The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route: Statement of National Significance, Revised Draft Report
Selig RA. 2003. The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route: Statement of National Significance, Revised Draft Report. Goody, Clancy & Associates
Congress authorized the National Park Service to identify the range of resources and themes associated with the route; identify alternatives for NPS involvement with the route’s preservation and interpretation; and provide cost estimates for any acquisition, development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance associated with the alternatives presented in the study (PL 106-473). Although the study authorization was not structured as a proposed National Historic Trail (NHT) under the National Trails System Act (16 USC 1241 et seq.), the study will apply the criteria of the Act to determine the feasibility and desirability of designation as one alternative for NPS involvement. To qualify for designation as an NHT the route must meet three criteria: (1) It must be a trail or route established by historic use and be historically significant as a result of that use. The route need not currently exist as a discernible trail to qualify, but its location must be sufficiently known to permit evaluation of its public-recreation and historical-interest potential. A designated trail should generally accurately follow the historic route, but may deviate somewhat on occasion of necessity to avoid difficult routing through subsequent development, or to provide some route variations offering a more pleasurable recreational experience. Such deviations shall be so noted on site. Trail segments no longer passable due to subsequent development as motorized transportation routes may be designated and marked on site as segments that link to the historic trail.