Matthew Kramer|Public History

My primary interest in cultural and heritage tourism centers around how history can be experienced and interpreted in a meaningful, place-based way. As a graduate student in Public History, I’ve developed an interest in connecting historical narratives with physical locations where people can more directly engage with the past. Cultural tourism offers both the communities and the visitors an immersive way to connect with their history. 

One of my greatest strengths in this field is my interest in combining historical research with storytelling. Through past projects like digital exhibits and mapping projects, I have gained experience in presenting historical narratives in visually compelling ways, and heritage tourism is yet another way of historic storytelling. Matthew Kramer’s work has emphasized turning complex historical events into easily understandable stories for broad audiences while still maintaining depth. His experience with platforms such as Omeka and ArcGIS StoryMaps has strengthened his ability to design content that is both informative and compelling.

My historical interests primarily center on military history, including the Civil War and World War II. I am especially interested in the backgrounds and strategies of the conflicts themselves, along with their broader implications for society and the home front. These themes can be highly relevant to heritage tourism and allow for many perspectives and deeper interpretations. By focusing on both the large-scale military aspects and the experiences of individuals both on the battlefield and at home, I aim to create meaningful historical narratives. 

My design for a potential ten-day cultural tourism experience would be a Civil War-focused tour of the South Carolina lowcountry, including Hilton Head Island, Beaufort, and Charleston, and explore two key themes: Union occupation and the transition from slavery to freedom. Days 1-2 would begin with travel to Hilton Head and orientation, and Days 3-4 would be spent exploring Hilton Head sites such as Fort Mitchel, Fort Howell, and Mitchelville, one of the earliest freed Black communities in the US. Days 5-6 will be spent in Beaufort’s historic district to showcase early Union-occupied southern life. Days 7-10 will be spent in Charleston, exploring Fort Sumter and learning about the city’s naval defenses during the war. My familiarity with the region, combined with my interest and research in military history, positions me to design a tour that highlights some lesser-known aspects of the Civil War and its broader consequences.