Visitor Responses to Interpretation at Historic Kingsley Plantation

Abstract

A visitor survey was conducted at Kingsley Plantation to establish a baseline on visitor response to interpretation pertaining to slavery, the facilities available, and to determine the demographics of the visitors. A response rate of 71 percent indicated that walking about the site was the most preferred activity, and life stories of the people of the plantation were of most interest. Approximately 70 percent of respondents experienced intellectual and emotional responses to the park and its resources, and 90 percent found relevance in the topics presented at the park. Differences in results were most commonly based on race or age. White/Caucasian and Black/African-American visitors came to the park in different group types, and had different goals and responses than other racial groups to the site and its resources. The study and results provide opportunities for managers of similar sites dealing with uncomfortable issues to apply what was learned here.