PIPE SPRING Cultures at a Crossroads: An Administrative History

Interpretation (continued)

Programs, 1977-1979

Interpretive programs during the late 1970s relied heavily on the participation of CETA girls, under the supervision of seasonal park aids. Tours were hampered by the closure in 1976 of the parlor and kitchen, whose floors were removed due to seepage problems along the fort's west walls. These rooms were closed to the public for almost four years. (See "Historic Buildings, The Fort" section.)

A third annual wagon trek embarked from Pipe Spring National Monument in 1977. The five-day trip to St. George included four monument staff, four VIPs, and four local residents. Cheese and butter made as part of the monument's living history program were once again delivered to the Temple president. The event received good news coverage on television, radio, and newspapers. The wagon trek was held again in 1978 but this time was sponsored entirely by local people. [2199] Eight wagons participated with about 50 participants. No Park Service equipment was used in the event. Once again, the event was well publicized. Writers from National Geographic, Sunset Magazine, Arizona Highways, Phoenix Magazine, and Outdoor Arizona Magazine covered the wagon trek, as well as Arizona and Utah television stations. [2200]

During the summer of 1977, Park Service Communication Counselor Vicki H. Black made two trips to Pipe Spring to assess its interpretive program. She spent her time auditing tours each of the days she visited. She was very impressed with the quality of the program. She later reported,

Not only were the ideas, facilities, and exhibits excellent, but the tour guides all had a very good mastery of the art of speaking to people.

Most tours involve a small number of visitors, so the guides are able to give very personalized tours. Excellent questioning strategies were used by the guides, and a lot of 'touchy feelies' are available at Pipe Spring to facilitate interpretation.

Many of the guides at Pipe Spring are young Mormons. One of them suggested that they have few problems speaking to an audience because the Church requires them to have spent a considerable amount of time speaking to large groups throughout their childhood and adolescence. I found that to be an interesting explanation of why I am always amazed at the quality of the tours at Pipe Spring. [2201]

During 1978, thanks to funds from the ZNHA, a reproduction of the historic cheese vat was purchased and placed on exhibit in the spring room. A replica of an original historic loom was also constructed and put into operation by Dale Scheier that year to be used in the living history program.