TNCivilWar.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 Holder, Federal Liaisan for the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area.
- What aspects of the Tennessee Civil War historical site did you decide to develop this website around?
Our website was developed with several goals and audiences in mind. Our audience is varied- it consists of the general public/Civil War travelers; teachers and educators; researchers and historians; and historic sites and communities looking for assistance with Civil War and Reconstruction-era projects and programs. With that in mind, we developed specific tabs and pages for each audience to easily locate what they are searching for. Our goal is to provide this website as a tool to assist residents and visitors looking for heritage tourism information/materials; to provide a context and history of the Civil War in Tennessee; and to highlight the ways in which we can help communities and sites across the state develop authentic, thoroughly researched Civil War projects.
- You list many heritage area sites to explore along the Tennessee Civil War Trail – which of these are most popular and how do the destination sites spark interest in learning more about the Civil War?
Civil War sites across Tennessee are some of the most popular attractions in the state. With the upcoming Sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) of the Civil War, interest in these sites continues to increase. Many of the sites across the state spark additional interest in the Civil War because they provide a truly authentic experience that emphasizes not just the battles that occurred here, but also the deeply powerful experiences of the home front, occupation, emancipation, and Reconstruction. This allows visitors to make a personal connection to the ways that people lived during the war. Also, we work closely with several historic sites to develop fun, hands-on educational programs for school-age children, as well as free materials for teachers to use in the classroom. These are invaluable in engaging the next generation of history enthusiasts and preservationists.
- How can visitors further explore Tennessee history through the heritage area sites and online information?
Our site provides important links to many of the state’s most valuable Civil War tourism resources, including the Tennessee Civil War Trails, our state and national Civil War parks, and our many varied partner sites such as the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. Also, we have included background information for those that want to delve more deeply into the state’s history, including our National Register of Historic Places nominations, historic structure reports, heritage tourism materials, bibliographies, and links to outstanding history sites (for example, the Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture). One of the best tools is our Tour the Heritage Area site, which includes free downloadable pdfs of all the Civil War tourism brochures we have produced.
- Why is it important to make the heritage area management and master plan available to the public?
The Heritage Area spent a great deal of time and effort to talk to our constituents, the residents of Tennessee, to get their input about what services they believed the Heritage Area should offer and what aspects of history and preservation should be our focus. Our management and master plans allow residents to see this process, as well as our primary themes and goals and our commitment to private property rights. Also, the national heritage area movement is gaining increasing popularity across the country, and providing our plans allows organizations that are considering creating a national heritage area to see how ours is structured.
- What are the Heritage Area’s five major themes and how are they incorporated into the visitor destination spots?
The Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area tells the whole story of America's greatest challenge, 1860-1875: the powerful stories of vicious warfare, the demands of the homefront and occupation, the freedom of emancipation, and the enduring legacies of Reconstruction. Tennessee is an ideal location to explore these changes. Tennessee has extreme geographical diversity (from Appalachia to the Delta), a legacy of physical changes upon the land (it saw the second-most battles of any state), and was home to Reconstruction President Andrew Johnson and major Reconstruction institutions such as Fisk University.
This story of transformation can be traced through the Heritage Area's five major themes
- War Clouds on the Horizon
- Battles and Leaders
- Occupation and the Homefront
- Reconstruction
- Legacies of the Civil War
We strive to incorporate all of these themes into our projects, so that our heritage area truly tells the whole story of the war and is inclusive to a wide variety of diverse audiences. Whether it is a driving tour, museum exhibit, teachers workbook, or heritage tourism plan, we are committed to telling both the well-known and lesser known stories, and give a voice to the many different experiences – urban and rural, black and white, men and women, Confederate and Union, etc.- that were a part of the Civil War in our state.
- Have the partnerships listed on your 'Partners & Projects' page been instrumental in developing and preserving the area? How are their goals similar to those of the MTSU Center for Historic Preservation?
Strong reciprocal partnerships form the foundation of the Heritage Area’s success. The dedication and commitment of local communities, sites, and governments are critical to complete and advance each projects. By working with partners with a variety of skill sets across the entire state, we can maximize our resources. For example, we are not able to acquire property, but we work with closely battlefield preservation organizations to assist with research and interpretation. This allows both of us to use our strengths to create a successful project. Also, our matching partnership funds require that our partners match each dollar that they receive from the Heritage Area with an in-kind or cash match. This ensures that our partners have a strong level of commitment to complete the project.
- What types of partnership projects have you been working on lately?
2011 marks the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War (150th anniversary). This is an unprecedented opportunity to capitalize on interest in the Civil War and attract visitors and life-long learners to our state. Many of our projects over the next 5 years are geared toward providing educational, tourism, and research opportunities that support the 150th. Van West and Laura Holder serve on the Tennessee Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, which is actively planning signature events, publications, and heritage tourism opportunities for the Sesquicentennial. Van West serves as co-chair of the Commission, along with Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Susan Whitaker. Specific projects include the 2010 Sesquicentennial 2-day kickoff event with living history, panel discussions, and speakers; the Tennessee Civil War Trails; a 6-part Civil War documentary produced by Nashville Public Television; a Civil War battlefield GIS database; and a variety of educational publications.
- You have active opportunities for students in higher education – about how many students take advantage of the learning opportunities and why was it important to involve this group in preservation efforts?
One of our primary goals is education. Because we are administered by the Center for Historic Preservation at Middle Tennessee State University, we have an outstanding pool of student talent available to us. Typically, we work with 15-20+ students each semester at the undergraduate, graduate, and PhD levels, as well as providing staff to teach classes at MTSU. Students are able to get hands-on, practical experience in historic preservation, and communities across the state benefit from their work and expertise. Our students then go on to work in heritage positions across the country, providing a lasting legacy of preservation, outreach, and education.
- What advice would you give or resources would you recommend to visitors who might not understand the issues and history involved? How is the heritage area a great place for visitors new to the history of the civil war to begin the learning process?
Because we strive to tell the whole story of the Civil War across a diverse state, the Heritage Area is a great place for both those that are new to Civil War history. Our projects, research, and links are a valuable starting point to get an overview of the war in Tennessee, with additional information available to those that want to delve more deeply into the war’s issues. A great way to get started is to follow the Tennessee Civil War Trails program, which allows visitors to actually see the places where so many incredible events happened. Each site is well-marked, easily accessible, and has a marker that tells a brief account of what happened at each location along the Trail.
- What else would you like to share with us TNCivilWar.org or the Civil War Area?
Quick overview: The Heritage Area provides leadership and support to organizations across Tennessee, creating opportunities for education, interpretation, preservation, and economic development. Leveraging federal, state, local, and private funding, we empower communities and individuals to serve as good stewards of their historic places and stories.
Our Professional Services and Outreach program assists property owners and organizations in developing heritage programs and projects. Through Collaborative Partnerships, organizations, local governments, and non-profits can apply for 50/50 matching funds for such projects as interpretive tours, exhibits, educational materials, and preservation planning.