Showcasing Local History: The Heritage Center in Modern Tourism

Abstract

Heritage centers play a prominent role in the modern American tourism industry. Acting as a combination of a welcome center and a museum, these centers introduce visitors to the history and culture of a specific society and geographic place and cater to tourists who are looking for authentic local experiences. The Heritage Center of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County provides a case study for a successful heritage center, while the future Sumner County Music and Heritage Center provides a new opportunity for a development plan based on the successful center in Murfreesboro. Utilizing the best practices from the case study and implementing new ideas can catapult Sumner County into an ideal heritage tourism location. This study traces the evolution of the heritage center concept and then evaluates how this concept can be used to benefit Sumner County.