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For me, the test of a good conference is what sessions do I find myself thinking about on the bus ride home. I had a quite a lot to think about on the way home from Baltimore!

Photo by Wally Gobetz

On Monday morning, I attended the off-site session on developing historic walking tours in Fells Point. I know from experience that creating a walking tour that engages the public can be challenging since it is often difficult to establish a coherent story that can be told along a route the group can cover in an hour or two. I liked the emphasis on research that our guides stressed. We then walked the route and got the feeling of how this research translated into information that allowed us to look at Fells Point in a new way.

Presenters Dean Krimmel and Mary Ellen Hayward gave us a handy list of points to think about when developing a tour.

1. Begin with the end in mind. In other words, before diving into research think hard about what you want to accomplish through this tour.
2. Embrace the power of place—use the surrounding but be sure to bring out the layers of history behind each place. Your audience will not be able to see that until you tell them.
3. Create a unifying theme—make sure you have a Big Idea that under girds the entire tour. It will focus the visitors’ experience.
4. Delve deep into primary sources—newspapers, city directories, manuscripts and census records are just a few of the sources that will enrich your tours and make them memorable.
5. Teach your visitors how to “read” the building and landscape they’ll encounter on the tour. This will develop their appreciation of the area and train their eyes for the future.
6. Add the human factor—make sure you include stories about the people that lived in your tour area. Rich biographical detail will make your tour memorable.
7. Keep the conversation going—try to develop ways people can learn more. This could be through QR codes, apps, a website, or living sources. It will enrich the visitors’ experience and keep them engaged.

Nadine Stewart, 2011 Bruce Craig Fellow, Ellis Island Immigration Museum.