Customer Reviews

Interpreting Our Heritage (Chapel Hill Books)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It's a short book, but packs a powerful message! Tilden is to Environmental Interpretation what Muir was to the environmental movement. His principles are quoted at national converences on interpretation. The chapters are concise and easy to read. Great first manual for anyone who wishes to do great public speaking or a professional who needs to be reminded of the basics!

Interpretation is the art of making what is presented meaningful to the audience. This book is useful for anyone who wants to get others interested in a subject, whether it is for a presentation, an art exhibit, or the local park's visitor center. If an exhibit, lecture, presentation, or tour does or does not get you interested in the topic, this book will explain most of the reasons why. This is all sound wisdom, offered in the context of museums and national parks. It's easy to read and engaging, employing the principles within.

I. Talk about what is being desplayed/described to the personality or experience of the visitor.
II. Interpretation is revelation based on information.
III. Interpretation is an art.
IV. The goal is provocation, not instruction.
V. Try to present the whole instead of the part.
VI. Don't just dumb it down for kids.
Tilden elaborates on these beautifully, with nice examples.

After reading this book not only do I know how to improve upon my own interpretation, but I can critique other interpretation and at least know when to appreciate a good display when I see one. Just remember that there are more than 6 principles. Use this book to start thinking about interpretation as a skill and an art, instead of the bible of interpretation.

Interpretation for the 21st Century: Fifteen Guiding Principles for Interpreting Nature and Culture is an updated version recommended to me but I haven't read it yet.

When one need to study and learn the basics, this is the original guidebook on guiding! The text is almost quaint (written in the 50's) as are the pictures, but there are still nuggets worth mining.

I found myself highlighting the "do"s and "don't"s that are now features in other fields such as marketing and customer service. There aren't many reference books on the subject of interpretation, so this is a good place to start.

Readers:
If you read this then it is sure you are not acquianted with MR.Tilden's Book. This text, now in reprint, is the Standard Work for thoes involved with presenting the Past to the Present. Tho written decades ago, originally for the N.P.S., its vaule has not been diluted with the Passing of Time, and its lessons carry beyound the bounds of the National Park Service Instructional Courses, for which it is written. Much of the text is devote to non-historical sites, the Grand Canyon, Yosemtie Park &tc. but there is much than can be 'borrowed' and applied to Historical Sites, such as Mt.Vernon, Montpeilier &tc. Mr. Tildens '6 Rules of Interpertation' alone, are worth the price of the Book. This writer will state, without reservation, if you are new to Historical Interpertaion or are a Guide at some Natural Feature; or an 'old hand ' who never owned a Copy of this Book; that you Buy a Copy Right Now, read it, mark it well, take some liner notes, and then apply them to your work with the Publick; the Publick will surely gain from your increased ability to communicate the Message of your Location
For the Record, this writer recieved the Book as a gift from his wife, even tho he had been an Historical Interpertor for years. And this writer has gained much from that gift.
Thus Ever I rest
MR.Charles Anthony
Volunteer-in-the-Park, Minuteman, National Historical Park, Concord, Mass./Saratoga, N.H.B. N.Y.S.
74th Regt. Argyle Highlanders, 1777-1784(Recreated)
Docent, 1755 Captain Willaim Tate's House, Portland, Maine

This is, I am told, still the classic work on interpretation in the national parks, and a guide to how interpretative rangers should explain things to visitors. The fact that it remains in print is evidence that it continues to speak to many people.

Tilden presents his material with examples of successfully interpretation, interspersed with occasional examples of things that don't work. He emphasizes, very sensibly, the art of communication, the role of a good story, and the importance of emotional connections with the material. He disapproves of dumping factual information on the listener or thinking that modern technology, without a good story, is a good thing.

I do not doubt that this was a valuable guide in the 1950s and 1960s. But in today's ironic age our national park visitors will fail to be impressed with a diorama of Indians, a panel explaining the uniforms worn by Confederate soldiers, or a woman in antebellum costume playing the piano. For me, then, the book was of more historic interest than a guide to best practice in the 21st century.

It's a decent, reasonable somewhat giddy book on interpreting the natural world. It is also practically required that National Park Service ranger's follow Tilden's principles for interpretation. So if you ever want to be a National Park Service Ranger, it'd be great to have this under your belt!

Ok, so in parts you can definitely tell this book was written in the 50's. However most of it is still extremely valid, and extremely useful. I would not hesitate to reccomend it, a very good read for interpreters or interpreters in training.

This book is a nice BASIC introduction for those who know nothing about what interpretation is in relation to a museum. I found it very dry and outdated. The author tries to spice it up a bit with humor and examples of national parks but all in all, i would not recommend it.

This book is basic for interpretation