A new website is taking a historical spin on Ottawa to boost the untapped tourism potential of institutions such as the Bytown Museum.
The website is called Destinations and the national initiative is aimed at promoting interest in museums, historic sites and heritage attractions through interactive tools and well-known Canadian figures. The Ottawa section is now available to the public on the website of Winnipeg-based Canada’s History, publisher of the bimonthly magazine of the same name.
Ottawa history writer Charlotte Gray has been a chair of Canada’s History Society for the past five years. She attended the launch of the website at the Bytown Museum recently and spoke about her involvement in the project.
“I was asked to write a short piece for the website about my favorite historical site, and I adore the Rideau Canal system, “says Gray, as she looks up and down the locks, which are filling with water. “The History Society does an amazing job at bringing history alive on this website.”
The website is designed like a portal, letting users time travel through history to see what many of Ottawa’s historic sites used to look like or were used for.
It maps thousands of national and local sites and provides updates on exhibitions and special events that are going on. The map is customizable and allows users to save locations and plan a trip.
Joel Ralph, director of audience development and user engagement at Canada’s History Society, explains that the website is like a portable guidebook.
“Once you have your favorite sites picked out, you can print it off and take it with you, “ says Ralph. “You can also download the PDF and put it onto your mobile or tablet device.”
The website also allows users to purchase tickets and merchandise from participating museums and donate money. Many of Ottawa’s historic institutions and museums rely heavily on volunteers and community donations, which makes this website invaluable, says Robin Etherington, executive director of the Bytown Museum.
“The Destinations web portal will be hugely important not only for the Bytown Museum, but for all museums and history and heritage organizations in Ottawa, allowing us to voice stories about what’s in the museum and encourage people travelling to click that button and add it to their travel agenda, “ says Etherington.
Etherington says this link between the museum and the online community is necessary for the functioning of the museum.
Destinations has teamed up with many notable Canadians to include a section where users can read stories about their favorite historical spots to visit and adventures they had had in the city. This includes Gray’s story about the Rideau Canada, but also stories from CBC News anchor Peter Mansbridge, former governor general Adrienne Clarkson and actor Tom Jackson.
“For us to be able to engage in a conversation with these famous Canadians and hear what their favorite location is in Canada from a historical perspective is very exciting, ” says Etherington. “It’s a very unique approach to encourage people to listen to history, participate and come see it for themselves.”
Once Destinations gains an audience that uses it to share their favorite sites or memories, the website will grow over time and contain more information.
“It will develop a life of its own, “ says Etherington. “People will be adding to it and communicating with it, and this will truly make it a resource and tool for people to use on their travels across Canada.”