HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Tourism Report 2-8-2010
Heritage Tourism Report 2‐8‐2010 Barbara Donalson Althaus, Chair Heritage Tourism has reached out to several segments in Brazos County, some long ignored: 1. African‐American and Hispanic
communities 2. Millican and Edge areas 3. OSR commercial operations 4. Historical commissions in surrounding counties 5. Bryan/College Station city councils and Parks & Rec Depts 6.
Brazos County commissioners and Road & Bridge Dept 7. Downtown historic Bryan 8. Visitors in downtown Bryan on First Fridays, Veterans Day, Boonville Days 9. Students of B/CS schools
10. National Park Service, acting as intermediary between cities of Bryan – College Station 11. Recruited Forsyth Galleries to downtown Bryan. Forsyth Gallery was left out of the Annual
Report to the Texas Historical Commission – perhaps the biggest attraction to happen to historic downtown Bryan. Our Minutes did not mention that BCHC was the main reason Forsyth came
to Bryan, even after I brought the Eagle newspaper and read it out loud. Instead of receiving kudos, the Heritage Tourism committee has been mostly ignored. 1. Our chairman didn’t visit
any of our outreach efforts. 2. Our chairman forgot to mention Heritage Tourism during the meeting of heritage groups called by the City of Bryan. 3. Heritage Tourism is not mentioned
in our current budget. 4. Originally H. T. was placed last on the Agenda. Many times I did not get to give a report because we had to vacate the library. This doesn’t make sense, even
though the Texas Historical Commission honored 10 years of Heritage Tourism by devoting the entire 2008 state conference to heritage tourism. Anne Boykin and I attended and came back
and made major strides in heritage tourism. Henry attended portions also. In summary, I’m proud of what we did even if our leaders did not recognize our work. All of us on the Heritage
Tourism committee know in our hearts – and saw in the eyes of history‐loving people – that we were doing the right thing. We carried out directives of THC and brought our county history
to people. We will always carry that satisfaction. Again, I say to each member of the Heritage Tourism committee: thank you and you did a wonderful job.