Upcoming Historical Tourism Adventure

In September my partner is attending a work conference just outside of Washington, DC.  I've decided I'm going to tag along on the trip and explore some of historic sites, museums, and general history goodness in the area. So far I've come up with a few must see places, but I would love to hear … Continue reading Upcoming Historical Tourism Adventure

Heritage on Mackinac Island

 Last month I spent a day on Mackinac Island in Michigan.  This excursion was filled with heritage gawking and a visits to living history sites. Some of the trips’ highlights include: Seeing the vibrant outreach programming at the St. Ignace Museums.  Each Friday night during the summer months the St. Ignace museums put on educational programming.  … Continue reading Heritage on Mackinac Island

National vs. Community Museums

In many of our public history classes earlier this year we examined some of the pros and cons of working at small and big museums. The point most often brought up was that small museums often lack funding to hire many (or any) full-time employees. Conversely, the bureaucratic structure of many large museums does not … Continue reading National vs. Community Museums

Upper Canada Villiage: Historical Tourism or Commericalism?

Should heritage facilities and organizations be restricted to featuring historically correct events? Any reputable museum or similar institution should have a mandate which outlines which historical period the institution focuses on. However, during times of economic hardship can historical institutions be blamed for attempting to attract visitors by reaching outside of their mandate?This past Saturday … Continue reading Upper Canada Villiage: Historical Tourism or Commericalism?