Santa Fe de Antoiqua - Columbia

The conference on heritage tourism that was held at the historic colonial city of Santa Fe de Antioqua was a great success. Even though I was the only US speaker, I met many wonderful people and despite the language barrier we managed to have some great conversations. Columbia is a real undiscovered treasure for heritage tourists from the US, Asia, and Europe to discover. The small historic cities that were focused on during the conference are real historic treasures too. We experienced some really great regional food, music and cultural events. And the folks who put the conference together were wonderful and very professional. Also, there were no issues about security of safety either. This is a place ready for tourism development. All in all, I was impressed by what I saw and experienced and hope to return again. Some pics of the conference hotel.

Off to Columbia

Tomorrow I am off to Columbia, South America to participate in the Congreso de la Red de Pueblos, Patrimonio de Columbia. Some photos are shown on a previous blog entry. Will post more once I am there. Cheers, jv

Chestnut Trust Field Work

Spent the past week at the American Chestnut Land Trust working on their interpretive plan and walking trails. They do have some amazing trails for the region. The land they manage were historically tobacco farm fields and they are interpreting the recovery and succession of those historic farms and fields back to a natural environment. Hot work in the 90+ degrees days. Some trail views.

Dalton Landscape Museum

I was just notified that JVA was awarded the contract to do the Interpretive Master Plan for the City of Dalton (Georgia) Civil War Landscape Museum. The Landscape Museum concept is a fairly new one. Think of the city, region of County as "the museum", and each historic site or facility within it as the "exhibit galleries". Then each of the exhibits in that facility as the gallery exhibits. We will begin this new and innovative project in August with an extensive inventory of Civil War sites (historic homes, depots, battlefields, cemeteries and other related locations within and just outside of the City Limits of Dalton. Having done a few other projects in the area for Prater's Mill, I am familiar with many of the historic sites that will be included in the plan. Ultimately a driving tour "museum guide" will be developed as part of the heritage tourism plan for the city. The photo is of a civil war Confiderate Army Artillary cannon implacement earth work site located near Dalton, and a graphic of how the site would have looked when active.

Off to Columbia, South America

I have been invited to present some sessions at the Congreso de la Red de Pueblos Patrimonio de Colombia for the town of Santa Fe de Antioquia, Columbia. All of the town is a historical site; the architecture that has survived through the years gives Santa Fe de Antioquia the aspect of a city "suspended" in the colonial era, which is the reason the city was declared National monument. My sessions will focus on heritage site interpretation for the town. I will be working there from the 27th of July to the 2nd of August. You can learn more about this historic town at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Fe_de_Antioquia. Here are a few pics of the town.

Back in KY with Abraham Lincoln Birthplace

Back in KY working with the NPS doing the Interpretive Plan for the Abraham Lincoln Brithplace National Historical Park (and the Abraham Lincoln Boyhood Home NHP). We were on the trails today - 95 degrees here today too. Hope to have the draft interpretive plan done by next week. Heading home on Thursday. Here are some photos from the park and visitor center.