KMTACorridor.org has been recognized by Juggle as one of the top national heritage sites on the web. Below you'll find an interview with Kaylene Johnson with the Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area.
- What elements did you find to be most important to focus on when developing a website for the KMTA Corridor?
Northern Vista Designs helped create our website for the Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm Communities Association with a focus on bringing alive the features of the Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area. This newly designated area is a national treasure and has a unique identity and place in Alaska and U.S. history. We wanted this to be a one-stop website not only for visitors to the area, but also for Alaskan communities and grantees to get information about the National Heritage Area program.
- Is it important to have input from the local communities on projects and programs coordinated by the Corridor Communities Association? Why or why not?
Input from local communities is absolutely essential. Establishment of this National Heritage Area was the product of ten years of local grass roots effort by the KMTA Communities Association. The National Heritage Area program is administered by the National Park Service, and supports the grassroots efforts of local communities through funding, technical assistance, legal guidance and administrative support. The idea is to preserve and promote the natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources of the KMTA National Heritage Area through projects and programs that are initiated and supported by local communities.
- What marketing strategies have you employed (both on- and off-line) to promote your website and tourism in the national heritage area?
This is our first year as a National Heritage Area and we’re just getting started. At the moment, our website is our primary marketing strategy and we’re pleased with the work done by Northern Vista Designs. We think it captures the essence of the place while providing the information visitors and communities need to make the most of the National Heritage Area designation.
Another key marketing strategy has been a partnership with the Kenai Peninsula Tourism and Marketing Council and the Alaska Channel. Together we have created an app for Iphones that is a GPS-based historical tour guide of the area. We are very excited about this. This FREE app includes maps, postcards and an audio tour of key points in Corridor. You can find it at any Itunes store under “The Alaska App.” We plan to have the audio tour and an interactive map available on our website soon.
- What features do you provide to help Alaskan residents and other visitors learn more about the historical importance of the KMTA Corridor?
Features on the website include many layers of information from maps to historical descriptions of communities in the National Heritage Area. Included is information about the local museums that punctuate the visitor’s experience of the corridor, as well as grant guidelines, progress of the management plan and other information. There are also links to partner organizations. We intend to build on the website to make it a multi-dimensional and interactive place to visit. Soon to come will be a description of first-year projects and successes.
- How are outside partners collaborating with the Corridor Community Association to strengthen the heritage area?
Partnerships are key to the success of promoting the KMTA National Heritage Area. These partnerships reflect the grassroots efforts of communities to preserve and promote the unique heritage of the region. Partnerships with community councils and non-profit organizations are the driving force behind the programs and projects that are undertaken through the NHA program. We are working with multiple partners in a variety of exciting projects in the Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm area. Some of these projects include the restoration of historic trails, creation of a historic monument, planning for a new museum, and preservation of historical photos. None of these projects would be possible without the dedication and commitment of our partners.
- What are some of the destinations that visitors should not miss when traveling around the Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm?
Each of the eight communities in the Corridor is unique in its contribution to the heritage of the Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area. Each community has its own flavor and unique history. For example, visitors can go from the Whittier museum, featuring Alaska’s World War II history, to Hope, where they can step inside a one-room schoolhouse built during the pioneering gold rush days. The book Trails Across Time: History of an Alaska Mountain Corridor is a great start in exploring the diverse features and destinations that the KMTA National Heritage Area has to offer. For more information or to order the book, please email: fillymcc@aol.com or kaylene.johnson@gmail.com
- Are there any new and exciting features in the works for KMTACorridor.org?
We are looking forward to linking with The Alaska App and providing an online audio tour of the area. We are also looking forward to the interactive map that Alaska Channel is creating for us. We see this website as a work-in-progress with content being updated regularly to keep it fresh and make it an interesting place to visit. Of course we are eager to share the success of this first year’s work: stay tuned for updates!
- What else would you like to share with us about KMTACorridor.org?
This website helps put Alaska on the national map of Heritage Areas and celebrates the history of the American West. The KMTA National Heritage Area is the first in Alaska, and, appropriately, the 49th NHA in the United States.