Interpreting Freeman Tilden

"Does it really make any difference if you do believe something, but are at the same time intolerant of someone who does not agree or concur in your beliefs?"

Key Moments

01:27  Meeting Freeman Tilden.

09:42 Starting a Career with Park Service at age 58.

11:54 Freeman Reevaluates National Park Service Principles and Writes "Interpreting Our Heritage" at age 71

14:59 Aiming for Visitor Engagement, Not Just Facts

.17:00 Becaming a Team for National Park Service

22:58 Lasting Impact of 47 years of Documented Experiences.

26:06 Focusing on Environment, Change, and Tolerance.

27:03 Human Interference with Nature, Moral Poverty, and Creating Positive Experiences

33:03 Presentation about Freeman Tilden at Ranger Rendezvous 47

Ranger Rendezvous Information

National Park Service Bio of Freeman Tilden

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Interpreting Freeman Tilden

In this episode, Walt Dabney returns to share share his extraordinary experience as a student trainee. Walt is the retired director of Texas State Parks and a former National Park Service employee who held various roles during his distinguished career. He even spent an entire year working closely with the legendary Freeman Tilden. Tilden was an author and is known as the Father of Heritage Interpretation. Throughout his career, he wrote works like "Interpreting Our Heritage" and "The World in Debt," and collaborated with notable figures like H. L. Mencken.

Imagine traveling 30,000 miles across the United States by car and train, visiting national parks, and engaging with park staff, colleges, and universities—all while being under the mentorship of one of the most influential figures in park interpretation. That's what Walt experienced in 1970.

In our conversation, Walt reflects on the invaluable life lessons he learned from Freeman, the lasting friendship they forged, and how Freeman’s teachings continue to influence park professionals and leaders to this day. For example, he emphasized the importance of personalized storytelling in park interpretation. 

Tilden also believed that the National Park Service played a crucial role in the moral fabric of the country, advocating for self-improvement and quality over materialism. Freeman Tilden’s insights go beyond just park interpretation. His guidance on self-change and passion-driven impact remains valuable life advice for us all.

Make sure to listen to this episode to learn about the profound impact of Freeman Tilden on park interpretation and learn why his wisdom extends beyond parks to life itself. Thank you to Walt Dabney for taking us on a journey back to those transformative times and sharing insights into your own years interpreting Freeman Tilden.