Crafting Your Cultural Roadmap: An Interview with Bill Walker

What First Sparked Your Interest in Cultural Heritage and History?

I’ve always loved stories. I’ve always loved history. But a lot of that came from when I was a kid. I grew up in a rough neighborhood in New York City and my family would do anything to get out of the city. We would take road trips on the weekends to Pennsylvania; we would take long weekends down to Virginia; we would take a week or so to drive all the way from New York to Florida.

But I never really knew I wanted to pursue storytelling and interpretation as a career until my history teacher, Mr. Homelski, told me “You’re pretty good at this stuff.”

Read More on 106 Group’s deep experience with Cultural Heritage Planning Services Here

5 Ways Working in Museums and Parks Has Shaped an Approach to Interpretation and Cultural Heritage Planning

1. Ask Why It Matters

At Salem Maritime NHS (National Historic Site) in Massachusetts, I began my career as an interpretive park ranger, helping visitors understand the national significance of Salem beyond just the witch trials. That interpretive lens — always asking why something matters — continues to shape how I approach cultural resource work.

2. Pair Storytelling with Practicality

I also worked as a part-time curator for the Manchester-by-the-Sea Historical Society, where I used my background in interpretation to create meaningful exhibits with limited resources, transforming collections into engaging public stories. That blend of practical care and narrative purpose taught me how to connect preservation work with public value.

3. Cultural and Natural Resources are Connected

I then took a job as a ranger for Virgin Islands National Park. While working in that position, marine biologists and dive teams in the Virgin Islands introduced me to natural resource management and the importance of protecting sensitive environments. It also showed me how cultural and natural resources are often deeply connected in practice.

4. A Cultural Resource Management Plan is Essential

At Three Rivers, I helped create their first Cultural Resources Management Plan by combining my interpretive instincts with systems-level thinking. That work deepened my understanding of preservation policy, permitting, and how to make cultural resource management actionable for park staff.

5. Build Programs as a Partner

With more than 20 years of experience in interpretation, exhibit work, and natural resources, I am uniquely positioned at 106 Group. Since I have been in the client’s shoes many times, I get to apply that experience as a partner to help people understand their project and how to get the job done right.

Bonus: What’s an Exciting Project You’re Currently Working On?

Right now, I’m part of the team working on a Cultural Resources Management Plan (CRMP) for a large park project in Pennsylvania. What excites me most is that I’ve sat in the very seat our client is in now; I know firsthand how valuable a well-crafted CRMP can be because I used one extensively during my time at Three Rivers. It became a dog-eared, well-worn guidebook for navigating everything from unexpected discoveries during construction to coordinating with SHPO (the State Historic Preservation Office). Now, having the chance to help create that kind of tool for someone else, and knowing the real impact it can have, is incredibly rewarding.

Got a project in mind? Give us a call—we’d love to help.

Bill is a seasoned historian, interpreter, and cultural resources manager with over 25 years of service in the field. His wide-ranging experience with the National Park Service, regional park systems, and a variety of museums and historical societies has taken him all over the country.

Ben is a proposal writer for 106 Group, with a background in copywriting and professional communications.