Every month, we bring together people who care about making history tangible. Our webinars aren't about memorizing dates or rattling off facts. They're about discovering how interpretation transforms old buildings and forgotten landscapes into places that matter to visitors today.
These sessions feel more like conversations than lectures. You'll hear from folks who've spent years figuring out what works—and what doesn't—when it comes to bringing historical sites to life.
Each session runs about 75 minutes with plenty of time for questions. We keep groups small enough that everyone gets a chance to participate.
After 15 years at historic sites across the Midwest, Jasper has learned that the best interpretation happens when you stop trying to cover everything and start focusing on what makes a place distinct. This session walks through his framework for building narratives that stick with people long after they leave.
Reserve Your Spot
Most artifacts sit silently behind glass until someone figures out how to make them speak. Donovan specializes in turning everyday objects into conversation starters. He'll share techniques for reading material culture and building interpretation around things that initially seem boring or insignificant.
Reserve Your SpotNot every site has grant funding or deep-pocketed donors. This session focuses on creative approaches that don't require expensive technology or elaborate installations. We'll look at real examples of sites that created compelling experiences with minimal resources and maximum ingenuity.
Reserve Your SpotSome stories don't have happy endings. Some involve violence, injustice, and perspectives that clash with contemporary values. This webinar addresses the challenge of presenting difficult content without sanitizing it or overwhelming visitors. We'll discuss frameworks for thoughtful, responsible interpretation of complex histories.
Reserve Your SpotCan't make it to a live session? We record everything and make it available afterward. These aren't polished productions—they're real conversations with all the tangents and unexpected insights that come from live discussion.
How do you interpret a place when the buildings are gone? This session covered techniques for reading landscapes, identifying historical traces, and helping visitors see what's no longer visible.
Watch RecordingThe debate between costumed interpretation and modern-dress tours continues. We looked at when each approach works, the pitfalls to avoid, and how some sites successfully blend both methods.
Watch RecordingPrimary sources can intimidate visitors or bore them to tears. This webinar explored ways to incorporate archival material into interpretation without losing either accuracy or engagement.
Watch RecordingOur webinars cover the practical side of interpretation—the stuff that comes up when you're actually working at a site rather than reading about it in a textbook.
How people move through spaces, what captures attention, and why some exhibits get ignored while others spark conversation. We focus on observation and iteration rather than theory.
The difference between someone who recites facts and someone who facilitates understanding. We discuss coaching techniques, feedback systems, and how to help interpreters find their own voice.
Scholars speak one language, visitors understand another. This covers the art of taking complex historical research and making it accessible without losing the substance or talking down to people.
Every historical event looks different depending on who's telling the story. We explore methods for presenting contested histories and helping visitors understand complexity rather than seeking simple answers.