What’s Happening?

Following are samples of my recent work. Click on a photo to enlarge it.

Interpretation Planning

First page of the Tishomingo State Park interpretation plan.

I’ve enjoyed interpretation planning for Mississippi State Parks. Over the past year and a half I’ve led planning workshops in seven of their state parks and developed those three-day events into phase I interpretive plans which they are now implementing. 

Image of the three-story brick home where the surrender papers were signed. Quarters for enslaved people in back.

Prior to that, I partnered with Halley Fenner to develop the Long-Range Interpretation Plan for Appomattox Courthouse National Historical Park in Virginia.

I met with and interviewed members of the African American community in Natchitoches, Louisiana. From that I developed a research package and an exhibit concept for the restored Texas and Pacific Railroad Depot there. The depot serves as the visitor center for the Cane River Creole National Historical Park.

Interior, looking into the dining room of the Oakland Plantation main house.

Soon after, I teamed with a security specialist and a curator to recommend methods and materials to convert the guided tour of Oakland Plantation’s main house into a self-guided tour. Planning included interpretation, security of structures and objects, and collections care.

Planning group actively listing site resources and tossing them on the floor

For Virginia State Park managers and interpreters, I developed and facilitated a workshop in my interpretive thinking/planning process focusing on using interpretive thinking to enhance the visitor experience.

Certified Interpretive Guide Training

The concepts of interpretation presented in NAIs Certified Interpretive Guide training establish a firm foundation for success, plus, the tenets presented cross over from spoken interpretation to exhibits and publications, making CIG an invaluable asset to every interpreter, docent, tour guide, and manager. I always enjoy teaching this course.

Certified Interpretive Guide training has taken me across the country, and I love to travel. Recent locations have included Memphis, Little Rock, College of the Ozarks near Branson, Missouri, the Mississippi Agriculture Museum and living history site in Jackson, The Ozark Natural Science Center, New Germany State Park in Maryland, the Nicandri Nature Center in Messina, New York, Mineral Wells State Park, Texas, and Pensacola, Florida.

Wayside Exhibits

Recent wayside exhibit projects include:

Photo of five flag-mount wayside exhibits showing Hall of Famers who played on this field.

• Flag-style exhibits featuring Hall of Famers who played on Majestic Field Baseball Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas

• History exhibits for Bryant City Parks

• Entrance signs for Bryant City Parks

• The great 1913 Hot Springs fire

• Wayside exhibits for Twin Falls State Park, West Virginia

 

Twin Falls wayside exhibit with theme, introduction to the park, trail map, and QR code to download the trail map.
Wayside exhibit showing stages of the Great Fire of 1913.