HERITAGE TOURISM & RURAL HERITAGE PROGRAMS

Description
The Rural Heritage Program is dedicated to the recognition and protection of rural historic and cultural resources. Through educational programs, publications, and technical assistance, the Rural Heritage Program supports the efforts of rural communities across the country to both preserve and live with their heritage. The Program works with communities on topics as diverse as farmland preservation, scenic byways, heritage areas and parks, historic roads, and sprawl.

The Heritage Tourism Program provides technical assistance in strategic planning, preservation, tourism development, interpretation and marketing on a fee-for-service basis. The Heritage Tourism Program has also developed a series of "how-to" publications and programs to help individuals and organizations developing cultural heritage tourism programs.

How to Use This Tool
The ideas, principles, and resources offered may be helpful to communities and individuals who want to become involved in the heritage industry. By working closely with rural communities, both programs work together to bring many different types of expertise to a particular project.

Examples

Getting Started: How to Succeed in Heritage Tourism A 48-page four-color guide with the National Trust's time-tested principles and steps for successful and sustainable heritage tourism development.  Updated in 1999 with new economic impact statistics and an updated resource directory.   Touring Historic Places A 16-page guide for group tour operators and managers of historic sites to develop, market, and host group heritage tours.   Preserving Our Past: Building Our Future An 8-minute video describing the economic impact of heritage tourism and other benefits that heritage tourism can provide.   Share Your Heritage: Cultural Heritage Tourism Success Stories An 80-page four-color publication featuring cultural heritage tourism success stories from across the country.  Stories were selected by a national committee including representatives from historic preservation, museums, the arts and the humanities.  This includes Stories Across America: Opportunities in Rural Tourism, a companion 44-page publication of rural tourism success stories.   Share Your Heritage: Cultural Heritage Resource Manual A 45-page publication including descriptive information about 40 national organizations that provide heritage tourism support services.   Share Your Heritage: Who's Who Directory of Statewide Cultural Heritage Tourism Programs A compilation of 2001 survey results from 38 statewide programs.   Forum Journal -- Summer l999: New Directions in Heritage Tourism A 60-page publication focusing on issues of heritage tourism.  It contains eight articles reflecting current trends and initiatives in heritage tourism.

Your Town: Designing Its Future A leadership initiative developed with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts to respond to the design needs of small towns and rural areas. http://www.nationaltrust.org/your_town/index.html   Heritage Areas A place with a distinctive history and geography where residents seek to develop their natural and cultural heritage to enhance the region's well-being. Heritage areas have identifiable, nationally important resources, a story of broad interest to tell, and public-private support for investment in the community. http://www.nationaltrust.org/heritage_tourism/help.html   Historic Roads Roads that through design, experience, or association have contributed to our culture in a meaningful way. http://www.nationaltrust.org/issues/transportation/transportation_reviews2.html     The National Trust has developed a Cultural Heritage Tourism web site as a resource for organizations and individuals who are developing, marketing or managing cultural heritage tourism attractions or programs. http://www.culturalheritagetourism.org/index.html

Contact
Heritage Tourism Program
National Trust for Historic Preservation, Mountains/Plains Office
Amy Jordan Webb, Heritage Tourism Program Director
amy_webb@nthp.org.
Website: http://www.nationaltrust.org/heritage_tourism/help.html

To order the publications listed above: 
     http://www.preservationbooks.org/

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