FMFADA Interpretive Master PlanInterpretive Solutions, Inc.

West Chester, PA

FMFADA’s Core Principles

Principle #1: Respect the site’s historic assets

Principle #2: Open the site to the public

Principle #3: Achieve economic sustainability

Principle #4: Create an open space park

Principle #5: Allow new development only under strict limits.

Goals of the Interpretive Master Plan (IMP)

Goal #1: Make Fort Monroe/Old Point Comfort

the “Crown Jewel” of Virginia tourism

Goal #2: Serve a wide variety

of audiences

Goal #3: Get interpretation &

education “up and running” at Fort Monroe/Old Point

Comfort as quickly as possible

What is interpretation?

Interpretation is the art of sharing with others meaning and relevance in the

world around us.

Interpretation. . . helps people to connect intellectually,

emotionally, or spiritually with ideas, beliefs,and values.

Interpretation. . . is based on facts, but reveals what an object, place, feature or event means and why it matters

—why it is relevant.

Fact, meaning and relevanceWhat’s the difference?

Fact: This Remington Standard typewriter, Model 8, was manufactured by Wycoff, Seamans & Benedict.

First introduced in October 1897,it features a 9.25” platen length, and 42 keys.

What it means: The invention of typewriters like this Remington Standard Model 8 helped propel the women’s equal rights movement by creating suitable, respectable

positions for women in the workplace.

Why it matters: The typewriter demonstrates the profound impact that changing technology

can have on society.

What is a Master Interpretive Plan?

An effective interpretive plan isa collaboratively created, dynamic document

that guides management decisions regarding the delivery of interpretive services.

What are the steps?

Each step involves answeringa single question.

STEP

STEP COMPONENT

Why?

STEP COMPONENT

Why? Significance

STEP COMPONENT

Why should people come to Fort Monroe?What is so special about this place?

What makes Fort Monroe worth preserving?

Why can we tell this story here, and no place else?

Why?

What?

Significance

STEP COMPONENT

Why?

What?

Significance

Themes and Stories

STEP COMPONENT

What will we tell people when they come?

The themes & stories convey to visitors the significance of

Fort Monroe

Why?

What?

For whom?

Significance

Themes and Stories

STEP COMPONENT

Why?

What?

For whom?

Significance

Themes and Stories

Audience

STEP COMPONENT

There are many different audiences for interpretation.

But each visitor is seeking something of value – a physical,

intellectual, inspirational or emotional experience.

A “visitor” is anyone who experiences Fort Monroe’s themes and stories – even via the Internet.

The Interpretive Master Plan creates opportunities for the widest possible range of visitors to explore personal

connections with Fort Monroe -- while ensuring that its historical resources

remain unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.

Why?

What?

For whom?

Significance

Themes and Stories

Audience

STEP COMPONENT

We have now created theFoundation for Planning

Why?

What?

For whom?

How?

Significance

Themes and Stories

Audience

STEP COMPONENT

Foundation for Planning

Why?

What?

For whom?

How?

Significance

Themes and Stories

Audience

Interpretive strategy

STEP COMPONENT

Foundation for Planning

Now we know why, what, and for whom.

The next step determines how.

Where is each story best told? In what sequence? What should visitors do first,

next, last before they leave?

Why?

What?

For whom?

How?

With what?

Significance

Themes and Stories

Audience

Interpretive strategy

STEP COMPONENT

Foundation for Planning

Why?

What?

For whom?

How?

With what?

Significance

Themes and Stories

Audience

Interpretive strategy

Tools and Media

STEP COMPONENT

Foundation for Planning

During this step, planners decide on the best tools for telling the stories.

They also choose the tools to be used to evaluate the quality of interpretive

services – an important ongoing function of interpretation.

Why?

What?

For whom?

How?

With what?

When?

Significance

Themes and Stories

Audience

Interpretive strategy

Tools and Media

STEP COMPONENT

Foundation for Planning

Why?

What?

For whom?

How?

With what?

When?

Significance

Themes and Stories

Audience

Interpretive strategy

Tools and Media

Priorities & Practicalities

STEP COMPONENT

Foundation for Plannning

“When?” is short-hand for “reality check.” What is most feasible? What will it cost?

How will each service be staffed? What should we do right away?

What can wait until later while we look for additional resources?

When we know how, with what, and when,we have created

The Implementation Plan

Why?

What?

For whom?

How?

With what?

When?

Significance

Themes and Stories

Audience

Interpretive strategy

Tools and Media

Priorities & Practicalities

The Master Interpretive Plan

Foundation for Planning

Implementation Plan

The final product of the

Interpretive Master Plan __________________

Recommendations to FMFADA re:

Why, What, For whom,

How, With what, and When

Who’s involved?

Core Planning Team: Interpretive Solutions consultant team, plus FMFADA marketing and tourism

advisors

IMP Steering Committee: one dozen subject matter experts

to advise consulting team

Stakeholders: a large group of people sharing their views, reviewing & commenting on all draft plans

Reviewers: outside experts to review & comment

on all draft plans

Members of the public:review & comment via FMFADA web-based

surveys throughout the planning process