|
|  |
|
|
The Western Upper Peninsula Heritage Trail Network
By Steve Nelson, MSU County Extension Director, Iron County
 Michigan’s Western Upper Peninsula contains many historic landmarks and natural resources, which if packaged and promoted in a meaningful way, have the potential to attract both local visitors and tourists. In recognition of this fact, the Western Upper Peninsula Heritage Trail Network (WUPHTN) held it's official organizational meeting in February of 2000. With grant funding from the USDA’s Fund for Rural America, the project team set out to replicate a successful MSU Extension project in Iron County, titled “Enhancing Rural Economies Through Our Heritage.” WUPHTN members then developed a mission statement, “to enhance, link, preserve and interpret the unique aspects of the Western Upper Peninsula’s natural and cultural heritage for the enjoyment of all.” And they determined that the ultimate goal of their new organization was to coordinate the isolated historic resources in the Western Upper Peninsula into a meaningful travel itinerary for visitors, to raise awareness and pride of local citizens to their fascinating history, and to increase the quality of life for residents and visitors.
Since incorporation, WUPHTN has applied for and received tax-exempt non-profit status and has educated residents and guests about the area’s rich heritage by producing 40,000 copies of a colorful Regional Heritage Trail Travel Guide. Some Fund for Rural America grant dollars were used to pay for the layout and design of this guide, while funding for travel for Architectural Design Assistance and Video Production technical assistance was provided by MSU Extension. Printing costs for this guide were covered through business support in the way of paid advertising in the guide’s business directory.
Additionally, during the next several years, Western Upper Peninsula Heritage Network members expect to place at least 70 uniform WUPHTN interpretive site markers and highway directional signs throughout the six participating counties, which are working together to promote local historic and cultural heritage.
The WUPHTN project team is proud of what they have accomplished to-date, including:
- Organizing the Western Upper Peninsula Heritage Trail Network as a nonprofit organization
- Developing a mission statement and bylaws
- Developing short, intermediate, and long-term goals
- Successfully applying for two State Historic Highway designations
- Developing a logo
- Establishing self-governance of WUPHTN
- Coordinating a WUPHTN membership tour of sites in each county
- Selecting, mapping, legend coding, photographing, organizing and describing the 70 premier historic sites in the Western Upper Peninsula
- Developing and releasing 30 copies each of their planning document and a video highlighting their project goals
- Developing and releasing 40,000 copies each of the 2002 and 2003 Regional Heritage Trail Travel Guides
- Holding educational meetings for local boards, organizations and the press across the Western Upper Peninsula
- Attending a multi-state meeting to explore the goal of National Scenic Byway Status
- Reviewing interpretive sign perimeters for sites
- Delivering presentations at the 2000 Upper Peninsula Tourism Conference, the 2001 Michigan State Historical Society Annual Meeting, and the 2002 National Extension Tourism Conference
- Building a model, which other regions can use to learn about developing heritage trail networks
To learn more about this project, send an e-mail message to Steve Nelson.
|
|
|
