First Ladies National Historic Site
First Annual
Centennial Strategy for
First Ladies National Historic
Site
August 2007
Site:
FILA
Year:
2007
Vision Statement
First Ladies National Historic Site (FILA), in Canton, Ohio, was established in 2000.
It commemorates the First Ladies’ contributions to American society by preserving and
interpreting the role and history of First Ladies. The 0.33 acre site includes a 19th
century home of Ida Saxton McKinley (the House). The National Park Service (NPS) may
accept through donation the City National Bank Building, now the Education and Research
Center, currently owned by the NPS’ operating partner at the site, the National First
Ladies’ Library (NFLL).
The park completed the General Management Plan in 2006. The NFLL is a vital component
of the success of the park. It is anticipated that the relationship between the NPS and
the NFLL, through the Cooperative Agreement, will continue to be viable and productive.
Visitor use of the park may fluctuate based on economic condition, cost of
transportation, and willingness of the public to travel and engage in tourism. Unlike
most NPS sites, FILA's resources to research, interpret, and preserve will continue to
expand as new First Ladies are added to our country's history. At some point there will
be a female president, which will add a "First Gentleman" to the stories to be told.
Vision For The Future
FILA is essentially a new, developing park. The Centennial Initiative affords
opportunities to move the park into its next stage by:
• strengthening the partnership with the NFLL,
• assisting the NFLL in its operations at the site,
• establishing FILA as a vibrant participant in the lives and activities of the local
community,
• increasing the educational impact and outreach about the story of the First Ladies
• implementing the NPS standards of cultural preservation to the collections, and
implementing segments of the GMP.
In the FY08 proposed budget there is funding to provide for the hiring of seasonal
staff for additional educational and interpretive programming at First Ladies.
The presence of FILA in a densely-populated area of northeast Ohio (the Greater Akron-
Canton area) gives it the potential to reach a multitude of visitors and local
residents with the FILA, and the NPS national, messages of stewardship and caring for
our national treasures.
The vision goals at FILA primarily reflect the following national goals of the
Centennial Initiative:
• Stewardship
• Education
• Professional Excellence
Park/ Superintendent/ Program Manager
Carol J. Spears/Site Manager
Site:
FILA
STEWARDSHIP
X
Improve the condition of park resources and assets.
X
Complete all cultural resource inventories for designated priority resources.
Provide professional expertise and guidance to NFLL in preparing a
Collections Management Plan.
The work described currently is supported by OFS and/ or PMIS
X
Other Park/ Program performance goal(s)
Provide professional expertise to NFLL in the management and preservation of
the site's cultural collections.
The work described currently is supported by OFS and/ or PMIS
Site:
FILA
STEWARDSHIP
X
Assure that no compelling chapter in the American heritage experience remains
untold and that strategically important landscapes are acquired, as authorized by
Congress.
X
Other Park/ Program performance goal(s)
Assist the NFLL in its research on First Ladies and in incorporating the
stories of subsequent First Ladies.
The work described currently is supported by OFS and/ or PMIS
Site:
FILA
ENVIRONMENT
X
Engage partners, communities, and visitors in shared environmental stewardship.
X
Other Park/ Program performance goal(s)
Collaborate with NFLL in purchasing "green" products, incorporating
alternative energy sources, and utilizing methods of conserving energy.
The work described currently is supported by OFS and/ or PMIS
Site:
FILA
RECREATION
X
Focus national, regional, and local tourism efforts to reach diverse audiences
and young people and to attract visitors to lesser-known parks.
X
Increase visitation by 25 percent at lesser-known parks through a national
tourism effort aimed at helping people to discover the breadth of parks and
experiences.
Increase park visitation by 100% (from 10,000 per year to 20,000 per year) by
September 30, 2015.
The work described currently is supported by OFS and/ or PMIS
X
Increase the number of visitors that attend ranger-facilitated programs such
as campfire talks, hikes, and school programs.
Increase by 100% the number of visitors who partake in guided tours of the
Saxton House by September 30, 2015. Assist the NFLL in utilizing the ERC to
provide learning experiences in cultural preservation to school groups and
general public.
The work described currently is supported by OFS and/ or PMIS
X
Other Park/ Program performance goal(s)
Assist the NFLL in marketing techniques to diverse audiences and young
people.
The work described currently is supported by OFS and/ or PMIS
Site:
FILA
EDUCATION
X
Cooperate with educators to provide curriculum materials, high-quality programs,
and park-based and online learning.
X
Other Park/ Program performance goal(s)
Assist the NFLL to work with local educators to create high-quality,
interactive programs in online learning, using the on-line library of the
Education and Research Center.
The work described currently is supported by OFS and/ or PMIS
Site:
FILA
EDUCATION
X
Introduce young people and their families to national parks by using exciting
media and technology.
X
Other Park/ Program performance goal(s)
Produce an interactive, sensory-immersion orientation video to the site
through a CI Signature Project in FY 08.
X
The work described currently is supported by OFS and/ or PMIS
Site:
FILA
PROFESSIONALISM
X
Promote a safety and health culture for all employees and visitors.
X
Other Park/ Program performance goal(s)
Work with NFLL staff to conduct safety inspections, educate staff and
volunteers about working safely, and work with local safety authorities to
provide training in First Aid, CPR, and AED.
The work described currently is supported by OFS and/ or PMIS
Site:
FILA
PROFESSIONALISM
X
Model what it means to work in partnership.
X
Other Park/ Program performance goal(s)
Maintain the working relationship between the NPS and NFLL through the
Cooperative Agreement and through joint planning and implementation.
X
The work described currently is supported by OFS and/ or PMIS
