Collaborate: One
site alone can draw visitors through expensive marketing and
a lot of luck, but groups
of sites
promoting each other can attract droves on a shoestring. In the
brochure for the Furs to Factories heritage trail, the history
of an industry is highlighted and then visitors are directed
to specific sites “for the rest of the story.” Touting
old factories, mills, mines, railroad depots, and natural attractions,
the brochure criss-crosses geopolitical boundaries with only
positive repercussions.
Find
the Fit between the Community and Tourism: At first
blush, the Overhill wasn’t your typical
heritage tourism
destination. But with education and
outreach efforts, TOHA was able to alert the population to the
possibilities of economic gain by sharing the history and lore
of their industry-based hamlets and agricultural lifestyles. “It
was the National Trust that taught us to develop projects and
programs that make the most of our assets. We weren’t expected
to fit into a set mold, but were encouraged to interpret our
industrial heritage and work creatively to make the best of what
we have,” says Caldwell.
Make
Sites and Programs Come Alive: With technical assistance
from the HTI, Tennessee Humanities Council and the Tennessee
Arts Commission, local and regional museums and historic sites
have improved and expanded their interpretative processes. A
new textile museum in Englewood deftly relates
the town’s past as a mill town and includes a play based
on the lives of three textile workers; African-American gospel
choirs enrich performances at
the restored Gem Theater in Etowah; and military reenactments
bring to life the 18th century at reconstructed Fort Loudon.
Focus
on Quality and Authenticity: To maintain authenticity
in its programs, TOHA consults directly with sources. The Cherokee
Heritage Trail, created through a partnership with the Eastern
Band of Cherokee Indians, the North Carolina Arts Council, the
Tennessee Arts Commission, and the Cherokee National Forest,
addresses the issue of presenting authentic Cherokee artists,
history and culture to the public. This has become increasingly
important as non-Cherokees have been presenting themselves as
being of that nation in order to sell their crafts or hire out
as performers.
Preserve
and Protect Resources: Through its complete approach
to heritage tourism in the Overhill, TOHA has shown communities
how to turn themselves around using existing resources. In Englewood,
a community action group joined with TOHA to develop a museum
celebrating the town’s textile heritage. Rehabbing two
abandoned downtown storefronts, the group created the museum.
Next the community action group went to work on two adjacent
storefronts, which they now operate as an antiques mall to
generate funds for the museum and increase visitation to the
town. The group also acquired the home of one
of the first mill owners, which it will restore and use for classes,
public
programs, exhibits, and community meeting space.
Collaborate: One
site alone can draw visitors through expensive marketing and
a lot of luck, but groups
of sites
promoting each other can attract droves on a shoestring. In the
brochure for the Furs to Factories heritage trail, the history
of an industry is highlighted and then visitors are directed
to specific sites “for the rest of the story.” Touting
old factories, mills, mines, railroad depots, and natural attractions,
the brochure criss-crosses geopolitical boundaries with only
positive repercussions. 
Find
the Fit between the Community and Tourism: At first
blush, the Overhill wasn’t your typical
heritage tourism
destination. But with education and
outreach efforts, TOHA was able to alert the population to the
possibilities of economic gain by sharing the history and lore
of their industry-based hamlets and agricultural lifestyles. “It
was the National Trust that taught us to develop projects and
programs that make the most of our assets. We weren’t expected
to fit into a set mold, but were encouraged to interpret our
industrial heritage and work creatively to make the best of what
we have,” says Caldwell.
Make
Sites and Programs Come Alive: With technical assistance
from the HTI, Tennessee Humanities Council and the Tennessee
Arts Commission, local and regional museums and historic sites
have improved and expanded their interpretative processes. A
new textile museum in Englewood deftly relates
the town’s past as a mill town and includes a play based
on the lives of three textile workers; African-American gospel
choirs enrich performances at
the restored Gem Theater in Etowah; and military reenactments
bring to life the 18th century at reconstructed Fort Loudon. 
Focus
on Quality and Authenticity: To maintain authenticity
in its programs, TOHA consults directly with sources. The Cherokee
Heritage Trail, created through a partnership with the Eastern
Band of Cherokee Indians, the North Carolina Arts Council, the
Tennessee Arts Commission, and the Cherokee National Forest,
addresses the issue of presenting authentic Cherokee artists,
history and culture to the public. This has become increasingly
important as non-Cherokees have been presenting themselves as
being of that nation in order to sell their crafts or hire out
as performers. 
Preserve
and Protect Resources: Through its complete approach
to heritage tourism in the Overhill, TOHA has shown communities
how to turn themselves around using existing resources. In Englewood,
a community action group joined with TOHA to develop a museum
celebrating the town’s textile heritage. Rehabbing two
abandoned downtown storefronts, the group created the museum.
Next the community action group went to work on two adjacent
storefronts, which they now operate as an antiques mall to
generate funds for the museum and increase visitation to the
town. The group also acquired the home of one
of the first mill owners, which it will restore and use for classes,
public
programs, exhibits, and community meeting space.
