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).
We are proud to announce that Anne Ketz, our CEO and Services Director, has become an American citizen.
106 Group was selected to present a session at the recent National Association of Environmental Professionals Conference. Our presentation shone a light on the confluence of natural and cultural resources, and how to effectively address them in projects requiring compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.
Water Works is one piece of a much larger story, in the layered riverfront history of what we now call Minneapolis. For this Mississippi riverfront park, 106 Group led preservation planning, archaeology, documentation of community histories, and interpretation.
At 106 Group, we believe in Connecting People + Place + Time. But what does that mean for the current pandemic we are all experiencing? Are our collective experiences new, or part of a millennia of epidemics and pandemics that have shaped our societies?
The Minnesota River Valley has attracted people to live and work along its banks for thousands of years. Archaeological evidence from The Landing-Minnesota River Heritage Park shows that Native Americans were hunting and gathering in the area since approximately 3,000 years ago.
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.
Recently, 106 Group’s Anne Ketz sat down with the hosts of the Wandering Naturalist podcast to share stories and historical perspectives on the Shakopee region of Minnesota and its people, past and present.
As this unprecedented year draws to a close, we’re aware, more than ever, of the importance of connecting people + place + time.
History is radical when it gives voice to a people whose history has been erased from the texts of human memory. This inspiring and provocative discussion was framed by the work and visions of Poindexter Village in Columbus, Ohio and the Alabama African-American Civil Rights Heritage Sites Consortium.
Within the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Cultural Tourism program, proposed development of a new Akwesasne Heritage Complex was a key initiative. The Complex will be the heart of the tourism program, visitor experience, and community heritage and cultural programming. Developing a Business Case is an important step to support tribal decision making as they develop the Heritage Complex.
We recently had the opportunity to participate in an important conversation on Equity in Preservation Planning at Preserve Minnesota 2020, hosted by the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office.
PolyMet Mining, Inc. is proposing to develop a copper-nickel-platinum-group elements mine and associated processing facilities known as the NorthMet Mining Project, near Hoyt Lakes, St. Louis County, Minnesota. The Project involves the reactivation and rehabilitation of a former taconite processing facility and development of a new mine site. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has been established outlining mitigation for adverse effects to a diverse set of historic properties.
Strategic planning for cultural tourism guides the process for communities to realize their vision and establish procedures and operations necessary to achieve that vision.
106 Group recently presented “Best Practices for Partnering and Collaborating with Tribes” at the National Association of Environmental Professionals Virtual Conference. Together, with Paul Backhouse (Seminole Tribe of Florida), we shared best practices for tribal consultation and engagement and successful tools for building long-term relationships with Tribes.
When properly planned and resourced, a digital-first community engagement campaign can be as, or more, successful than traditional approaches.
If you find yourself faced with a project requiring Section 106 review, the process can be complicated. Understanding how the process works is important to help you avoid project delays and improve outcomes. Here is some guidance for where to start.
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.
With the recent killing of George Floyd, the Twin Cities and 106 Group are at the physical center of a nationwide and worldwide conversation on race and justice.
Recently members of our team met outside our office to review a prototype for a bronze tactile that will be installed at Minneapolis’ Peavey Plaza.
We mourn the senseless death of George Floyd, and the pain and suffering in our Twin Cities community and throughout our Nation.
In light of concerns related to COVID-19, we wanted to reach out with a message of support to clients and colleagues.
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.
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.
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.
The 21st General Assembly and International Symposium will bring together a community of academicians, practitioners, and members of the Life Beyond Tourism Movement.
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”.
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.
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.
Explore our recent project on Flying Cloud Drive, in which respectful engagement with consulting tribes, archaeology, and traditional knowledge came together to protect and grow the Dakota narrative in Minnesota.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Presenters at the engagement panel shared their expertise to create meaningful conversation surrounding best practices.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
