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ZOOM IN: Barbara Erickson

ZOOM IN: Q&A with Barbara Erickson, President & CEO of the Trustees of Reservations, Boston (www.thetrustees.org)

Please describe the history and purpose of the Trustees of Reservations--and the mission going forward as the organization embarks on its 126th year.

The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is Massachusetts’ largest conservation and preservation organization, founded in 1891 by landscape architect and land preservation pioneer Charles Eliot to save and share places of exceptional scenic, natural, and cultural significance for the benefit of the public.

Today, we hold our collection of 116 “reservations”--which range from iconic historic house museums featuring designed landscapes and gardens, to pristine beaches and woodland trails, working farms, and beautiful inns and campgrounds set on acres of conservation land--in “trust” for people of all ages and interests to appreciate and enjoy. Our renewed mission is to build on the legacy of Eliot and our former leaders to inspire a greater awareness among adults and children, our future conservationists, for appreciating, protecting and enjoying our natural and historic sites by creating new and innovative experiences that foster a sense of community connection, exploration, and healthy, active living in our increasingly digitized world.

--As a preeminent member of the Massachusetts "landscape," how does The Trustees contribute to the state's tourism economy

Our 1.75 million annual visitors travel from within Massachusetts, New England, and beyond, to visit our iconic destination properties and purchase entry passes and tickets to our historic house museum, garden, beach and lighthouse tours, as well as guided hikes and paddling programs, cooking, craft and other skill-building classes, and special events like outdoor musical performances and festivals. They also support the local food tourism economy by visiting our working farm properties and purchasing locally made and sourced food and products at our farm stores and our Appleton Farms booth at the Boston Public Market--the first all-locally sourced market in the nation.

Since Massachusetts is also considered a gateway to heritage travel, several of our properties, including Naumkeag house and gardens in Stockbridge, Bartholomew’s Cobble in Sheffield, the Old Manse in Concord, and Castle Hill on the Crane Estate and Crane Beach--all National Historic and/or Natural Landmarks--are a huge draw among tourists interested in literary, historic and scenic landscapes, as well as cultural sites. They represent a 300-year preserved timeline of important architecture, designed landscapes and gardens, decorative arts and collections, and fascinating stories of their former inhabitants, many of whom are deeply rooted in our local, state, and national histories.

How can planners utilize the Trustees' broad range of outdoor assets--and how do these enrich the group agenda?

Since so many of our properties are must-see stops on anyone’s visit to Massachusetts, meeting planners can consider our outdoor and cultural properties as destinations for group activities such as organized or self-guided hikes, historic house museum landscape and garden tours, and accommodating sites for special meetings or group events. Many of our properties welcome groups, and can make special arrangements in advance depending on the group size and time of year. Trustees’ properties provide not only a beautiful and restorative backdrop for meetings, but can offer enriching and inspirational experiences and programs led by our staff experts.