Boston's Irish Heritage Trail

Having never done the Freedom Trail {I know, I know...but when you live so close to a place, you sort of forget to do things like that -oh, hey that's what my thesis is on - I'm so guilty!} I am quite intrigued by this Irish Heritage Trail that Boston offers in addition.

It's a great example of not only presenting the history of a particular immigrant group in a sustainable way {a mighty influential one in this area}, but also it shows how useful a website can be - how effective an interactive website can be for tourist purposes that is. The image below is what comes up on the main page & each site on the heritage trail is represented by a numbered dot on the map. These dots can then be clicked on for more information - both historical & geographical. Super easy, super helpful.

Also on this website is a section about what places/people/etc "deserve" a site along the heritage trail. This is a really interesting method of showing that the historians/tourism departments work is never done - there is so much to learn/choose from! If this included a message board, or some other way to allow for reader comments, this could be such a great way for locals to be involved in the decision making about the tourism in and around their neighborhoods!

Green Futures: Watuppa/Wampanoag Heritage Trail

Here is something interesting. The group Green Futures worked on creating a 25-mile nature trail around the areas of Fall River & New Bedford.

Objectives {all taken from the above website}

• We wish to make residents and visitors aware of the substantial human history, natural resources and aesthetic qualities of the remaining forested land in this part of southeastern Massachusetts, part of the Taunton River and Buzzard's Bay Watersheds and public open space lands within the Freetown State Forest and the Acushnet Cedar Swamp State Reservation.
  
• We would like to increase the public's understanding of watersheds and the fact that what occurs on a watershed is reflected in the waters that flow from that watershed.
  
• Youth involvement: It would be great to see area youth get involved in the positive activities of trail and environmental management and the creation, research and maintenance of the trails.
  
• Forest users would be given the only long-range trail possible in our urbanizing area; they would become responsive toward the protection of the forest environment and wise stewards if its resources.
  
• By making the forest a pleasant natural area where families can rejoice, recount, reenact and recreate in the aesthetic potential of the forest, community environmental awareness will be heightened.

The trail takes walkers through what once was farmland {prior to residents leaving for jobs in the mills} & the associated relics {taken from website}: "...one can see colonial era mill ruins, mill stones and waterworks; a former granite quarry from which were constructed many of the textile mills and public buildings in this part of Massachusetts; stone boundary walls and animal pounds; cellar holes with old plantings of lilac and day lilies around them; an extensive colony of Hartford (climbing) fern (Lygodium palmatum); a pathway that was once the main road from the new seaport of New Bedford to the County Seat at Taunton; and the Depression Era Civilian Conservation Corps works..."

While a large part of this falls under the category of environmentalism/environmental science {which I am absolutely on board with}, I'm quite intrigued with the incorporation of Native American history & the history of colonial era/pre-industrialized New England farming - both sets of histories that could use some publicity.

Taken from the Save Buzzards Bay newsletter from the Spring of 1999: "The concept for the regional trail emerged in typical grassroots fashion. From a synthesis of environmental and local history interest came an idea to restore the ancient Indian trail between New Bedford and the Taunton River. The Watuppa Wampanoag Heritage Trail not only became an historic and recreational resource, but justified further land protection along its trail corridor."

So, actually, while researching this nature trail. I couldn't really find anything current. I found the mention of Green Futures working on creating it, then I found the newsletters excerpt dating to 1999 mentioning its existence. So, apparently it has been created for awhile. This is why websites need to try their best to stay up to date with current information - especially to aid in research by tourists!

City Within A City: Greater U Street Heritage Trail

I have been staying in DC the past week or so - staying in the U-Street Corridor to be exact. I have noticed these signs before, & have stopped a few times, but with all the time I have during the day to research this visit I actually walked the whole heritage trail. Now, it has been over 100 degrees almost all week {some horrible heat related deaths have apparently occurred!}, so mind you these walks have been done quite early in the morning!

The City Within A City: Greater U Street Heritage Trail, African American Heritage Trail, & Art On Call are all signages {absolutely not a word, but it works here...maybe?} that I have followed this week. I think they are fabulous ideas. Not everyone is going to go through the effort of visiting their local {or not-so-local perhaps} historic society to check on times of guided tours {some offices are only open through reservations anyways}. So, these signs -with a lot of pictures, a map, & just enough information to satiate- are perfect. Some {specifically the Art on Call}, have a "text/call this number for more information" option as well - another great idea!

The signs/boxes have to be weather impermeable, obviously. The idea - presenting local history in a democratic fashion - is also quite sustainable -in my opinion - because it gives information without requiring a paid employee to be a tour guide or the construction {or destruction} of any kind of physical structure -which allows for future generations to make decisions on what stays & what goes.

While traipsing around the above 3 routes I noticed a few key elements required to make this work:

1. Now/Then approach: aka "On this corner in X year, X happened..."

2. Lots of photographs

3. Photographs with informative captions

4. Utilize a general & a specific approach. Present information in such a way to include entire group/audience/etc, but also focus on life/contributions/etc of one individual - a well-known figure to draw people in, but, perhaps, a lesser known individual could be the focus to expand knowledge

5. A map showing current location in a larger geographic setting

6. Perhaps even the use of a historical map

7. Give the option to learn more; either by texting, calling, visiting a website, or even a museum or historic organization.

8. Locate the sign/etc in a well visited spot. Busy street corners seemed to be most popular for the U-Street Heritage Trail, but I also found the Art on Call boxes in front of residences on side streets. I think both could be interesting, because it gives the opportunity to visit underutilized areas & can incorporate more locations to discuss in a historic context.