Historical, Heritage, Nature and Environmental Tourism

Historical-Heritage and Nature-Environmental Tourism: 

The 20th and 21st Century in America

Julie Ann Racino

August 2018

Excerpted from: Racino (2003). Utica Monday Nite: Arts, Culture, Nature and History at the City Level. Rome, NY: Community and Policy Studies.

Historical and Heritage Tourism

       The major theme of the History Park in 2002 for Utica Monday Nite (current events today, 2018) was the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution. Other History Park events  included the national historical sites of Oriskany Battlefield, General Herkimer's Home and Fort Stanwix (the Fort Schuyler) located in the region. Alan D. Foote, President of the Mohawk Valley History Project, together with David Morgan, Commander at Fort Stanwix, were among those participating in the series of events at the History Park (See, Foote and Storn, 2001). 

     Major commemorative events for the Anniversary were candeleria ceremonies on the Oriskany Battlefield hillside with descendants of the battle (photos on Square Market/ Community and Policy Studies), and historical tourism events (e.g., re-enactments and encampments) at Fort Stanwix. The latter described the siege of Fort Stanwix which stood its ground during the revolution (also, Summer 2018, and 100 years of the National Parks, United States of America). Similar to tourism sites today, the site hosts a museum, gift store, and archeological artifacts from the period. 

      In addition, the Oneida Historical Society (now the History Center) continued a coordinated series of programs during Summer 2002 with Utica Monday Nite, including such evenings as Ukranian Independence Day in Europe and the German Mannaechor celebrations.  Host and Trustee Joe Kelly recently held an event at the History Center to bring local history to the public for presentation and discussion, and Frank Tomaino spoke in 2017 at historic Bagg's Square in Utica, NY.  James Pula edited the Encyclopedia of Polish American History for the reference collections (see, Utica Public Library). Rome Historical Society hosted a 200 years of the Erie Canal event celebrating the canal that changed New York's history. 

Anderson, K.C.B. (2002). Strength and harmony in the Mohawk Valley's Welsh and Polish communities. In: J.S. Pula (Ed.), Faces in the crowd: Ethnic portraits. (pp. 35-53). Utica, NY: Center for Historical Research, Utica College.  

Campbell, W.W. & Stone, W.L. (1977). Seige of Fort Stanwix (Schuyler) and Battle of Oriskany. Rome, NY: Bropard, Inc.

Foote, A. (1999). Historical guide to the Battle of Oriskany. Whitesboro, NY: Kwik Copy Printing Center and the Mohawk Valley History Center.

Greenman, J. (1978). Diary of a common soldier in the American Revolution, 1775-1783.  DeKalb, IL: Northern Illinois University Press. 

Herkimer, G. (1996). Road to Oriskany. Corpus Christi, TX: Alfa Publishers. 

Lutyk, C.B. (1996, January/February). America's national monuments. National Geographic Explorer, XIII(1), pp. 88-99.  (Fort Stanwix, p.99).

Raphael, R. (2001). Native Americans. A people's history of the American revolution: How common people shape the fight for independence. (pp. 187-244). NY, NY: The New Press. 

Symonds, C.L. (1986). Map #14: Forts Stanwix and Oriskany: A battlefield atlas of American history. (p.43). USA: The Nautical and Aviation Publishing Co. 

Tehanetoreous. (1999). Wampum belts of the Iroquois. Summertown, TN: Book Publishing Co. 

....(nd). Historic Utica: A guide to the city's outdoor sculpture. Utica, NY: Landmark Society of Greater Utica. 

Thayer, K.C. & Foote, A.D. (2002). The young liberators: Volume one: From civilian to soldier. Utica, NY and Holland Patent, NY: Oneida County Historical Society and Steffen Publishing Co. 

Tomaino, F. (1998, October). Utica, NY. In: D.F. White (Ed.), Exploring 200 years of Oneida County history. (pp. 97-115). Utica, NY: Oneida County Historical Society. 

Venables, R.W. (1995). Introduction. The six nationals of New York: Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, Senecas and Tuscaros. (pp. vii-xxvii). Ithaca, NY and London, GB: Cornell University Press.  

In 2014, Mohawk Valley Living continued to explore "Arts, culture and heritage of our valley", including the Shawangunk Nature Preserve in Coldbrook (founded in 1975), and Notes from East Utica (e.g., Annual pilgrimage and feast of Sts. Cosmas and Damian).  In 2017, the Declaration of Independence continues "to be read" at Fort Stanwix in a ceremony on the 4th of July annually held in Rome, New York. The Ukranian situation in Europe was dire upon a "Russian takeover", and the UN and Congressional web tv stations are available. 

Nature Tourism and the Environment

      Nature tourism, also known as environmental and ecotourism (e.g., Moran, 1999), has been introduced to Utica Monday Nite through tours of the Utica Marsh (including an introduction through the windows of the Adirondack Scenic Railroad) and in 2002, with a series presented by the local chapter of Kids Against Pollution (KAP) based at the Children's Museum. Nature tourism, while reflecting state, regional, city, county and national parklands, is locally most associated with the Erie Canal (promoted throughout New York State) and with the region's location as a doorway to the Adirondacks, one of the forestlands of beauty, (conservation), and recreation in the state. 

        Currently (2018), bicycling is popular, and bicycling atlas and maps are available in local areas in New York (e.g., Oneida and Herkimer counties). In addition, continued development along the Erie Canal, included new construction of the trailpaths linking throughout the state, and in the local area, a new award winning Chittenango Landing (land of Oz celebration annually). In addition to the Adirondacks, the Catskill Mountains are popular in New York with cross country skiing, snow shoe trails, snow tubing, downhill skiing, snowmobiling trails (see, conflicts on use and the environment), snowboarding for "our Nordic friends". 

      The new ecotourism was agri-tourism with recommended maple syrup and honey among the products with eateries, B&Bs (bed and breakfast), and restaurants central to any tourism industry. Yet to be discussed with these industries are all the meat and poultry products which are regulated similar to the FDA (food and drug administration) in Washington, DC. 

Brown, L.R., Flavin, C. & French, H. (2000). State of the world 2000: A worldwatch institute report on progress toward a sustainable society. NY, NY: W.W. Norton & Co., Inc. 

Chazen Companies. (2001, September). Rome Sand Plains Register. Glens Falls, NY: Author. 

Clinton, B. & Gore, A. (1992). Environment. Putting people first: How we can change America. (pp. 93-99). NY, NY: Times Blake. 

Digeronimo, T. (1995). A student's guide to volunteering. Franklin Lakes, NJ: Career Press. 

French, H. (2000). Vanishing borders: Protecting the planet in the age of globalization. NY, NY: Worldwatch Institute. 

Hollender, J. (1990). Part I: Protecting the environment. How to make the world a better place. (pp. 27-110). NY, NY: William Morrows Co., Inc.

Long, V.H. (1993). Nature tourism: Environmental stress and environmental saturation. In: A. J. Veal, P. Johnson, & G. Cushman (Eds.), Leisure and tourism. Sydney, Australia and Ontario Canada: Center for Leisure and Tourism Studies, and the World Leisure and Recreation  Association. 

Moran, E. (Ed.) (1999). The global ecology, 71(4). NY, NY: H.W. Wilson Co. 

Morgan, S. (1997). Homes and cities. NY, NY: Franklin Watts, Divisions of Grollier Publishing. 

Nadakavukaven, A. (1995). Our global environment: A health perspective. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press, Inc. 

New York State Public Service Commission. (1998). Environmental disclosure: A consumer's guide. Albany, NY: Author. 

...(nd). Tales and trails: Central Leatherstocking Country Region: I love New York. Herkimer, NY: Oneida County Convention and Visitor's Bureau. 

....(nd). Adirondack Journeys: A guide to travel in the Adirondacks: I love New York. Plattsburgh, NY: Adirondack Regional Tourism Council. 

Portney, P.R. & Stavins, R.N. (Eds.). (2000). Public policies for environmental protection. Washington, DC: Resources for the Future. 

Thomas, B. (1978). The swamp. NY, NY: W.W. Norton & Co., Inc. 

Utica Marsh Council, Inc. (1989). A marsh for all seasons: Information and teacher's guide for Utica Marsh. Utica, NY: Author. 

Wachter, M. & Tinnley, C. (1996). Appendix B: A sample curriculum based on ecology. Taking back our neighborhoods. Minneapolis, MN: Fairview Press. 

In 2018, the author (Julie Ann Racino) continues as a member of the Section on the Environment and Natural Resources Administration (SENRA) of the American Society for Public Administration located in Washington, DC.

Julie Ann Racino also recommends the Square Market/Community and Policy Studies report, Reflections on community integration in rural communities in upstate New York (Racino, 2014) at http://www.crcpress.com/authors