Great River Road Network of Interpretive Centers Visit Checklist
State Commissioner visits annually or bi-annually by making an appointment with the I.C. Director or appropriate personnel.
The goal is to develop a stronger relationship between the Interpretive Centers (I.C.) and the MRPC.
During the visit, the commissioner will review the checklist and share new or ongoing information about the MRPC. The talking points should include benefits of being an I.C. (e.g., featured on website, printed maps, social media, itineraries and more.)
- Interpretive Center Visited Helena Museum of Phillips County
- Date of VisitMay 17, 2022
- Visiting Commissioner's NameJoe St. Columbia
- Name, Title, Email and Telephone Number of I.C. Personnel InterviewedJoe Anne Hargraves, President of Helena Museum of Phillips County, [email protected], 870-338-0786
- What are your regular hours?Wed-Fri 10-4, Sat 10-2
- What is your admission pricing?Free
- How many visitors do you see annually?1,021
- Does I.C. have a website?Yes
- Website URLhttps://www.helenamuseum.com/
- Do you have a button on your website with the Great River Road logo and link to the experiencemississipprver.com website?No
- URL to page where button is located
- When will you be adding a logo and link?
- Do you have a Facebook page?Yes
- Facebook URLhttps://www.facebook.com/helenamuseumpc
- Do you carry GRR maps or rack cards for sale, distribution or on display?Yes
- Do you display a GRR banner or other signage?Yes
- Are your frontline personnel knowledgable of the GRR? Do they receive any formal training?Yes
- Do you have photos or video of your I.C. to share for promotional use?Yes
- What other Interpretive Centers do you communicate with regarding GRR activities?Delta Cultural Center
- How could the state or national MRPC help your interpretive center?Continue the promotion of our site through publications and the website
- What do you need from us?More education about the benefits and advantages of being a GRR IC.
- How have you worked with the MRPC in the past?The director of AR GRR and one commissioner are locals who keep us informed about news from the MRPC.
- How does being affiliated with the Great River Road help your visitation?Promotion of our site reaches a broader market through GRR.
- Do many people visit your IC because they are travelling the Great River Road?Yes
- Has the status as an All-American Road led to more visitation?No
- Do people know about this designation and why it matters?Yes
- How does your organization currently connect visitors to the Mississippi River and the Great River Road?Providing maps of GRR; cross-promote with other IC; encourage visitors to go to local Riverpark
- Are the descriptions for your listing on the National Great River Road website and, if applicable, on your state’s Great River Road website up to date?Yes
- Please send updated information as needed, along with a photo (or photos) that you’d like us to use for promotional purposes.
- What are you doing to engage diverse audiences?Work with local schools, public and private, to educate them about local history
- Is the contact information on you website up to date?Yes
- Please send updated information as needed, include a phone number and email contact?
- COVID-19 Impacts
- How has Covid affected your staff and visitation at your IC over the past two years?The American Duchess canceled all stops; we were closed for 10 months, reopening in July with appropriate precautions. Several private tours were canceled.
- How are you planning to adjust or how have you adjusted in 2022?Have masks and hand sanitizer available and follow state guidelines.
- What do you see as the long-term impacts?some people are still hesitant about traveling and being around groups.
- How can MRPC help with regard to the impacts of Covid?More of what you are already doing.
Comments:
People love having pictures taken by the GRR sign