7 Tips to

CREATE A HERITAGE TRAIL

1. Set goals.Think about what do you want your heritage trail to do. Encourage preservation of local resources? Boost the region’s economy? Cultivate community pride?

2. Identify compelling stories.Think about the stories you’ll want to tell throughout the trail. They could be based on certain places that reflect your region’s culture, people who have had an impact on your town, or milestone events that have shaped your community’s history.

3. Determine themes.Once you’ve decided what stories to tell, look for an overarching theme. Connecting each place to the same theme will help your heritage trail progress smoothly from beginning to end.

4. Map the stops.Pick out the specific sites that will make up your heritage trail. As you do, consider if they are already visitor friendly, easily accessible, and if there is lodging, dining, shopping, or gas stations nearby.

5. Decide how to tell your stories.Each stop will be different and will lend itself to storytelling in different ways. Decide what materials you want to produce to engage visitors and connect them to the site.

6. Create a plan.Reach out to local organizations or other potential partners who may be interested in collaborating. Together, decide who will be responsible for what in launching and maintaining the trail.

7. Market the trail.Advertise in local newspapers, connect over social media, reach out to partners and local organizations, get in touch with tourism bureaus.

[Case Study]The Roots of American Music TrailTM

• Visitors will explore places throughout the Muscle Shoals region in Alabama, where hundreds of rock ‘n roll, soul, pop, and R&B songs were recorded from the 1960s to today.

• The Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area is developing the trail with funding from a National Scenic Byway grant and technical assistance from the National Trust.

• Stories will be told in a variety of ways, including a website, cell phone tour, guided tours, and a collectors’ CD for sale.

• The trail will be marketed throughout the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, local convention and visitors bureaus, and the Alabama Office of Tourism.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation works to save America’s historic places. Preservation Tips & Tools helps others do the same in their own communities.

For more information, visit SavingPlaces.org.

In Awe of God’s Creation/Flickr CC BY-2.0; vastateparksstaff/Flickr; Lehigh Valley, PA,/Flickr; Oregon Caves/Flickr; Montgomery County Planning Commission/Flickr CC BY SA-2.0; vastateparksstaff, Flickr; City of St Pete/Flickr CC BY ND-2.0; Ed Webster/Flickr; Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area.