Heritage tourism: a case study of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Heritage Site at Pepin, Wisconsin

Abstract

Many things must be taken into consideration when developing a heritage tourism site. It can be a wonderful opportunity for the community involved to benefit economically and historically. Heritage tourism can keep alive the heritage and traditions of the communities past. When it is discovered that a heritage site exists, the first step is to consult with the community. A site will not succeed without the acceptance and assistance from the community involved. Once the interest is known, the development process can proceed. After determining that there is a heritage tourism site possibility in their area, a commumity must do research to determine the feasibility of the site, what will make it a success, and how to obtain that success. This study will examine a community with a heritage tourism site that has been successful in developing and maintaining it's site. By conducting this study, other communities seeking information for developing their site will have an example and tool to work with. The site chosen for this study is the Laura Ingalls Wilder site in Pepin, Wisconsin. The town is rich with it's heritage associated with Laura Ingalls Wilder. The development and success for this town will be documented through this study. Laura Ingails Wilder is a perfect choice for examining heritage tourism. The author of many American Pioneer books, she has become famous all over the world. In turn all places that she or her family members lived are or are becoming heritage tourism sites. There are older ones that have been in progress for some years, such as the one in Pepin, and there are ones that are being discovered through the popularity of new books written about Laura's family. These communities would benefi greatly from the information this study will produce. Without the bene-fit of this knowledge communities who are unaccustomed to tourism or the way the other Laura Ingalls Wilder sites operate, may make terrible errors in development, tarnishing the site. This may also reflect badly on the other Laura Ingalls Wilder sites. It is important for new Wilder sites to examine all information and know exactly what they are doing when developing the site. If all the Laura Ingalls Wilder sites can benefit from each other's knowledge and experience it will greatly increase the market for all sites. The more detailed and expansive the sites are about their knowledge and sites to see, the more people are going to want to travel to as many sites as possible, learning all they can about the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family. These sites not only attract Laura Ingalls Wilder fans but all people that are interested in the American Pioneer period of the United States history. This study will provide the knowledge for communities who are developing heritage tourism sites, especially those focusing on Laura Ingalls Wilder. This is a very important study for tourism and especially heritage tourism. When a heritage site is discovered communities run into the barrier of not having the experience and knowledge to develop the site properly. This study will analyze tourism in Pepin, Wisconsin to determine it's successfulness due to the fact that it is a Laura Ingalls Wilder heritage tourism site, and Wfit was developed in a way to provide tourists with a view of Laura Ingalls Wilder's past and the past of many Pioneer Americans. By studying this subject it will allow for many people to benefit. Tourist who are seeking the pleasure of the knowledge of the past, and communities who want to preserve their past and profit from tourism.