Smart risk management is not a simple checkbox. Integrate cultural reviews early to keep your project on schedule, on budget, and moving forward.

Great news for Minnesota! Small Legacy Grants have increased from $10,000 to $20,000. Learn what this means for your project and how to apply…

Grants help communities bring meaningful, inspiring ideas to life. The key is knowing how to connect your project with the right funder, tell your story clearly, and demonstrate that you can deliver what you promise.

We’re excited to announce that 106 Group has expanded into Illinois with the opening of our Chicago office!

Say hello to Bill Walker, Proposal Manager and Cultural Heritage Planner! Bill has decades of experience in interpretation, planning, and cultural resources management.

Meet Lindsey Wallace, recently promoted to Services Director at 106 Group! In her new role, Lindsey provides strategic oversight and direction for our project work.

Say Hi to Alyssa! She’s one of our award-winning graphic designers. She helps plan and design the visual elements for interpretive projects across the US.

Say Hi to Julie Davis! She’s a Senior Interpretive Planner at 106 Group. Unique to Julie is her dynamic career as a researcher, writer, educator, and public historian. She’s also an expert on US and Native American histories.

106 Group, a leading cultural heritage company, is excited to announce a strategic series of promotions across various management roles.

Terminal expansions, runway repairs, hangar upgrades. These are just some of the many airport improvement projects that 106 Group historians and archaeologists contribute to at dozens of airports throughout the region.

CEO Anne Ketz introduces a framework for how to tell truthful stories in interpretive exhibits and heritage planning. She draws directly from the four notions of truth developed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission during the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa. This post is adapted from Anne’s virtual presentation for the 2023 ICOMOS Conference, held in Sydney, Australia.

Last month, Anne Ketz, the CEO of 106 Group, had the distinct honor of addressing an audience at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe. IAIA, an esteemed institution, stands as a beacon of progress in the ongoing empowerment of Native communities. Through its commitment to education, financial support, and the cultivation of self-sufficiency, IAIA exemplifies the transformation that is unfolding within Native communities nationwide.

Imagine you’re just getting started planning an exhibit project. Your team is outlining key themes and topics and you already know you’d like to make your exhibits more accessible with durable tactiles. Great! But wait—there’s more to designing a tactile than meets the eye.

106 Group is thrilled to share that we have been chosen to design a permanent exhibition dedicated to the life and work of Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte, a member of the Omaha Tribe. Dr. Susan was the first Native American doctor. Born shortly after the Civil War, she dedicated her life to public health and land rights for her Omaha people.

How do you ensure that you are providing visitors with inclusive and accessible experiences? Where do you start when planning for interpretive waysides that are accessible to all?

The creation of a long-term exhibit is a multi-step process. Take advantage of these steps to maximize opportunities for discovery that lead to brilliant, unique experiences for your visitors.

Working with the designers, fabricators, media companies, and artists in a single contract can be both efficient and creatively fruitful.

So, you want to create an exhibit. How should you structure your planning process and contract? Here are some things you should know about Design versus Design/Build process (even if your contracting office doesn’t give you a choice).

How do you interpret the history of a place older than the U.S.? Listen to our team’s conversation with the National Park Service at the 2020 National Association for Interpretation National Conference.

National, state, and regional parks have seen overwhelming numbers of visitors amid the pandemic. A dream on paper, this has a downside. Interpretation can be a part of the solution. Consider these strategies used by parks to protect the resources and keep visitors safe.

Award from the National Association of Environmental Professionals for NEPA and Planning Integration.

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.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission that emerged during the dismantling of South Africa’s apartheid system acknowledged four kinds of truth as part of a societal healing process. See how these truths are reflected in recent interpretive planning at Thomas Jefferson’s retreat home, Poplar Forest.

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.

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.

Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial is a place of study and contemplation of some of the most difficult aspects of American history, including military service; sacrifice; citizenship; duty; loyalty; slavery, and freedom. New interpretative exhibits provide a more complex view of the historic site.

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.

At the heart of Saint Paul’s African American history is the Rondo neighborhood. That history is often excluded from mainstream documentation. Now, the Aurora Saint Anthony Neighborhood Development Corporation is trying to change that.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.