Ok basically I am using the terrantribune template, but I think my question doesn't specifically apply to this template.
What I need to do is split this template up so I can have a header and footer file that is separate.
Plus I need to have it so that the header and footer files can each (separately) be loaded in the webbrower as HTML files. ie. header will still render as html if I type
www.mysite.com/header.php
My guess is to use Apache to achieve the .html part of the file in the browser with rewrite.