclark200.gov/. |
