Heritage Consulting Inc. believes in empowering communities to preserve their unique histories while fostering sustainable growth and ensuring that historic sites remain vibrant and valued for future generations.

We offer a broad range of historic preservation services designed to support and enhance the sustainability of historic sites.

Heritage Tourism Assessments
Heritage Consulting Inc. assesses the visitor experience for historic sites seeking more visitors. We review the site’s physical condition, public amenities, interpretation, and marketing. Based on this review, we provide a final report with recommendations for long- and short-term improvements to enhance visitation. We worked with the Camden County History Alliance to create handsome rack cards to promote the 21 historic sites open to the public. See them below.

Heritage Tourism Plans
Heritage Consulting Inc. specializes in crafting comprehensive heritage tourism plans that enhance the visibility and engagement of historic sites within communities. Heritage Consulting ensures that these sites attract more visitors and gain long-term sustainability by assessing visitor experiences and implementing strategic initiatives, such as the successful yearlong plan for Camden County, NJ. Their expertise in organizing events like Camden County History Week highlights their ability to bring historic narratives to life, drawing local and broader audiences to experience and appreciate cultural heritage. See our award-winning Heritage Tourism Plan for Camden County History Alliance, Camden NJ below.

Best Practices for Board Service for Historic Sites
Heritage Consulting Inc. frequently provides board training on roles and responsibilities for historic sites. This topic is covered in the book chapter “The Essential Role of the Board in Reimagining Historic House Museums” in Reimagining Historic House Museums: New Approaches and Proven Solutions. The book is available now.

Design Guidelines

We have produced design guidelines for a variety of clients including our award-winning work for Haddon Heights NJ Historic Preservation Commision. See their Design Guidelines below.

Endangered Properties Programs and Revolving Loan Fund Feasibility Studies 
We have worked with three citywide preservation organizations to help them intervene in the local real estate market to find new preservation-minded buyers for threatened historic properties in town. We provided a feasibility study to create an Endangered Properties Fund for the Downtown Joplin (MO) Alliance, a local Main Street organization. Their fund works on projects to invest in, acquire, and sell to preservation-minded buyers. We have completed two other feasibility studies to create revolving loan funds for moderate-income homeowners in Columbus, OH, and Denver, CO. Our feasibility studies for these three organizations were completed with our partner, A. Elizabeth Watson of Heritage Strategies LLC. Currently, we are chairing the Revolving Loan Fund Committee of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, which is planning to launch a loan fund for historic homeowners in Philadelphia in 2025.  See our feasibility Study for Historic Denver Revolving Loan Fund below.

Training Workshops
Since 2004, Heritage Consulting Inc. has offered over thirty training programs for historic sites—our 2024 listing of workshops and consultations for landmark sites here. Our interactive seminars include hands-on exercises and extensive resources like articles, sample documents, checklists, and a bibliography on the client’s website. See our list of 2024 workshops and consultations for historic sites below

Strategic Plans for Historic Sites and History Organizations 
Heritage Consulting Inc. uses a four-phase process to create strategic plans for historic sites. We start with a Strengths, Weaknesses, Obstacles, and Opportunities Assessment Workshop with stakeholders. Next, we conduct an online survey to gather feedback on events, programs, and organizational relationships. This information is summarized in the report. We then held a Visioning and Goal Setting Workshop to identify key strategies and projects. Finally, we create and review a five-year draft Strategic Plan, which includes a revised mission statement, vision statement, and key goals for the site’s future.

Conference Facilitation
Over the years, we have helped various organizations convene retreats or summits to explore common concerns in a group setting. We work with the conference organizers to provide an agenda, gather pre-conference information to share, and facilitate discussion among the participants using panels, small group round tables, questionnaires, or full group discussions. 

We enjoy working with various preservation organizations, historic sites, and house museums. Please see our testimonials from clients on another page of this website.  Contact us at heritageconsultinginc@gmail.com to learn more.