Last updated: October 15, 2023
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Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Fall Newsletter 2023
Read the latest project updates and completions from the National Trails Office (NTIR) of the National Park Service (NPS).
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Photo/N.Myers
National Trails Welcomes New Staff
Nicholas Myers is the newest member of the history team at the National Trails Office (NTIR). He earned a PhD from Cornell University, where he studied the history of Latin America and the U.S. West, and has held research positions at Harvard University and Southern Methodist University. Nick will work closely with partner organizations and the teams at NTIR to collect, interpret, and refine data on the history of our national trails. Currently living in Santa Fe with his family and his two dogs, Nick is an avid skier and climber.
NTIR has a new Administrative Support Assistant, Erica Chavez. Mrs. Chavez was born and raised in the tiny village of Willard, New Mexico. After completing high school in Estancia, she made a life-changing decision to join the Army, where she proudly served for 8 years on active duty. Erica and her husband lived overseas for many years during their time with the Army and she returned to New Mexico to join the NPS in August. Professionally, Erica began her journey as a medic in the Army, later transitioned into the role of a physical therapy assistant, both in the Army and as a civilian. Later she explored the administrative side of healthcare, and she is currently working on her master's degree in human resource management.
Photo/Cassidy Renninger
Staff Updates
Aaron Mahr continues in his detail at Chamizal National Memorial as Acting Superintendent, while Carole Wendler serves as NTIR Acting Superintendent and Cory Donnelly as Acting Deputy Superintendent. Carol Clark will begin serving as Acting Interpretation Team Lead.
New American Conservation Experience Fellows
Cassidy Renninger started her year-long GIS Fellowship with the office on July 24th. She will be assisting the Resource Information Management (RIM) Team with various mapping/data management projects, with a particular focus on National Historic Trail (NHT) recreational/retracement trail spatial data compiling, field data collection, and map production. This project will help direct the public to these special recreational trails for the Trail of Tears NHT.
Photo/Cherokee Nation Communications Department
Amaiya Bearpaw began her 7-month fellowship with the National Trails Office on Monday, October 2nd. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position, helping to support digital media efforts focusing on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. Hear from her:
"Siyo! (Hello) My name is Amaiya Bearpaw. I am a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and of Choctaw descent. I am currently a Senior at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK pursing a bachelor's degree in Geography and Sustainability Studies with a minor in Cherokee Studies.
I am originally from Jay, OK where I graduated high school. I have two younger sisters, Leighton and Cadence, who are both also attending NSU. Upon graduating high school, my 3-year-old miniature Dachshund, Remington, and I moved to Tahlequah so I could pursue my degree. Since being in Tahlequah, I have become more aware of and connected to the cultural community that I come from. The community is much greater than of my hometown. I was welcomed with open arms to learn and grow as an indigenous woman.
One community I found myself welcomed by was the alumni who have completed the 950-mile bike ride known as the Remember the Removal Bike Ride (RTR). Several members of the community had encouraged me to complete the ride for a few years. I eventually found the time around my studies to officially apply for the bike ride and was selected as a bike rider for the 2023 Remember the Removal Bike Ride Team. As an alum, I help grow the community by encouraging others around me who are eligible to complete the ride as the Secretary for the RTR-Legacy Association (RTR-LA).
Completing the ride was the biggest accomplishment that I have completed so far in my life. I learned a great deal of cultural history about the Trail of Tears as well as my personal history as a Cherokee Nation citizen. It has become a life goal of mine to continue to learn about my peoples’ history and share that information with others who may not understand what the trail encompasses. I am grateful for every opportunity that comes my way to become a better advocate for the generations to come and show them that they are also capable of accomplishing anything they set their mind to.
Wado! (Thank you)"
External Projects
A proposed cell tower (Project Name Ingram Barge) in Kentucky with adverse impact to the Trail of Tears is in the stage of finalizing a Memorandum of Agreement regarding mitigation. NTIR is an invited signatory to the agreement. The proposed mitigation is a Cultural Landscape Context Study for the Columbus-Belmont State Park, with audio clip QR codes to be attached to the trail signage at the park in addition to the final report.
NTIR Staff Site Visits
In March, NTIR staff attended the To Bridge a Gap meeting in Oklahoma, hosted by the Quapaw Nation and put on by the Forest Service (for the first time this year since 2019 prior to the pandemic). Tribal consultation successes and failures were discussed, as well as opportunities presented to collaborate and hear from others involved in consultations. Many Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPO) were present to give presentations and to advise federal managers; and test cases were also presented as lessons learned.
NTIR Staff Presentations
In September, NTIR staff gave a virtual presentation to the Georgia chapter of the Trail of Tears Association on partnership site certification, the Survey123 app, and developing digital media content. Thank you to member Mike Wren who provided NTIR with this opportunity to share more about the type of technical assistance we provide to trail partners.
High Potential Sites and Segments
NTIR staff met in the field with various Trail of Tears Association members in Tennessee, Kentucky and Middle Tennessee State Univeristy (MTSU) in September in order to conduct high potential historic site evaluations along the trail. MTSU is leading the charge to test and implement the High Potential Sites and Segments (HPSS) assessment protocol for national historic trails and is conducting a pilot study along the Trail of Tears.
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Visitor Use Experience Web Maps
The new Visitor Use Experience Web Maps are complete and almost ready to be posted on the websites! These applications complement the NPS App, and help share a fuller expanse of recreational opportunities along the NHTs. Links from the Trail of Tears NHT website will be added in the near future. These web mapping applications can also be embedded within other websites like the association website.
Trail of Tears NHT NPGallery Photo Digital Archive
The Trail of Tears photo digital archive is now live! View photos from across the trail. You can use the keywords and states to view specific photos, or just search the full trail.
Signage Updates
Sign Plans Completed
Signs to mark the historic T, C, & D Railroad Crossing locations of the trail were ordered and installed this past spring for Lawrence County, Alabama. A total of 12 signs were placed at major crossings. Signs to mark the historic route of the trail through Maramac Springs Park, Missouri were ordered this past summer. A site identification (site ID) sign for the entrance into the park is currently being developed. A site ID sign was ordered for the Coker Creek Welcome Center, Tennessee, a newly certified site along the Trail of Tears NHT.
Sign Plans in progress
A large sign plan for McMinn and Monroe Counties, Tennessee is currently in the review stages and being updated based on partnership feedback and resource information.The Lawrence County, Alabama sign plans were completed with Tennessee Department of Transporation (TNDOT) and the County, with a total of 12 signs. Maramac Springs, Missouri sign plans were completed this summer with a total of 5 signs. And the Coker Creek, Tennessee Site Identification (Site ID) sign plan was completed this summer.
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Bilingual Wayside Coming to Trail of Tears Commemorative Park
NTIR was happy to partner with the Cherokee Nation and City of Hopkinsville Kentucky to produce two interpretive waysides for the Trail of Tears Commemorative Park. The wayside titled ‘Mourning At Camp’ represents the first bilingual panel produced by NTIR to feature text in English and Cherokee Syllabary.
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Get Your Trail Site on the NPS Website & Mobile App
Getting visitors to trail sites is a top priority! This year many Places websites have been added as well as some itineraries. For the Trail of Tears NHT, there are now over 75 pages live, which is thanks to everyone who has contributed information.
But there are still sites in state brochures that don’t have pages, and we have sites with interpretation that do not have any visiting information online! Help us!
Do you have a favorite Trail of Tears site? Do you have 30 minutes to help us create a website for that place? Help us show visitors how to find your special places. Contact us to get started!
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Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area
The US Forest Service placed the concrete pads and installed the bases for exhibits at several sites in the National Recreation Area. The exhibits are still to be contracted.
Trail of Tears Overlook at Fort Smith National Historic Site
A three-year project funded through Connect Trails to Parks is underway to replace the overlook and its interpretive media. The original overlook was destroyed during the 2019 flooding of the Arkansas River. Due to sustainability concerns, the proposed location for the overlook is moving slightly north along the river and is taking a new shape that allows for a larger and more open space providing the opportunity to move through the story and the trail fluidly with additional seating and contemplative space. Conceptual plans are under development and will be sent to tribes in the next month. Final concepts, engineering drawings, and interpretive media will be developed in 2024. The space is scheduled to be completed in 2025. A mobile tour will be developed to contextualize the history of the Trail of Tears and Indian Removal as well while exploring the grounds. Duplicate panels will be placed along the riverwalk in North Little Rock, AR.
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State Brochure for Kentucky and Illinois Complete
Five states are now represented with state brochures!
Discover the Trail of Tears in Northwest Arkansas: Old Wire Road Itinerary Rack Card
This rack card to accompanies the new Old Wire Road Itinerary is going to print by the Arkansas Chapter. The Places websites and the app support this itinerary of sites in northwest Arkansas – the combined work of completing Places asset forms for important sites in Arkansas allowed the creation of a webpage that feeds the NPS app. The public can scan the code on the rack card and be taken directly to the itinerary on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail website. Alternately, users of the NPS app following the Trail of Tears can find a link to this itinerary at each site included in the itinerary.
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Arkansas River Water Route Exhibits Installed
Eight exhibits have been installed at seven sites and nine site ID and Water Route signs were installed at nine Army Corps of Engineers sites along the Arkansas River. Funding through Connect Trails to Parks, there is an accompanying set of Places webpages, app stops, and itinerary. The itinerary also adds Lake Dardanelle State Park, Mount Holly Cemetery, and the Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock.
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Children’s Story Map for the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail
A contract to create a story map for children about the Trail of Tears closed in June and the National Trails office is completing final edits to the content and maps. It will be released next calendar year and offer a dedicated space for children to learn about the trail and complete activities. It features, text, art, graphics, photographs, and video. Thank you to those who assisted the contractor with content ideas and age-appropriate recommendations.
Virtual Trail Stories & Experiences
Have you been following the trails on social media? You may have noticed an increase in articles, virtual visits, and virtual kids' activities. People can't travel to experience the trails in person, so NTIR has been working to bring the trails to your house. You can check out recent and past articles, become a junior ranger, take virtual visits to learn more about trail sites, and more - click the links below!
Connect with the Trail
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Find us on Social MediaLearn more about the trail on social media!
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Trail of Tears WebsiteLearn more on the NPS Trail of Tears website.
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Contact NTIRContact NTIR or individual staff.