Great River Road Network of Museums and Interpretive Centers Nomination Form Click here to download printable form. Last updated on 3/20/24 Step 1 of 5 20% Name of organizationDate MM slash DD slash YYYY Address Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Contact Name First Last TitlePhoneEmail Website IntroductionThank you for your interest . This is a network of museums and interpretive centers about the Mississippi River along the Great River Road. It is not our intent to select every museum or interpretive center along the Mississippi River, even though we recognize there are hundreds of museums that are doing excellent work. Our goal is to have a network of premier institutions that are willing to work together to further the interpretive and marketing goals for the Great River Road. The first step in this nomination is to contact your MRPC state chair or a member of your state commission. Their input and support in your nomination is very important. Completion of this nomination does require time and completion of all the requested information, including photos and letters of support. Do not let the space provided limit your responses. There are currently two model nominations to use as reference in completing your nomination. Click here. Section 1- Qualifications:The institution must interpret the Mississippi River or some significant aspect or relationship to the river with a high level of quality, commensurate to the level of size, staffing and funding, and be open to the public on a published, regular basis.1. What story does your institution tell about the Mississippi River as part of its regular daily visitor experience? How does it relate to the themes for interpretation, which are attached? Why do you feel that this significant aspect or relationship to the river is presented at a high level of quality? Describe the quality of the visit your guests receive.2. What is the length of stay for the typical visitor experience at your institution? Please provide what you consider an average time, what you consider a short stay and what you consider a long stay for regular attendance.One hour = Average, 30 Minutes – Short Stay, Two Hours – Long Stay3. What educational or interpretive programs beyond exhibits do you conduct that interpret the Mississippi River or some significant aspect or relationship to the river?4. What are your published and regular hours? Please describe hours for various seasons.5. What is the annual attendance for regular museum hours at your site, exclusive of special events? What is the admission fee?6. What is your proximity to the Great River Road? Interpretive Centers must be located in the county/ parish adjacent to the Mississippi River, the county/parish that the Great River Road runs through and/or part of the state's Great River Road Corridor Management Plan.7. Did you enclose a letter of endorsement from your state Mississippi River Parkway Commissioner? Yes No AttachmentsLetters of support and a letter of endorsement by your state Mississippi River Parkway Commission Commissioner are encouraged.Letter of Support - File 1Max. file size: 32 MB.Letter of Support - File 2Max. file size: 32 MB.Letter of Support - File 3Max. file size: 32 MB.Letter of Support - File 4Max. file size: 32 MB. Section II - Duties and Obligations:1. Members of the network must have the Great River Road map at their site, at a minimum for reference, but preferably for sale or for distribution to visitors. One map will be provided as will an order form for additional maps. Will you agree to stock and/or sell the Great River Road map? Yes No Unsure 2. Members of the network must ensure that front line personnel who have contact with the public are knowledgeable of and will promote the Great River Road and other members of the Network of Interpretive Center. Describe how you will ensure that your front line personnel will be trained, briefed and monitored.3. Are you willing to display signage at your center showing that you are a member of the Great River Road Network? This may be inside or outside signage, but must be prominently displayed. Where will you display the Interpretive Center sign? Describe the location inside or outside.4. Are you willing to secure the needed funds to have an officially approved Great River Road Interpretive Center sign erected at your site? Yes No Unsure 5. Are you willing to use and incorporate the Great River Road Network of Interpretive Centers language and Great River Road logo on all future marketing and promotional materials (i.e. radio, newsprint, social media, websites, maps, rackcards and brochures, etc.)? Sample language: [Name of Interpretive Center] is an Interpretive Center of the Great River Road – Mississippi River Parkway Commission National Scenic Byway. Yes No Unsure Section Ill - Capacity:1.What is the web address for your facility? Will you create a link to the Great River Road's website, experiencemississippiriver.com on our website?2. Do you have traveling exhibit space? If so, what size is it in square footage? Would you be willing or interested in hosting a traveling exhibit?AttachmentsPhotosPhoto - File 1Max. file size: 32 MB.Photo - File 2Max. file size: 32 MB.Photo - File 3Max. file size: 32 MB.Photo - File 4Max. file size: 32 MB. ProcessNominations can be submitted directly on this form or if using a PDF, scanned and emailed to [email protected] or mailed to directly to the Mississippi River Parkway Commission Office, PO BOX 7395 | Madison, WI 53707-7395. Nominations are reviewed at quarterly MRPC Culture and Heritage committee meetings but nominations must be received at least 30 days prior to the meeting date. Please include a letter of endorsement by your state Mississippi River Parkway Commission Commissioner. Nominations are reviewed by the Culture and Heritage Committee of the National Mississippi River Parkway Commission. This committee has representation from all 10 states of the Mississippi River. Nominations are then approved by the Board of Directors of the National Mississippi River Parkway Commission. The Great River Road Network of Interpretive Centers share the stories of the Mississippi River. These centers reside along the 10-state stretch of the river and range from museums, parks, nature centers, aquariums, historic and prehistoric sites. Benefits to Network members include: promotion and recognition through the National Mississippi River Parkway Commission. Interpretive Centers are attractions featured on printed Great River Road maps that are distributed internationally, as well as online at experiencemississippiriver.com, on social media platforms, included in itineraries, FAM trips, promotions and other related marketing.Overall ThemesTo assist in utilizing the overall theme and the 11 major themes, examples of stories in each category were developed. Click here to download.