NPS - National Park Service

11/07/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/07/2024 15:30

Rachel Davidson selected as superintendent of Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park

News Release Date:
November 7, 2024

Contact: Rachel Daniels, 402-983-1062

The National Park Service (NPS) has selected Rachel Davidson as the superintendent of Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park in Ste. Genevieve, Mo. Davidson has been the Chief of Law Enforcement and Resource Management at Vicksburg National Military Park in Vicksburg, Miss., since 2017. She will assume her new role in January.

"I am pleased to announce Rachel Davidson as the next superintendent of Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park," said NPS Midwest Regional Director Bert Frost. "Her experience with resource management along with her ability to lead teams and build and maintain relationships with a variety of partners make her an excellent choice to lead Ste. Genevieve into the future."

Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park was established as part of the National Park Service in 2020 and is home to one of the highest concentrations of distinctive types of French colonial architecture consisting of vertical logs placed directly into the ground. The town of Ste. Genevieve was established in the 1750s by French colonists when the territory west of the Mississippi River was part of French Louisiana. The area was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1960.

Davidson brings almost 24 years of NPS experience to her new assignment. She began her career working as a seasonal law enforcement ranger at Cape Cod National Seashore and Boston National Historical Park. Davidson's first permanent appointment was at Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park in Maryland. She was fortunate to be in the first Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) class to participate in the NPS's Field Training Program. In 2004, Davidson moved to Mississippi, where she was a park ranger at Natchez Trace Parkway for 13 years, becoming one of their first accident reconstructionists. Davidson's NPS experience also includes serving as acting chief ranger at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve; New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park; and two acting superintendent assignments at Vicksburg National Military Park and Cane River Creole National Historical Park.

"I am honored to be selected as superintendent of Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park," said Davidson. "I look forward to collaborating with our partners, community, and staff. It is so important to tell the amazing stories of our past, so we may grow and learn for our future."

Davidson is excited to bring her family to Ste. Genevieve. They are looking forward to establishing themselves in the community along with their dogs and horses. In their spare time, they enjoy horseback riding, sports, the outdoors, and drama club.