[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 115 (Thursday, July 28, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5013-S5014]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

  Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, today I join Senator Mike 
Johanns and Congressman Adrian Smith of Nebraska in paying tribute to 
the National Park Service, which will be celebrating its 95th 
anniversary this year on August 25, 2011.
  The National Park Service currently administers 394 units across 49 
States and U.S. territories, including five National Park Service units 
in our home State of Nebraska. These units consist of the Agate Fossil 
Beds National Monument, Homestead National Monument of America, 
Missouri National Recreational River, Niobrara National Scenic River, 
and Scotts Bluff National Monument. In addition, the National Park 
Service administers five National Historic Trails, including the 
California, Oregon, Pony Express, Mormon, and Lewis and Clark.
  National Park areas generate $12 billion in tourism dollars to local 
economies, creating 247,000 private-sector jobs. Within Nebraska, 
National Park Service units generate approximately 8.8 million in 
tourism dollars and create approximately 170 private-sector jobs. And 
in western Nebraska, Agate Fossil Beds and Scotts Bluff monuments, 
along with the Chimney Rock National Historic Site, which is an 
affiliated area of the National Park Service, generate close to $3 
million in tourism dollars and create 90 private-sector jobs.
  Nebraska has been supportive of the mission of the National Park 
Service even before the agency existed. In fact, in 1914, 2 years 
before the National Park Service was created, citizens in the 
Scottsbluff/Gering area sought to get a National Park or Monument 
established. Prominent local champions included elected officials and 
newspaper editor, A.B.Wood.
  Scotts Bluff National Monument is named for a fur trapper by the name 
of Hiram Scott who was wounded and deserted by his companions in 1828. 
He gained immortality by making his way to a magnificent formation of 
bluffs along the North Platte River before succumbing to his wounds. It 
was for Hiram Scott that Scotts Bluff National Monument, Scotts Bluff 
County, and the city of Scottsbluff have been named.
  Scotts Bluff National Monument, which rises 4,649 feet above sea 
level, was an imposing landmark which guided wagon trains along the 
California, Oregon, Pony Express, and Mormon Trails. Native Americans 
originally called this natural formation ma-a-pa-te, which translates 
into ``hill that is hard to go around.''
  The Summit Road to the top of the bluff was completed in 1937, 
allowing visitors to drive to experience the spectacular view of the 
valley 800 feet below. This road is the oldest existing concrete road 
in Nebraska and includes the only three automobile tunnels in our 
State.
  In the Scottsbluff/Gering area, numerous events to commemorate the 
95th anniversary of the National Park Service have been scheduled for 
August 2011, beginning with a Kick-Off Ceremony at Scotts Bluff 
National Monument on August 12, 2011. Platte Valley Attractions, a 
coalition of visitor venues in and around the area, is hosting a 
variety of events and special exhibits through grants and donations 
from local and regional sponsors to commemorate the theme, ``Westward 
Expansion as seen through National Parks,'' including: Farm and Ranch 
Museum is hosting westward expansion orientation films and an 
interactive exhibit of westward expansion transportation methods.
  Midwest Theater is hosting both the premiere of a new documentary 
film on the Pony Express and a film by Ken Burns on America's National 
Parks.
  North Platte Valley Museum is hosting a westward expansion map 
exhibit.
  Western Nebraska Community College is hosting a seminar, 
``Recognizing and Preserving Westward Expansion,'' with speakers who 
are all nationally recognized in their fields.
  Western Nebraska Community College sponsored a summer youth camp that 
developed posters to help promote these commemorative events.
  Again, on behalf of the people of Nebraska, we offer our 
congratulations to Scotts Bluff National Monument on its Kick-Off 
Ceremony and the National Park Service on its 95th anniversary.

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