Cemetery Preservation-Tourism Workshop

On March 12, 2010, a workshop on cemetery preservation and tourism will be held in the Multimedia Room 2.106 of the Baker Pattillo Student Center on the SFA campus.This workshop is a part of the larger Preserve America Cemetery preservation grant entitled “Community Based Interpretation: Linking Heritage, Preservation, GIS, Curriculum and Web Services.” The Workshop is for individuals who are interested in cemetery preservation and how it relates to heritage tourism. It is open to the public and free of charge. The event will begin at 11:00 a.m.  Lunch is on your own,  and there will be a field trip to a local monument company. The workshop will conclude with a headstone identification seminar from 3 -4 p.m.

Speakers for the event include Dr. Perky Beisel, department of history, Dr. William Forbes, Department of geography, Dr. Chay Runnels, Hospitality Administration, and Dr. George Avery, archeology. For more information, please email  me at: runnelsc@sfasu.edu.

We are excited to bring this workshop to the public and are looking forward to a great day of networking and learning. Please click the photos below for the full schedule and additional details. See you then!

 

Article in the Medallion

The Cemetery Interpretation Project has been featured in the January/February 2010 issue of the Texas Historical Commission's magazine: The Medallion. A free PDF version of the complete issue is available online - the article about our Project begins on page 6.   

Thank you to The Medallion for such a well written and informative article. We appreciate the exposure, and we hope that you enjoy the piece!

Curriculum Development Team Workshop

This past week, Ralph W. Steen Library faculty and staff held a workshop for the educators taking part in the Curriculum Development Team for the Preserve America Grant Project. Four teachers from East Texas were hired, and we couldn't have asked for a better group.

The workshop began on Tuesday morning and we spent a few hours in the library, going over contracts, the Google group the teachers will be using to discuss and share information, and the TIDES website. Next on the agenda was a tour of the Library's East Texas Research Center, a delicious lunch at Shelley's Bakery, a tour of the Stone Fort Museum, and finally an experiment in geocaching in downtown Nacogdoches with the guidance of the Columbia Geospatial Service Center. Despite the heat and humidity, our educators approached each new adventure with enthusiasm and high spirits!

 

 

On Wednesday, we loaded into vans and had a whirlwind tour of cemeteries and historic sites along the El Camino Real. This included stops at Caddo Mounds State Historic Site for a picnic lunch and brief tour, an exploration of Mission Dolores, and a walk though the Monroe-Cook House in Crockett. By the end of the second day, half the teachers were jotting down ideas for lesson plans. By the next morning, they were already brainstorming together through the Google group. All in all, it was a rewarding workshop and helped to renew the excitemtn for the Preserve America Grant and resources that will be made available to the coummunity.

 

  

 

Thank you to Joy, Jeanell, Jacy and Mindy for a fun workshop and a great time! We can't wait to see the lessons and activities you develop for the Project!

Exploring East Texas Cemeteries

In preparation for the 2009 Curriculum Development Team Workshop (four teachers who will be writing lesson plans based on local cemeteries and regional history for the Preserve America Grant Project - the Project Team has been scouting out and exploring cemeteries for ideas and inspiration. For a sneak peak at just a fraction of the treasures hidden in the East Texas country side, check out the photos below. We'll be posting images and stories from the Curriculum Development Team workshop next week, so be sure and check back then for more goodies.

 

Mission Dolores in San Augustine, Texas

 

The San Augustine City Cemetery - home to history AND beauty.

 

The William Gasby Cemetery is a peaceful stretch of land tucked away in Sabine County. 

 

The McGowan Cemetery in San Jacinto County. 

Calling all East Texas Educators!

The Preserve America Grant Team is currently accepting applications from educators interested in joining the TIDES Curriculum Development Team, which will work to develop lesson plans based on research and resources gathered through the Preserve America Grant Project.

The Preserve America Grant Project focuses on cemeteries, heritage tourism, and historical preservation. The deadline for applications and resumes is April 30th, 2009, and these materials can be emailed to Rhonda Williams at williamsrw (at) sfasu (dot) edu. For more information, click to enlarge the flyer below. And if you have any questions, let us know!

Preserve America Kick Off Event!

Stephen F. Austin State University and the City of Nacogdoches have partnered together to work on a Preserve America Grant that will focus on community based cemetery interpretation. To celebrate the launch of this project, we'll be gathering today from at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Nacogdoches, Texas! Stop by between 4:00pm and 6:00pm for interpretation stations stocked with experts in the field, a drawing for a prize, information about the grant, and our plans for helping to bring local cemeteries back to life.

Following the launch party will be the Texas Forest Trail Regional Conference, Texas After Dark. This conference will help local organizations and businesses learn how extended hours can expand their audiences and improve their communities. For more information about the conference, check out the website.

Hope to see you tonight!