SchuylkillRiver.org has been recognized by Juggle as one of the top national heritage sites on the web. Below you'll find an interview with Laura Catalano, Staff Writer for the Schuylkill River National & State Heritage Area.
- What are the different ways visitors and community members can help restore funding for preservation programs? How do their donations impact the River area?
We encourage people to contact their members of congress to ask them to support funding for National Heritage Areas (NHAs) and other preservation programs at the current level in the 2011 budget. NHAs have had proven success in their ability to leverage funds. At the Schuylkill River Heritage Area, we match every federal dollar we receive with three dollars from local, state or private sources. This money goes to support projects and programs that encourage people to respect and protect the Schuylkill River, and that invigorate community revitalization efforts throughout the five-county Heritage Area.
Individual donations are also a vital component of our operating budget. Funds from donations all help us in our mission to use conservation, education, recreation, historic preservation and tourism as tools for community revitalization and economic development.
- What are the different memberships available to support the heritage area and how do these memberships work to preserve the site?
Memberships range from as low as $25 for students and senior citizens, to as high as $500 and above. All members receive invitations to our events, updates about our organization and bi-monthly newsletters. Membership not only insures that you are kept informed about the Schuylkill River Heritage Area, but supports the projects and programs that further our mission to use conservation, education, recreation, historic preservation and tourism as tools for community revitalization and economic development.
- What is the importance of the Schuylkill Canal in relation to the River?
The Schuylkill Canal, while now only visible in some areas, was once a vital part of the river and the communities that border the river. Known as the Schuylkill Navigation System, it was constructed between 1816 and 1825 by the Schuylkill Navigation Company, a group of businessmen who sought to make the shallow Schuylkill River navigable. Its primary purpose was to carry anthracite coal from the coal region, at the top of the Schuylkill River, to Philadelphia. It covered a distance of 108 miles, beginning in Port Carbon, running through five counties, and ending at Philadelphia. The canal made the river into a major transportation route, and the coal carried down the river helped fuel the factories and steel mills of the Industrial Revolution. Today, all that remains are parts of the canal totaling 28 miles, as well as locks, dams and other remnants. However, several old Schuylkill Navigation sites have since been restored for their historic importance and value as tourist attractions.
- How has the development of your website increased interest in the different regions that the Schuylkill River runs through?
The goals of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area call for increasing heritage tourism, promoting awareness of the many heritage resources that exist in the region, creating links between Heritage Area destinations, and increasing outdoor recreational opportunities related to the region’s natural and cultural heritage. While there are many tourism-based websites in the region, ours is unique in that it ties together the entire five-county Heritage Area. It provides people with an overview of the recreational and heritage tourism opportunities that exist from Center City Philadelphia to the rural areas of Berks and Schuylkill Counties. And it also enables people to better understand how those sites are linked through the river and through a shared history.
- How do the River destinations reflect the various historical revolutions in their attractions and sites?
We call the Schuylkill River the River of Revolutions because it played an essential role in three revolutions: the American, Industrial and Environmental Revolutions. Most destinations incorporate one or more of those Revolutions. Sites such as Valley Forge National Historic Park, Independence National Park and Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site all played a role in the American Revolutionary War. Schuylkill Canal sites, such as the restored Lock 60 in Mont Clare, were essential to the Industrial Revolution, as are all old railroad and industrial sites, such as the Reading Technical and Historical Society Museum in Hamburg. In fact, many towns such as Phoenixville and Manayunk, developed during the Industrial Revolution and have now become visitor destinations. Finally, the Environmental Revolution was played out in a number of different sites: Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center is housed in the building that provided America’s first safe public water supply and Bartram’s Garden, in Philadelphia, was the home of America’s first botanist. In 1945, the Schuylkill River became the site of the first large-scale environmental cleanup of its kind, with $31.75 million government funded Schuylkill River De-Silting project that dredged coal silt from the river and poured it into 27 desilting basin. One former desilting basin, Black Rock Sanctuary in Phoenixville, is now a wildlife sanctuary and beautiful public park.
- In general are visitors more interested in the historical aspects or the modern features of the Schuylkill River? Why do you think this is so?
We believe that visitors are interested in both the historical aspects and the modern features of the Schuylkill River. Many of our members and contacts are interested in the recreational aspects of the Schuylkill River, and enjoy biking or hiking on the Schuylkill River Trail. Many others participate in our annual seven-day canoe/kayak trip, the Schuylkill River Sojourn, so they are very interested in paddling the river. But these same people often exhibit a keen interest in learning more about the history of the river. Our 2010 Sojourn featured programming by the National Park Service that focused on the history of the region and it was very well received. And one of our goals is to provide links from the Schuylkill River Trail to historic sites, so that people have the opportunity to learn about and explore the history of the region as they travel along the trail.
- How does the “Plan Your Visit” wizard work and how does it help plan trips based on different areas of interest?
This web tool allows people to plan a visit in the Heritage Area in three simple steps. In Step One, they choose one of 10 different Heritage Area regions they would like to visit. For example, let’s say someone chooses Greater Reading area. Then, they move to Step Two, to choose what type of activity they are interested in, such as Nature, History or Industry. In Step Three, they are asked to select from a list of things to see or do, such as Art, Gardens or Underground Railroad. They are then directed to a list of destinations that fit their interests in the area they selected. By clicking on one of those sites, they are taken to a detailed web page that provides more information about that particular destination. This enables people to quickly find a site of interest in any area they want to visit within the Schuylkill River Heritage Area.
- What will the proposed academic and heritage center bring to the Schuylkill River Area and its visitors? How is the partnership with Montgomery County Community College working towards this goal?
The Schuylkill River Academic and Heritage Center will provide a comprehensive center that will expand our ability, in partnership with Montgomery County Community College, to educate the public about the region’s many natural and cultural attributes. It will be housed in the same building as our headquarters at 140 College Dr. in Pottstown. The college will develop 5,000 square feet of currently vacant space to create an environmental science center, with classrooms, a laboratory and office space. The Heritage Area will create an interactive Schuylkill River Heritage Area interpretive center that will serve as a visitor’s center for the entire region. It will feature exhibits that interpret the three revolutions, and provide information about the Schuylkill River Trail, the Schuylkill River Water Trail and the region’s historic and recreational sites.
- How has Facebook provided a portal for communication between the Schuylkill River Greenway Association and area visitors?
Facebook provides us with a means to let our Facebook friends know about our events, news, trail updates, and our many projects and programs and lets people give us feedback on those items.
- What else would you like to share with us about SchuylkillRiver.org the river area?
A National Heritage Area is a place designated by the United States Congress because natural, cultural, historic and recreational resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally distinctive landscape. The Schuylkill River received this designation from Congress in 2000. The boundaries of the Heritage Area cover the Schuylkill River watershed in Schuylkill, Berks, Chester, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties. This region is nationally significant for the role that its people, places, and events played in the American, Industrial, and Environmental Revolutions. The Heritage Area is home to over 3.2 million people across the five counties. Approximately 1.75 million people draw their drinking water directly from the River.
One of the key projects of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area is working with partners to improve and expand the Schuylkill River Trail, which will one day stretch from Philadelphia to Pottsville—a distance of about 130 miles. Today, about 56 miles of trail are completed. Another project for which we are well known is the Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn, which takes paddlers on a week-long journey from Schuylkill Haven to Philadelphia. Participants can choose to go for as little as one day or the entire event. This event draws attention to the river as a valuable recreational resource.