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Omaha, Neb. — National Park Service (NPS) Regional Director Bert Frost today announced selection of Chris Collins as the first permanent superintendent of Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park in Ste. Genevieve, Mo., which is in the process of being established as a unit of the National Park System.
“I am pleased to name Chris as the first permanent superintendent of Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park and I am confident he will be a great community steward as we work to make this site a fully established unit of the National Park System,” Frost said. “We are eager to fulfill all of the requirements of the enabling legislation, including the acquisition of sufficient land, in order to be established as an official park system unit. Chris will make a wonderful ambassador, continuing to build relationships and our knowledge of the history and significance of the area.”
Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park was authorized by Congress in 2018. Since then, the superintendents of Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Illinois and Gateway Arch National Park in Missouri have served as a temporary NPS presence in the community. Going forward, Collins will report up to the superintendent of Gateway Arch National Park, which has a connected history and support staff to assist this burgeoning operation.
"I am looking forward to working with the community and our partners to get this new national park operation going and to telling the story of this extraordinary place,” Collins said. “I am so impressed by the commitment of the community to the preservation of the unique structures and history of Ste. Genevieve. I’ve long been fascinated by French culture and their colonial settlement story in Missouri and I am excited to dive into the unique history of the area and explore the surrounding region along the Mississippi."
“Chris is an excellent choice for this role in Ste. Genevieve,” Gateway Arch National Park Superintendent Mike Ward said. “He has a strong background in the French culture and language, as well as the park management skills that are vital for this inaugural stage of developing a new park operation. As the NPS continues to work toward the formal establishment of the park, Chris will concentrate on building and establishing strong partnerships within the community and preparing for required planning processes that will begin once the park is established.”
Collins is currently the chief of business and commercial services at Indiana Dunes National Park in Indiana, providing leadership to a group of administrative professionals assisting Indiana Dunes National Park, Pullman National Monument, Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, and William Howard Taft National Historic Site. He started his NPS career 16-years ago at Glacier National Park in Montana. He has previously served as the lead information technology specialist for eight parks in the Upper Columbia Basin Network and as the administrative officer at Nez Perce National Historical Park in Idaho.
Collins graduated from Pittsburg State University in southeast Kansas with a Bachelor of Arts in French Language and Literature, as well as History in 1999. In 2003, he graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Information Systems. He enjoys hiking, traveling, home renovation, and is a self-proclaimed foodie. Collins, his partner Jim, and cat Lucy are looking forward to exploring all that the area has to offer.
NPS
Last updated: January 23, 2020