In the News
The Historic More Barn Sign – Letter to the Editor
Dear Lisa,
I would like to extend my appreciation for the article you provided, last month, introducing the new Steamboat (More) Barn interpretive sign to our community. As Program Coordinator of the Northwest Colorado Cultural Heritage Program and grant/project manager of this project, I believe it is also important to share what it takes to tell the story of our community’s special places and people. “It takes a village” can be an overused phrase at time, yet in this case it really did take a village of folks. Thank you to the following “village of folks” for monetary support, passion, dedication and talent to help tell one of Steamboat Springs’ most important stories.
Funders: Routt County Museum and Heritage Fund
City of Steamboat Springs Community Support Art and Culture Coalition
Design: Jackie Noble, Noble Erickson Inc.
Research and Content Development: Arianthé Stettner and Nancy B. Kramer
Content Development Assistance and Authentication: Tread of Pioneers Museum, Historic Routt County and Winnie Delliquadri, City of Steamboat Springs
Spanish Translation: Lupita Benitez, Steamboat Springs
Frame Fabrication: Kevin Nemec of Cactofab, Steamboat Springs
Panel Fabrication: iZone Imaging
Content and Photo Contributions:
Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation
Steamboat Pilot and Today
Jim Temple by Jeff Temple
Rod Hanna
Installation: City of Steamboat Springs Parks and Recreation team led by Jennifer Carey
Arianthé C. Stettner: The rest of the story
I enjoyed reading the “Robbery in Drag” story about Chick Yock’s heist attempt. Yet, I’m sure that many of your readers may not know the most recent history of the Yock Cabin. READ MORE
The Value of Cultural Heritage Work Realized
Nancy B Kramer, Program Coordinator Northwest Colorado Cultural Heritage Program
Nearly a year ago, I had the opportunity to share a centerpiece of the Northwest Colorado Cultural Heritage Program (NWCCHP): Our Torchbearers. By definition, a Torchbearer is one to lead or inspire others in working toward a valued goal. Building upon our NWCCHP interpretive themes; Forces of Nature and Ways of Life, we continue to share the rich and diverse stories and heritage assets of a five county, seventeen community region of Northwest Colorado. Our Torchbearers come in all sizes and capacity. Whether it is representatives of the town of Yampa, members of Hahns Peak Area Historical Society, Economic Development partners in Rio Blanco County or the staff at the Colorado Welcome Center in Dinosaur, the goal has remained the same; interpret the vast heritage of Northwest Colorado and impart the authentic stories and vibrant legacy of the region while generating economic vitality within our communities. To accomplish this goal, NWCCHP Torchbearers build resources such as gateway interpretive signs for their communities, create day trip itineraries for locals and visitors alike to explore the region and help to build a short video library for our website www.nwcoloradoheritgetravel.org. Check out the most recent video featuring the storied influence Arthur Carhart’s time in the Flat Top Wilderness had on our nation’s land preservation initiatives. And look for a new interpretive sign for the “Steamboat Barn,” a public education project that shares the story of one of the Yampa Valley’s most famous icons. Leadership of the Northwest Colorado Cultural Heritage Program and its Torchbearers is proud of its work in the region. And as a nonprofit organization we take, seriously, the need to have measurable outcomes to demonstrate success. But the impact of cultural heritage programming and projects can be difficult to quantify.
Read More…
New Hahns Peak gateway sign strategically placed at Steamboat Lake State Park visitors center
Steamboat Springs — Following the lead of Oak Creek and Stagecoach State Park, the Hahns Peak Historical Society will place its new gateway sign, which highlights the “Boundless Landscapes and Spirited People” of the region, outside the visitors center at Steamboat Lake State Park to tap into the park’s thousands of annual visitors…
The new Hahns Peak sign is part of the efforts of Steamboat Springs resident Nancy Kramer and the Northwest Colorado Cultural Heritage Tourism Project to promote cultural tourism across 17 communities in five neighboring counties in Western Colorado
$20,000 Snowball Grant Awarded to Northwest Colorado Cultural Heritage Program
By the end of the summer, it’s very likely you’ll know all kinds of interesting facts about your town’s cultural and historical history through interpretive signs that are being placed throughout municipalities in Garfield County.
The Northwest Colorado Cultural Heritage Program Project was started in 2005 with the goal to promote awareness of each community’s cultural, historic and natural resources.
The initiative now includes a project in which each participating community will have a large strategically placed sign that can be seen and read by residents and visitors.
“We’re working with Garfield County and all the communities in Garfield County to put together signs of historic and current information about each community,” said Nancy Kramer, project coordinator for NWCCHP. “Garfield County has supported the program since 2010. They value it as it relates to economic development.”… Read the entire article at:
http://www.postindependent.com/news/10488590-113/county-garfield-town-community
Cultural and Heritage Tourism
From Walden in the north to Carbondale in the south, this is a region that previously has lacked a cohesive, collaborative effort to present its rich history to visitors. We are optimistic that’s about to change.
This summer Northwest Colorado Cultural Heritage Tourism spearheaded by Nancy Kramer, of Steamboat Springs, achieved a break-through by printing an appealing brochure entitled “Boundless Landscapes and Spirited People.” Read more…
Community Agriculture Alliance: Taking advantage of cultural heritage tourism opportunities
The Community Agriculture Alliance spearheaded the Northwest Colorado Cultural Heritage Tourism program, a five-county, regional effort that explores the places, activities and food of our part of the state. We consider the Yampa Valley and its agricultural heritage as a premier niche for the heritage traveler. The more we can connect our local food producers to visitors touring our region, along with providing opportunities such as overnight ranch stays and agricultural tours, the more we can utilize assets that already exist to leverage the attraction of heritage travelers to our region….Read more:
http://www.steamboattoday.com/news/2013/oct/10/community-agriculture-alliance-taking-advantage-cu/
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Moffat County long has thrived because of the energy industry — the economic foundation of the community nearly is inseparable from its culture.
#Tourism organizations are looking to highlight that energy history.
Nancy Kramer, program coordinator for the Northwest Colorado Cultural Heritage Tourism Project, partnered with community tourism entities across the state to develop cultural heritage tourism and create an energy trail route as part of her effort to exemplify that particular brand of tourism.
“The bottom line for cultural heritage tourism (is for) people who want to travel and learn more about a community. Along with experiencing a place, it is also experiencing a kind of life,” she said.
Kramer has been working to boost the tourism of Northwest Colorado with NWCCHT since 2009 and sought support from grant funding and tourism organizations such as the Moffat County Tourism Association.
One of the larger projects associated with NWCCHT’s overall goal is the Energy Trail, a route that would take tourists around Northwest Colorado’s energy hotspots, Kramer said.
Melody Villard, tourism director for MCTA, partnered with NWCCHT because she wanted to expand Moffat County’s cultural heritage tourism.
MCTA contributed nearly $62,000 to NWCCHT since 2009 in the form of grant match funding, project support and in-kind donations.
NWCCHT since has published and distributed comprehensive historical tourism brochures, set up displays and the organization is making headway on the Energy Trail.
The brochure packets are thick — packed with cards related to about 18 communities in Northwest Colorado that detail the history and particulars of each of those areas.
“One of the things that I think is helpful, is we don’t just talk about what these communities have and why they’re tied together, but why they’re here in the first place,” Villard said.
That reason is energy, she added.
NWCCHT could start on the Energy Trail, an approximately $115,000 project, within the year, Kramer said, and it would take only another year to finish.
The result would be a route travelers could follow to learn about the geology, business and culture around energy in Colorado, Villard said.
“When you look through the different communities; it’s all tied (up with) that energy, what resources we found in the area and what resources we could create economies around,” Villard said.
In Moffat County, the Energy Trail would help travelers identify significant energy spots along U.S Highway 13, such as the Empire Coal mine — shut down for about a couple decades — but still on fire from a flame that tore through the coal seam before the mine closed.
“There is still a portion of that coal seam that’s burning,” Villard said.
All along the highway, there is evidence of the energy below the surface, she said.
“You’ll see some of the coal striations along the highway from Craig to Hamilton,” Villard said.
Contact Erin Fenner in 970-875-1794 or efenner@CraigDailyPress.com.
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Photo by John F. Russell
Workshop participant Kristy Costello leads a group project Wednesday afternoon at a culinary tourism workshop at the Larson Barn near Steamboat Springs. The workshop was part of the Colorado Tourism Conference led by the Colorado Tourism Office Heritage and Agri-tourism and Northwest Colorado Cultural Heritage Tourism programs.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Steamboat Springs — The most basic human needs of food, water and shelter still apply to those on vacation. But these requirements can be fulfilled beyond the bare minimum and used to enhance or drive a travel experience.
“Food is the one thing that unites everyone,” said Erik Wolf, president of the World Food Travel Association. He was speaking Wednesday at Steamboat Springs’ Larson Barn as part of the Colorado Tourism Conference.
He said that when returning from a vacation, friends invariably ask, “How was the weather?” and “How was the food?”
“It’s something we all forget, but we eat three times a day,” he said.
And during Wednesday’s conference, that notion was played out before the workshop’s participants.
As part of the culinary tourism workshop, tourism professionals from advertising agencies, chambers of commerce and visitors centers from across the state were treated to a breakfast, snacks and lunch made from regional foods.
There was Granola Gold on hand from Steamboat Springs and a caffeine boost from Steamboat Coffee Roasters. Daniela’s Artisan Chocolates offered roasted nuts and sweets, and Yepello Chocolates and Confection sweets colored the table. bistro c.v. put together charcuterie trays, and there were locally made scones from City Cafe for a midmorning break.
“These people are from all over Colorado,” said Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association spokeswoman Michelle Krasilinec, who was busy in the kitchen all day setting out the food spread for about 50 participants. “This is how Steamboat is starting to branch out and get our products out there. It all comes back to how we’re inspired by the valley.”
The workshop was presented by the Colorado Tourism Office Heritage and Agri-tourism program in partnership with the Northwest Colorado Cultural Heritage Tourism program.
Nancy Kramer, program coordinator for the five-county Northwest Colorado program as well as board member for the state program, said the conversation about how to promote cultural tourism is happening.
“My focus right now is so much on getting the word out on the stories and the way of life” in Northwest Colorado, Kramer said. “And that’s not unrelated to food.”
Those stories could be anything from Northwest Colorado’s agricultural heritage to the wine and berries of Palisade to the beers of the Front Range.
Ideas began to take shape in the afternoon during a group work session, as the participants grasped the concept that Colorado as a brand has a world of opportunity left to explore.
“They know you ski here,” Wolf said about Colorado’s reputation internationally. “They get that. So what’s next? There’s so much more.”
To reach Nicole Inglis, call 970-871-4204 or email ninglis@ExploreSteamboat.com
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