A commitment to cultural heritage tourism best practices is a commitment to inspiration and education in the following categories: itineraries; linking preservation to tourism; planning; quality standards; and websites.
1. Itineraries: Articles about, and examples of, great cultural heritage tourism itineraries—both in Colorado and around the country.
2. Linking Preservation to Tourism: A community's historic buildings, monuments and sites are often its best cultural heritage tourism attractions. Find out what communities are doing to link their preservation efforts to cultural heritage tourism.
3. Planning: Planning tools that help communities create environments conducive to cultural heritage tourism.
4. Quality Standards: Authenticity is an important consideration for cultural heritage travelers. Quality standards and seals of approval are ways of ensuring visitors know what attractions and products are authentic.
5. Websites: Cultural heritage travelers rely heavily on websites for information. Check out examples of attractive, easy-to-use and instructive websites.
1. Itineraries:
Arizona Heritage Traveler
This website arranges itineraries around location and time, instead of a set pathway. While the website offers the ability to create an itinerary, the real advantage is the organization of attractions. Tourists select their location and how much time they have available (half day, one day, two days or three days). Suggestions are then made accordingly (an example: “Don’t miss Arizona Historical Society Museum and San Xavier del Bac Mission. Visit Kitt Peak at night and stay overnight in Tucson.”) Each item is linked to a description and information.
www.azhistorytraveler.org/templates/section-view.php?nid=2&id=7
Cultural Tourism Itinerary Building Blocks: Creating a Michigan Experience Tour
This article discusses considerations when preparing an itinerary. After describing types of tours and objectives that must be achieved, a checklist is provided to ensure accuracy and thoroughness. A provided outline suggests ideas and considerations, such as including a theme, or omitting places that might not be equipped for tourism. Other considerations, such as tone and arrangement, are also discussed in this short, seven-page article.
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Handmade In America (HiA)
Handmade in America is a not-for-profit, North Carolina-based organization best known for its Craft Heritage Trails program, which provides pre-made itineraries based around craft producers. HiA also promotes and runs an agri-tourism program (the Farms, Gardens and Countryside Trails) that seeks to help sustain agricultural communities and connect people with the rural traditions of North Carolina.
www.handmadeinamerica.org/tourism/tourism.php
Tours and Trails—Cultural Tourism DC
This area of the Cultural Tourism DC website describes seven neighborhood heritage trails, and provides information on twenty guided tours in the Washington, DC area. The self-guided tours are organized around a number of poster-sized signs providing information, maps and photographs about key stops along the trail. Approximate times are listed, along with more detailed information and downloadable maps. The website also allows users to add items to trip planners.
www.culturaltourismdc.org/information2546/information.htm
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2. Linking Preservation to Tourism:
Creede Repertory Theater
With the decline of the area's mining industry, the Creede Repertory Theater was created to attract summer visitors and spur economic development in the town of Creede. The Creede Repertory Theater has since become a fixture, with an annual economic impact of $2 million. It serves as an economic cornerstone of the town, drawing in visitors who then patronize other businesses. www.creederep.org
Crow Canyon Archaeological Center
The Crow Canyon Archaeological Center in Cortez, Colorado, produces some of the leading research on the Ancestral Pueblo (Anasazi) occupation of the Mesa Verde region. Through education, research and cultural programs involving American Indians, Crow Canyon offers the traveling public an opportunity to engage some of the most significant archaeological sites in the Mesa Verde region and around the world. In 1992, the center won the President's Award for Historic Preservation—the Nation's highest award for privately funded preservation achievements—because of the manner in which its programs instill an ethic of preservation stewardship among the traveling public. www.crowcanyon.org
Historic Denver, Inc.
Historic Denver seeks to "preserve Denver's significant historic fabric, its distinctive architecture and its cultural landscapes, which are tangible reflections of our heritage and the foundation of our quality of life." The organization provides a wide range of information on the landmarking process, preservation practices, easements, and the history of Denver, and produces some of the best architectural history tours in the state. historicdenver.org
Historic Georgetown, Inc.
Historic Georgetown, Inc. (HGI) is a nonprofit corporation "created to initiate, encourage and integrate efforts to preserve the rich heritage of the Georgetown/Silver Plume National Historic Landmark District." HGI's efforts have impacted 216 historic properties, and have provided the foundation for the town's economic base—heritage tourism. HGI develops strong interpretive programs based on its historic buildings, and works to integrate the websites and publications of various local attractions to maximize exposure to tourists. www.historicgeorgetown.org
Private South Park Colorado Fly-Fishing
This program gives anglers the opportunity to fish private ranches that were previously not accessible to the public. Great Outdoors Colorado money was used to secure six ranch leases, and anglers are charged a nominal daily rod fee that is split between the ranchers and the program. Program revenues are used to manage each property and to secure additional fishing leases. The website features descriptions of each stream and lease, a reservation system and links to lodging and the weather report. www.southparktrout.com
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3. Planning:
Town of Georgetown Design Guidelines
In order to maintain its historic appearance and feel, Georgetown has established and published design guidelines for building construction and rehabilitation. The town is divided into four design districts which are further divided into character areas. For each character area, the document explains in plain language what the characteristics of historic buildings are, and how to replicate and enhance these patterns. The guidelines are located in the "Land Use Regulations" section of Georgetown's municipal code and are available online. A Design Review Commission reviews applications to determine their appropriateness. www.town.georgetown.co.us/drc/drcbk1ch1.html
Lake City Design Guidelines
The Lake City Design Guidelines acknowledge the importance of preserving the community's historic appearance for tourism and economic reasons. The guidelines break the town into three areas: the Residential Treatment Area, the Business Treatment Area and the Complimentary Treatment Area. Within each area there are sections that cover new construction and restoration. The document features pictures and diagrams to explain architectural features and how the standards apply.
Lake City Design Guidelines (13 MB)
The Park County Land & Water Trust (PCLWT)
The focus of PCLWT is water-resources protection, but by protecting water resources, they are also protecting and enhancing the agrarian landscape of Park County. The PCLWT leverages revenue generated from sales tax with state, federal and private grants, to purchase conservation easements, restore stream and riparian habitat, interpret natural resources, and lease private ranches for public fishing access through the South Park Fly-Fishers Program. www.parkcountytrust.org
State Of Maryland Arts Districts
The State of Maryland created the Arts District Program to encourage the creation and preservation of districts with arts-based economies. Cities and counties nominate the districts for at least a 10-year period. During that time, there are property tax breaks that keep rents and ownership affordable after the area becomes more desirable and expensive. Also, there is an income tax credit for revenue generated by art. www.stationnorth.org
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4. Quality Standards:
Alaska's Silver Hand Permit Program
The Alaska State Council on the Arts created the Silver Hand Permit program to give consumers a guarantee that they were purchasing an authentic piece of American Indian art. It also gives native artists protection from competitors masquerading non-native art as authentic. The guidelines set up for a Silver Hand Permit require that the artist be an Alaskan Native American, that the product is made entirely by that person, and that it be made from indigenous, natural materials. www.eed.state.ak.us/aksca/Native.htm
Kentucky Crafted
The Kentucky Crafted Marketing Program, a division of the Kentucky Arts Council, promotes Kentucky crafts that meet high standards of authenticity. A Kentucky Craft Marketing Handbook sets the criteria: Craftspeople must be Kentucky residents, must produce their product within the state, and must be approved by a seven-person jury. The program supports craft artists by organizing events such as the annual "Kentucky Crafted: The Market", and by providing technical assistance, networking opportunities, mentoring and funding. www.kycraft.org
Lancaster County
As part of the Pennsylvania Heritage Tourism Initiative, Lancaster County created authenticity guidelines to showcase authentic heritage sites and businesses, and to distinguish them from less authentic enterprises marketing themselves as heritage attractions. The guidelines categorize attractions into heritage sites, heritage services, or heritage events, and provide criteria to be met in each area. Approved attractions are listed on various maps, lists, and other resources. Once approved, these attractions are inspected to ensure continued adherence to guidelines. http://www.lancastercountyheritage.com
/heritage/cwp/view.asp?a=11&q=512158&heritageNav=|6445|
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5. Websites:
Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area
The strength of this website lies in its logical use of "areas of interest," and the ability for the prospective traveler to search out attractions that go with a chosen area of interest. The search function also ranks attractions into three categories, "absolutely must see," "highly recommended" and "special interest," which allows a visitor without much familiarity of the region to get an idea of what is worth seeing. Suggested itineraries base trips around a theme or area of interest. www.hudsonrivervalley.com
Lancaster-York Heritage Region
This website's strengths lie in its clear structure and organization around the five themes of bounty, ingenuity, freedom, town and countryside, and natural wonders. Another strength is the mapping function, which allows visitors to pick out attractions, create an itinerary and get directions. www.lyhr.org
Texas Heritage Trails Websites
The Texas Heritage Trails websites are designed and branded to function as individual sites, each serving a broader, statewide heritage tourism program. Visitors will find a similar look, feel and navigational structure on all ten sites. The websites are managed regionally, have a shared host, and possess identical reporting capabilities. The Texas Historical Commission provides general oversight. www.thc.state.tx.us
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updated: 02/12/07