Al Hester, Historic Sites Coordinator, South Carolina State Park Service
Proposal Type: Roundtable
Seeking: Additional Presenters, Specific Expertise,General Feedback and Interest
Abstract: Historic sites have long used cultural landscapes as a tool for historical interpretation. But sometimes we (even as public historians) have used landscapes just like we have used historic structures, with a narrow focus on an exclusive past. At many historic sites, the landscape serves primarily as a scenic backdrop for the story, rather than a resource that can help us understand issues of power and relationships between landowners, residents, workers and communities. This roundtable can explore some of the ways that landscapes can expand and enrich the stories told at these sites and pose some of the following questions: Are traditional means, such as interpretive waysides, enough? Or should physical resources be altered to make their meanings more accessible to visitors? For example, should a rice field be restored at a plantation to help visitors understand the role of slaves in that kind of agriculture? How can we use digital means to bring these places to life? Can “immersive virtual landscape” simulations improve visitor understanding and at the same time keep us from physically damaging site integrity? Should our approach move beyond simply viewing and talking about landscapes to embracing actual use of them at historic sites by traditionally associated communities? Can historic uses such as agriculture, stock-raising, firewood collection, timber harvest, and so forth, help maintain cultural landscapes? Does a preservation-focused mission and public ownership of a property preclude a continuation of traditional uses of the land?
Seeking: Ideally, this roundtable discussion would focus on successful examples of historic sites where cultural landscape interpretation has reinvigorated visitor experiences and created more inclusive narratives. Participants would briefly describe a case study that illustrates the process. For example, I’d like to present on past concerns and recent work at Hampton Plantation State Historic Site (a former rice plantation in the South Carolina Lowcountry), and others could present additional case studies that provide a variety of perspectives and geographical diversity. The remainder of the session could consist of discussions about additional methods, or best practices, which can be used to achieve this goal. I’m looking for additional panelists and a moderator/facilitator,and certainly need feedback on developing the proposal.
If you have a direct offer of assistance, sensitive criticism, or wish to share contact information for other people the proposer should reach out to, please get in contact directly: Al Hester,ahester[at]scprt.com
If you have general ideas or feedback to share please feel free to use the comments feature below.
All feedback, and offers of assistance, should be submitted by July 3, 2015.
Related Topics: Museums/Exhibits, Place
You might think about looking at Lincoln’s Cottage in Washington, DC. They took a house museum and took out all of the material culture and instead focus on the stories that the house can tell through innovative digital tools.
Thanks Mattea! I will definitely see if I can find out more about their approach at Lincoln’s Cottage.
Al