NPCA Releases Economic Study and Educational Brochure On August 23, 2001, the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) released a study of the potential economic benefits of restoring Glorieta National Battlefield and opening it to visitation by the general public. The study evaluates the impact on San Miguel and Santa Fe counties of re-routing NM 50 away from the core battlefield and restoring the Santa Fe Trail to its 1860s condition, allowing park visitors to explore the battlefield in a safe and quiet environment. Projected increases in visitation, income to the area, and new jobs are discussed in detail. Along with the economic study, NPCA issued a brochure summarizing the history of the Glorieta Battlefield and explaining the benefits of re-routing NM 50. Similar projects have relocated roads to the benefit of visitors at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park and Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park. Jemez Pueblo, in northern New Mexico, is contemplating a similar highway relocation away from the center of their historic pueblo. Preservation of the Glorieta Battlefield In 1990, the United States Congress' Civil War Sites Advisory Commission gave the Glorieta Battlefield a preservation priority rating of  I (Class A), the highest possible rating. Priority I sites are those identified as the most important and most threatened Civil War battlefields. The Class A designation was given to sites having a decisive influence on a campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war. In addition to being a National Park unit, Glorieta is on the National Register of Historic Places and the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties, and is a National Historic Landmark. The Battlefield Today courtesy of the National Parks and Conservation Association Seven years after its inclusion into Pecos National Historical Park (a unit of the National Park System), the Glorieta Battlefield remains virtually inaccessible to the public. Because a major road (NM Highway 50) cuts directly through the battlefield, Glorieta is unsafe for pedestrians and practically closed to visitors. There is only one minor interpretive sign at the site (a state highway marker) and no visitor facilities. Although special tours of the battlefield can be arranged with NPS rangers, this labor-intensive approach to interpretation has serious shortcomings. It is increasingly difficult to support due to NPS staff shortages and is probably unacceptable in the long term. The location of "the Gettysburg of the West" is also one of the most threatened Civil War battlefields in the nation. NM 50 takes a terrible toll on the battlefield, and its continued presence bodes poorly for the future of this site. In addition to the visitor access problems it causes, NM 50 and its heavy traffic are the major impact to the visual integrity, historic scene, and natural resources of the battlefield. For example, NM 50 sits just three feet from the historic Pigeon's Ranch building (the only historic structure surviving from the time of the battle). The long-term impact of vibrations to the structure is one reason that this National Historic Landmark has been repeatedly listed as threatened. The State of New Mexico has proposed widening NM 50 to four lanes through the Glorieta Battlefield. The 1996 General Management Plan (GMP) for Pecos correctly concluded that: "Widening NM 50 through the Glorieta unit and the associated traffic, noise, and fumes would adversely affect a historic structure, potential archaeological resources, and the cultural landscape. The combined impacts of this action would threaten the overall integrity of this historic site and would eliminate the opportunity for the National Park Service to effectively interpret the significance of this site to the public. Soils, vegetation, and Glorieta Creek would also be adversely affected during construction and when the highway was operational." The next 12 to 18 months promise to be critical for the Glorieta Battlefield. First, the site is poised to enter a new and important phase of developing citizen support and involvement. If conservationists and the National Park Service can capitalize on this opportunity, the long-term picture for Glorieta will be much brighter. Second, the outcome of the NM 50 issue may be determined, therefore permanently shaping the future for resource integrity, protection and restoration of the battlefield, and the quality of the visitor experience. Santa Fe County and the town of Pecos are both growing rapidly. Land use changes pose new threats to the Glorieta Battlefield. Now is the time for action to forestall further deterioration of the historic resources at the Glorieta Battlefield. This Battlefield Preservation Ring site is owned by P.G. Nagle. Join the Battlefield Preservation Ring! [Skip Prev] [Prev] [Next] [Skip Next] [Random] [Next 5] [List Sites]