WSP11775

• File Number: 8446
• Description: Cache La Poudre Platte Project
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 5/1/1975
• Title: Cache La poudre Trail Interpretive Plan
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

52

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Interpretation is not just a listing of numerous facts.

It is based upon facts, but it tries to go beyond the facts

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and to tell the story. Dates relevant to historical buildings

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are more interesting if th~y can be combined with information
about the people who used the building and their lives. Good
interpretation will go beYOnd the factual information and

try to present a total picture. Along the Cache La Poudre

Trail, telling about the d4tes of military Fort Collins

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is even more interesting if visitors can learn about the

daily activities or be giv~n a feel for what it was like to

live in that place at that time.

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3. Interpretation is an art, which combines
many arts, whethe~ the materials presented are
scientific, histo~ical or architectural. Any
art is in some deF,ree teachable;

The interpreter must Qevelop skills in the presentation

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of his subjects. He must ingeniously develop his message

as a poet or advertizing mQn so that he can capture his

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audience and lead them to Q discovery of his information.

As an example, the ir~igation systems of the Poudre

can be explained and their size and the amounts of water

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can be given, but developing the idea of man's great

conquest of nature and his success in making the dry

land highly productive is more exciting and interesting
than basic facts.

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4. The chief aim of lnterpretation is not
instruction, but provocation.

Interpretation seeks not just to inform an individual

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but endeavors to stimulate him to want to discover things

for himself and to understand what he sees.

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