PIPE SPRING Cultures at a Crossroads: An Administrative History

Zion Natural History Association

Just as important to the monument's educational programs as its volunteers, the Zion Natural History Association provided critical financial support for a variety of projects between 1979 and 1989. In December 1979, the ZNHA approved funds for an interpretive publication about Pipe Spring in 1980. The author chosen was David Lavender, who completed the first draft by the end of the year. The text and photo work was sent out by the end of 1982 to various publishers for price quotes. Difficulties at the publisher's delayed publication until 1984. That summer, Lavender's booklet, The History of Arizona's Pipe Spring National Monument, finally arrived at the monument and was made available for sale to visitors. The publication replaced the only leaflet available up to that time, a reprint of Robert Olsen's 1965 article, "Pipe Spring, Arizona, and Thereabouts," published in The Journal of Arizona History. (Recently revised, Lavender's booklet is still sold to monument visitors.) Gift shop sales by the ZNHA rose dramatically after they began leasing the Tribe's gift shop in late 1988. (See "Gift Shop" section.) Much of its gift shop profits that year went in fiscal year 1990 to fund a full-time position, a ranch worker who worked as a cowboy interpreter. It also helped fund an orientation video for the visitor center.

As in earlier years, the association continued contributing financially to the monument's interpretive programs, library, and museum. Its annual contributions during the 1979-1988 period ranged from $859 to $5,280. (See Appendix VIII, "Monument's Administrative Budget.")