National Historic Trail
Encyclopedia
National Historic Trail is a designation for a protected area
in the United States
containing historic trails and surrounding areas. They are part of the National Trails System
.
National Historic Trails were authorized under the National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-625), amending the National Trails System Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-543), which had introduced National Scenic Trail
s and National Recreation Trail
s. National Scenic Trails and National Historic Trails may only be designated by an act of Congress.
National Historic Trails are designated to protect the remains of significant overland or water routes to reflect the history of the nation. Most of them are highway routes and are not hiking trails, although they provide opportunities for hiking and other outdoor activities along their routes. One is a water trail
.
Protected area
Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
containing historic trails and surrounding areas. They are part of the National Trails System
National Trails System
The National Trails System was created by the National Trails System Act The Act created a series of National trails "to promote the preservation of, public access to, travel within, and enjoyment and appreciation of the open-air, outdoor areas and historic resources of the Nation." Specifically,...
.
National Historic Trails were authorized under the National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-625), amending the National Trails System Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-543), which had introduced National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail is a designation for protected areas in the United States that consist of trails of particular natural beauty.National Scenic Trails were authorized under the National Trails System Act of 1968 along with National Historic Trails and National Recreation Trails...
s and National Recreation Trail
National Recreation Trail
National Recreation Trail is a designation given to existing trails that contribute to health, conservation, and recreation goals in the United States. Over 1,000 trails in all 50 U.S. states, available for public use and ranging from less than a mile to in length, have been designated as NRTs...
s. National Scenic Trails and National Historic Trails may only be designated by an act of Congress.
National Historic Trails are designated to protect the remains of significant overland or water routes to reflect the history of the nation. Most of them are highway routes and are not hiking trails, although they provide opportunities for hiking and other outdoor activities along their routes. One is a water trail
Water trail
Water trails or Blueways are marked routes on navigable waterways such as rivers, lakes, canals and coastlines for people using small non-motorized boats such as kayaks, canoes, rafts, or rowboats. Some trails may be suitable for float tubing...
.
List of National Historic Trails
| Trail Name | Year Established | Length Authorized |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon National Historic Trail | 1978 | 2170 miles (3,492.3 km) |
| Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail | 1978 | 1300 miles (2,092.1 km) |
| Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail is a route across the United States commemorating the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804 to 1806. It is part of the National Trails System of the United States... |
1978 | 3700 miles (5,954.6 km) |
| Iditarod National Historic Trail | 1978 | 2350 miles (3,781.9 km) |
| Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail The Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail is part of the U.S. National Trails System. It recognizes the Revolutionary War Overmountain Men, Patriots from what is now East Tennessee who crossed the Great Smoky Mountains and then fought in the Battle of Kings Mountain in South... |
1980 | 275 miles (442.6 km) |
| Nez Perce National Historic Trail Nez Perce National Historic Trail The Nez Perce National Historical Trail follows the same journey undertaken by a band of the Nez Perce Indian tribe in 1877 during their attempt to flee the U.S. Cavalry. The 1,170 mile trail was created in 1986 as part of the National Trails System Act and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.... |
1986 | 1170 miles (1,882.9 km) |
| Santa Fe National Historic Trail | 1987 | 1203 miles (1,936 km) |
| Trail of Tears National Historic Trail | 1987 | 2200 miles (3,540.5 km) |
| Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail thumb|325px|MAP: [[Juan Bautista de Anza]] National Historic Trail routes in [[Arizona]] and [[California]].The Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail is a National Park Service unit in the United States National Historic Trail and National Millennium Trail programs... |
1990 | 1200 miles (1,931.2 km) |
| California National Historic Trail | 1992 | 5665 miles (9,116.9 km) |
| Pony Express National Historic Trail | 1992 | 1966 miles (3,164 km) |
| Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail | 1996 | 54 miles (86.9 km) |
| El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail is a part of the United States National Historic Trail system. El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro was a 1,600 mile long trade route between Mexico City and San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico, from 1598 to 1882... |
2000 | 404 miles (650.2 km) |
| Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail is a long trail located on the island of Hawaii. It is not yet a continuous "trail", but can be accessed at several broken segments along the coastline of the Big Island. The trail was established to access the traditional Ancient Hawaiian culture along with... |
2000 | 175 miles (281.6 km) |
| Old Spanish National Historic Trail | 2002 | 2700 miles (4,345.2 km) |
| El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail The El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail is a National Historic Trail covering the U.S. section of the El Camino Real de Los Tejas from 17th century Spanish colonial era in Spanish Texas... |
2004 | 2580 miles (4,152.1 km) |
| Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail The Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail is a series of water routes in the United States extending approximately along the Chesapeake Bay, the nation's largest estuary, and its tributaries in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and in the District of Columbia... |
2006 | 3000 miles (4,828 km) |
| Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail The Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail is a National Historic Trail that commemorates the Chesapeake Campaign of the War of 1812. The 290-mile trail was named after "The Star-Spangled Banner," the national anthem of the United States... |
2008 | 290 miles (466.7 km) |
| Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route The Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route is a 680-mile -long series of encampments and roads used by U.S. Continental Army troops under George Washington and French troops under Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau during their march from Newport, Rhode Island to Yorktown, Virginia in 1781. The route... |
2009 | 600 miles (965.6 km) |
| |Total: | 33002 miles (53,111.4 km) |
See also
- National Recreation TrailNational Recreation TrailNational Recreation Trail is a designation given to existing trails that contribute to health, conservation, and recreation goals in the United States. Over 1,000 trails in all 50 U.S. states, available for public use and ranging from less than a mile to in length, have been designated as NRTs...
- National Scenic TrailNational Scenic TrailNational Scenic Trail is a designation for protected areas in the United States that consist of trails of particular natural beauty.National Scenic Trails were authorized under the National Trails System Act of 1968 along with National Historic Trails and National Recreation Trails...
- Oregon-California Trails AssociationOregon-California Trails AssociationThe Oregon-California Trails Association is an interdisciplinary organization based at Independence, Missouri, United States. OCTA is dedicated to the preservation and protection of overland emigrant trails and the emigrant experience....
- Exploration of North AmericaExploration of North AmericaThe exploration of North America by non-indigenous people was a continuing effort to map and explore the continent of North America. It spanned centuries, and consisted of efforts by numerous people and expeditions from various foreign countries to map the continent...
- National Historic Trails Interpretive CenterNational Historic Trails Interpretive CenterThe National Historic Trails Interpretive Center is a interpretive center about several of the National Historic Trails, and is located northwest of Casper, Wyoming on Interstate 25. It is operated through a partnership between the Bureau of Land Management, the City of Casper, and the National...
- National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive CenterNational Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive CenterThe National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is a interpretive center about the Oregon Trail located northeast of Baker City, Oregon on Oregon Route 86 atop Flagstaff Hill...