In light of concerns related to COVID-19, we wanted to reach out with a message of support to clients and colleagues. Like all of you, our first priorities now are for our families, our community, and our staff. We have been amazed by the overwhelming sense of community we are witnessing. With that, we want to assure you that our firm is healthy, fully functioning, and ready to meet your needs. For the past few weeks, we’ve been taking proactive measures to prepare and support our staff, confirm that our work environments are functional, and to ensure we can continue... Read More →

We are now accepting proposals for an artist to develop artwork for interpretive signage at Garman Nature Preserve in Waterloo and Indian Mounds County Park in Jefferson County, Wisconsin.

Your audiences have increased expectations and deserve unique experiences. Operating budgets are tight. How do you ensure that you are providing visitors with inclusive and accessible experiences? With thoughtful planning, one can create engaging exhibits designed for multi-generational, multisensory-attuned, and culturally and linguistically diverse audiences.

We are honored to have been a contributor to the Saint Paul African American Historic and Cultural Context. The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) recently recognized this document with an Award of Excellence.

Juliet Ogembo has joined 106 Group as a Community Engagement & Legal Specialist. In her new role, Juliet will support our public engagement, planning, interpretation, and cultural resources projects.

Julie Davis, PhD, has joined 106 Group as a Senior Interpretive Planner. In her new role, Julie will lead interpretive planning and exhibit development projects for cultural sites and museums.

The Flying Cloud Drive Reconstruction included support from Dakota tribes to interpret the significant number of artifacts including stone tools, pottery fragments, and animal remains, that were recovered throughout the archaeological investigations.

Jenny Bring recently attended the National Association of Environmental Professionals Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, where she participated in a panel presentation on Implementing Executive Order (EO) 13807, which aims to streamline the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process.

106 Group is completing a CRMP at Point State Park that will guide long-term protection of cultural and historic resources at this iconic urban park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

This is the third and final article in a series examining the role that cultural competency plays in the community engagement process.

Our interpretive planners and designers share some sights from their recent trip to Joshua Tree National Park, where we are developing new wayside exhibits.

Our historian follows one community’s path to healing in the wake of destruction by transportation infrastructure.

Members of 106 Group are attending the 21st General Assembly and International Symposium ‘Heritage as a Builder of Peace’. During this international event, our staff are presenting on “Managing the Impacts of Cruise Ship Tourism” and “Truth and Reconciliation through Heritage Management and Interpretation”.

Our archaeology team presents special findings and uncovered histories at Water Works—a park with a unique design that incorporates a complex historical landscape consisting of the ruins of 19th-century sawmills and flour mills.

This is the second article in a series examining the role that cultural competency plays in the community engagement process.

Our CEO and Services Director, Anne Ketz, has been re-elected as VP to ICIP for the International Council for Monuments and Sites. In this role, she continues her work to preserve, protect, and uncover the stories beyond the hundreds of heritage sites around the world.

This is the first article in a series examining the role that cultural competency plays in the community engagement process.

What is accessibility and why is it so important? Through the lens of human senses, explore how you can be more effective at making exhibits for everyone.

We are proud to announce that our work with Andersen Engineering and the MN VA to renovate Fort Snelling's Building 222 is a recipient of the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota’s Impact award.

On the east side of Saint Paul, Minnesota, at the base of an impressive bluff line, is a cave that the Dakota call Wakan Tipi and that Euro Americans have named Carver’s Cave. This cave has long held importance for both cultures, but its significance is no longer apparent to visitors.

Three of 106 Group's architectural historians attended the Society of Architectural Historians' annual conference in Saint Paul from April 18-22. Here are their thoughts and reflections on the conference as well as downloadable copies of the papers they presented.

Steve Boyd-Smith, Creative Director at 106 Group, is the recipient of the NAI Heartland Region’s 2018 Master Interpretive Manager Award. Steve’s decades of interpretive experience have enriched 106 Group’s work around the country. In this interview, he shares his thoughts on his long career and what interpretation might look like in the future.

In honor of World Heritage Day, Communication Associate Michael Swearingen sat down with two of our employees to talk about their favorite heritage sites and 106 Group project work.

Regine Kennedy shares her top community engagement tips after attending the Minnesota Transportation Conference. After years of experience in the fields of engagement and interpretation, Kennedy brings new light to this incredibly valuable service.

Our very own Chris Evans reflects on the state of interpretation in museums. With interviews from industry leaders, Evans discusses the common practice of leaving exhibits intentionally void of interpretation, where interpretation has a foothold in the museum industry, and tips for interpreters who find themselves working with/for museums.

This past week our team led a workshop-style session at NAI’s National Conference in Corpus Christi, TX. We often work with content experts to develop exhibits. And it can be a challenge to peel away layers of complex details to get to the meaningful stuff: how to help visitors find, do, or understand what’s right in front of them.  During this session, we used best practices of plain language as a guide for writing better interpretive labels. Participants learned how to organize research with a content mapping worksheet, develop story with sensory cues, and edit for clarity. Feel free to download and share our presentation slides and content mapping worksheet.

The Interpret Europe: Mechelen 2016 conference recently explored how heritage interpretation can help evolving communities approach issues such as human rights, peace, and active citizenship. Anne Ketz' paper, "Interpretive Planning Methods and Processes as an Effective Mechanism for Community Building," was presented at the conference. Through her work with historically disenfranchised groups in the United States, Anne reflects on lessons learned from the interpretive planning process. Her recommendations have worldwide applications for breaking down stereotypes, building empathy, and working toward reconciliation.

106 Group senior designer Chris Evans joined a team of panelists to present "Stronger Together: How Digital Media Adds Layers to Guided Interpretation" at the National Association for Interpretation’s 2015 Annual Workshop in Virginia Beach. This packed session generated a lively discussion among interpreters about the rising use of digital media. Our post-conference living document captures the ongoing conversation about creative uses of technology at historic sites.

How can we develop community workshops that get beyond the buzzwords and create truly meaningful collaboration with diverse audiences? Our senior exhibit developer, Maggie Schmidt, calls for building capacity—skills, knowledge, and authority—with all participants involved.

Many people have the same questions about choosing interpretive media. Which media is best for my story? What resources do I need? How do I get started? Let’s ask a few key questions, consider some details, and point you in the right direction to select media for your outdoor site.

In a rapidly changing world where local communities are becoming more diverse, and needing to be more holistic in their thinking, public engagement can get people talking, learning from each other, and working together to identify problems and create solutions. Community planners often struggle to effectively reach out and engage a broad spectrum of the community. It is important to extend beyond the typical meeting-goers. What about the young, the elderly, the new immigrants, and so many others who typically do not attend public meetings? Here are our top 10 suggestions.

We have been participating in the Great River Gathering for many years. Over this time, 106 Group has been a proud participant in dozens of successful redevelopment projects in St. Paul. From the construction of the new Wabasha Bridge to the redevelopments of Harriet Island and the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary. Our work includes award-winning interpretation at the restored St. Paul Municipal Grain Terminal to St Paul’s first preservation plan.

What does it mean to call a place a site of conscience? While the word conscience has associations with fairness and justice, the stories surrounding these sites most often describe situations where there was an overwhelming lack of both these things. Regine Kennedy’s presentation explores the challenges of interpreting sites of conscience through a series of project case studies.