Proposed Signage rules for interpreting and presenting Western American Mining History
1. List production in ozs/lbs. Refrain from citing total production in dollars at the time of extraction. Convert historic production to current dollars (current being either present day or at time of signage placement.
2. Include personalities. Mines have names. So too do the mine’s prospectors and developers.
3. Mention any technological advances, firsts, etc.
4. List the minerals mined, especially if any locality types are present. [A locality type is a mineral who was first discovered or is only found at the mine location.]
5. Use photos and maps/diagrams of the particular mine, and avoid using generic diagrams to interpret the specific site.
6. Refrain from editorializing about decline, decay, abandonment, death of a mine or camp or district. If history teaches us anything, it is that mines and districts are reused, rediscovered, and remined. Use idle instead of dormant.
7. Avoid politicizing pet policies. Signage should NOT explain the evils of mining or try to justify current political agendas over the facts and circumstances of history. Do not fall in temptation to sign a mine as an example of man’s inhumanity to nature.
8. Do not play bats against biography or ecology over geology. Mines are more than bat habitat—signage should emphasize the human and geological processes as well as enlighten the visitor about bat habitat.
9. Do not over emphasize danger. Interpretive signage is more than a OSHA warning label—however it is appropriate to memorialize any loss of life or substantial injuries at the site, even modern incidents.
10. Have fun—Include google keywords and suggestions for further reading; use before and after panoramic photos to convey the changes to the landscape; put a scannable/downloadable chip into the sign to allow soundbites and photos and text to be shared with visitors with computer capabilities.
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