"Historians tell it like it was," goes one saying, and many were doing just that at the June 22-24 National Underground Railroad Conference at the Holiday Inn-Eastgate in Clermont County. But these museum managers, archivists, historic preservationists and interpreters from across the county were also touring historic sites in Clermont County, all adding to the dollars flowing into local hotels, restaurants and retail establishments.
These are the fruits of heritage tourism, which Clermont County has been cultivating for more than a decade. In the late 1990s, the Clermont County Convention and Visitor's Bureau recognized an opportunity to celebrate the county's bicentennial with the Clermont County Underground Railroad Research Project. Led by Gary Knepp, a lawyer and county native with an avid interest in local history, the project used tax records, archived documents and oral history to tease out the long-held secrets of Underground Railroad and abolitionist activity in Clermont County.
In all, 33 Underground Railroad sites were documented in the county. This led, in turn, to the creation of a
Clermont County Freedom Trail, a walking or driving tour guide of these sites. Of those, 19 sites were designated by the National Park Service as part of the
Network to Freedom, a national recognition of these sites' importance in American history. This is the highest concentration of these sites in any county in the United States, which in turn inspired the National Park Service to host this year's national conference in Clermont County.
Heritage tourism is an eclectic phrase, including such obvious attractions as museums and living history farms but also historic homes, libraries, and walking tours. By supporting research that connects this area so vibrantly with the past, Clermont County has tapped into a unique kind of marketing that has increased tourism and scholastic attention, making its history a valuable asset in its future development.
Writer: Becky Johnson
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