Interpretative Master Planning

Interpretative Master Planning: A Framework for Historical Sites begins with the basics of any planning experience: why do an interpretative master plan (IMP) and is your institution ready to undergo such a process? These chapters are followed with straightforward guidance on how to go about organizing the necessary funding to pay for an IMP’s development, the core members of your planning team, choosing stakeholders, hosting focus groups, and using all the information gathered to develop an engaging interpretative master plan that is unique to your museum, historic site, or organization.

The book features five case studies highlighting organizations that have undergone the interpretative master planning process. Each case study offers a unique point of view about the process and provides the organization’s conclusions as to what they would or would not do again if they had the choice. The end results showcase the wealth of useful information that can be garnered from an Interpretative Master Planning experience.

Interpretative Master Planning: A Framework for Historical Sites offers a complete framework complemented by real-world examples for creating a blueprint that will strengthen any organization’s interpretation.

Elizabeth Nosek holds degrees in cultural anthropology from Hamline University and history museum studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program. For over 30 years, she has worked in museum education/interpretation for local historical societies, natural history museums, the National Park Service, living history museums, children’s museums, art museums, and galleries all over the country. Whether it was discussing Thompsonian medicine in Old Sturbridge Village’s medicinal garden, developing interpretive site manuals for both the Littleton History Museum and Lakewood’s Heritage Center in Colorado, or creating a long-range education plan for the Mission Houses Museum in Honolulu, Nosek has been on the front lines. She used her intrinsic knowledge to author several articles on guest service and museum education for the Docent Educator and ALHFAM Bulletin and has taught museum education at St. Mary’s college.

Her most recent experience of shepherding her institution’s interpretive master plan through from start to finish is the inspiration for this book.