Fort Clatsop Administrative History

Facilities

Superintendents at the memorial have historically placed an emphasis on achieving necessary additions and rehabilitation of the memorial's buildings, as well as general cyclic maintenance, such as painting. In the case of the visitor center expansion project, budget requests and planning for additions or rehabilitation were begun under Superintendent Peterson, who had overseen the original visitor center construction. The following is a summary of buildings and projects.

Employee Residences, #1 and #3. Residence #1 was purchased with the Miller property during the development of the memorial. Originally a two-bedroom, one-bath house, an additional bedroom, bath, and storage space were added in 1967. The electrical wiring was replaced during the same project. The project was completed by a local carpenter for $3,000. Since the remodeling, the residence has been regularly painted, interior and exterior. The interior of residence #3, built by the NPS in 1963, was refinished in 1972 and otherwise has received regular maintenance.

Maintenance Shop. Constructed in 1961 during site development construction, the maintenance shop has undergone two expansions. The first was completed in 1973 when a 16' by 32' workspace was added. [12] In 1988, some improvements were made with the addition of an office space. The building is currently 1680 square feet, with one 720 square foot work room. In 1988, three underground fuel oil tanks, which were no longer necessary, were removed. [13]

Funding in the 1995 budget is targeted for the addition of a 750-square-foot woodworking space; a covered 700-square-foot equipment storage area; and eight parking spaces. The memorial's remaining underground fuel tank, which does not meet new Oregon underground tank standards, will be replaced and relocated. The project will also include removal of cement asbestos board from the shop walls. [14] Additional space in this building will also provide room for the resource management staffperson, including storage, a lab area, and a fire cache.

Black Powder Storage Shed. This 12' by 6', two-room storage shed was constructed in 1977 to meet blackpowder storage safety measures. The structure can be moved and utilized for other purposes as necessary.

Water, Utilities, and Sewer. Water at the memorial must be pumped in from a commercial source. Currently, the memorial maintains an agreement with the Youngs River-Lewis and Clark Water District. In 1965, new water lines were constructed to allow for commercial water to be pumped in and service with the district began in February. Between 1974 and 1982, most utility lines to the memorial were buried. One quarter-mile overhead utility line remains.

Sewer problems have developed more than once at the memorial. In 1973, the clogged septic drainfield was replaced. By 1985, the septic system was again causing problems. During the summers of 1985 and 1986, portable toilets had to be rented and placed outside the visitor center to reduce the pressures on the failing septic system. In fall 1986, a new septic lift station was constructed and a drainfield was placed in a new location.

Visitor Center. One year after completion of the memorial's visitor center, Superintendent Peterson was already planning the expansion of the center's auditorium. In 1967, a ventilation fan was installed in the auditorium to provide better air circulation. By the 1970s, proposals were being written for rehabilitation of the building to provide not only a larger auditorium, but needed office and storage space. In 1981, the front of the visitor center lobby was rehabilitated to meet energy standards. Weather stripping and storm windows were installed for energy conservation.

A long time in the planning process, the expansion project was finally approved and design planning started in 1988. The project would nearly quadruple the size of the center, from 3,300 square feet to 12,000 square feet. The memorial staff was very involved in planning not only improved visitor facilities, but improved employee facilities as well. Superintendent Walker coordinated with Denver Service Center in providing planning assistance and made trips to Denver for that purpose. During construction, the staff operated out of a temporary modular building which housed "Arrival", some exhibits, a small theater, FCHA sales area and the interpretation and FCHA offices. The modular building was placed in the middle of the main parking area. Crater Lake National Park, Olympic National Park, and Oregon Caves National Monument provided temporary trailers, which housed the administrative offices, interpretive storage, and employee lunchroom. [15]

Included in the expansion was a 45-seat theater, a 90-seat multipurpose room, an audio-visual booth with new equipment which serves both the theater and multipurpose room, a library facility with a locked collections storage room, lockers and showers for memorial interpreters, a new employee break room with appliances, additional storage space, and a larger exhibit hall. [16] The addition of library space has allowed the memorial to create the Fort Clatsop Research Library, which is open to researchers of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and Pacific Northwest history.