The Town of The Blue Mountains will soon have its own online and interactive Cultural Map.
For the past several months, the town’s museum staff and the town’s GIS department have been working together on the cultural mapping project. Together, they are creating a comprehensive record of the cultural, natural and intangible features that define The Blue Mountains and its history.
When finished, local residents and visitors will be just a few computer clicks away from being able to access all aspects of the community’s history.
“This is very much a community project,” said Alessia Farris, curator of the Craigleith Heritage Depot. “It will allow people to get more appreciation for our local history and be aware of the stuff we have here.”
The project involves superimposing an 1872 map of Thornbury and Collingwood Township onto a map from current day. When the project is complete, visitors to the map’s webpage will be able to click on a symbol denoting a historical/heritage site in the town and learn more about that particular aspect of the community’s history.
Town staff are currently in the process of gathering historical records and photographs to enter into the system.
“We started uploading with the GIS team in March, we have 75 (sites) ready to go,” said Farris, who expects that when the project is finished a total of 120 sites will be documented and accessible.
The Cultural Map will include historical sites, local traditions, local stories and the community’s natural beauty.
