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many opportunities for improving the current level of interpretation and visitor engagement. These include museum
staffing, access to historic sites, potential impacts of tourism, and coordination across the region of interpretive programs. Tourism is presently an industry in this region and will continue to grow.
Taking opportunities to improve visitor engagement will help manage the growth of this industry, mitigate potential harmful effects, and maximize local returns on investment.
Public access to historic sites is an issue because the vast majority of important sites are privately owned and not
open to the public. For example, in Caroline County, aside from the Old Harford Town Maritime Center, the Museum for Rural Life, Martinak Cabin, and a historic hotel, inn, and bed and breakfast, there are few
other sites open to the public. Plus, many sites such as waterfront homes and farmsteads are privately owned. Owners of such houses may not want the attention a guidebook or heritage trail might provide.
Also, many sites related to the theme of nature are sensitive and cannot endure high volumes of traffic. Many sites may be worthy of exploration, but not every site can bear large groups of people.
There are many opportunities to improve the current level and quality of interpretation of the local heritage. The
lack of comprehensive research and artifacts can be improved with better trained and paid staff who participate in museums, visitor centers, and tourism operations. More guidebooks can help self-motivated
visitors engage local histories.
While tourism may prove to be a boon to local economies, and heritage development might provide benefits to residents,
all tourism strategies must account for the sustainability of the industry and the protection of the amenities. Tourism, if not properly managed, can impact historic, cultural, and natural sites.
Sensitive sites may be harmed by over-use, local roads may become clogged with traffic, and commercial development geared toward more tourists can threaten the sites visitors came to see. Tourism is a growing
industry with or without sensitive management. The opportunity exists now to steer the industry towards sustainability and greater profitability.
Currently, many groups administer interpretive programs, but there is little coordination÷with the notable exception of
the Queen Anneâs County Historic Sites Consortium, which is more oriented to other important collaborative tasks to support marketing and administration. For existing programs efforts may be needed to close
any gaps of communication or competition between groups in order to expand options for visitors.
Museums can use more staff to accommodate visitors with longer hours and more days of operation. Currently, most
museums operate with all volunteer staffs, are not open daily, and are open for short periods within a day. This can create difficulties for visitors planning their trips into the region.
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