Michigan's agricultural heritage: using historical data to develop authentic heritage attractions

Abstract

The Michigan Agricultural Heritage Project, a multi-disciplinary research effort at Michigan State University sponsored by the Michigan Department of Transportation, is currently completing a rural agricultural context document. While the main purpose of this project is to provide information, tools and resources for historic preservation consultants during the Section 106 review process (National Historic Preservation Act), its data can also be used for heritage tourism development. The data is particularly useful for identifying potential themes and historic resources for agricultural heritage attraction development. Using the data from the project, sample results are provided for potato farming in the Petoskey region and a specific historic dairy farm in Genessee County. These preliminary examples show exciting potential for future application of this historical data in agricultural heritage attraction development in Michigan.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the 2002 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium

Citation

Wiles, Craig; Shaffer, Terry; Vander Stoep, Gail. 2003. Michigan''s agricultural heritage: using historical data to develop authentic heritage attractions. In: Schuster, Rudy, comp., ed. Proceedings of the 2002 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-302. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station. 113-117