Developing a Geotrail: Utilizing Geocaching and Letterboxing in Public Archaeology

Summary

Geocaching is a world-wide scavenger hunt game where players try to find hidden containers by using GPS coordinates of their location posted online. Activities like geocaching offer organizations a great opportunity to promote cultural resources and provide interpretation to players. In 2011 the Florida Public Archaeology Network created a geocaching trail, or geotrail, highlighting historic and archaeological sites in Northwest Florida as a way to promote heritage tourism in the region. Additionally, it provides public interpretation of the cultural resources located at the sites to instill awareness and stewardship. This pilot program has produced excellent results, but many obstacles were encountered early in its development. This paper uses our geotrail as a case study to explore the benefits and challenges of the trail, and to show how similar methods of creating geotrails can be utilized in this way. Implications for this type of use with letterboxing will also be considered. 

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Remember a Day: Community and Public Archaeology   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2013

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Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 642