Finding inspiration in the past, creating meaning for the present and planning for the future.Consulting - Planning - Preservation - Research - Interpretation - School Programs - Exhibits - Interpretive TrailsFor Cultural and Environmental History.Making Sense of Place, Inc. draws on extensive knowledge and experience in cultural and natural history interpretation, to help make sense of the places in our lives, by integrating culture and nature in planning, research, and interpretive programming.See more of Tom Woods Projects and their RecognitionTom Woodswith Making Sense of Placeis an experienced historic site interpreter and naturalistTom Woods with Making Sense of Place has experience as a living history interpreter farming with oxen and horsesExamples of outdoor interpretive trail signs. Click to see larger images...These exhibit panels displayed on a trail at Seed Savers Exchange, Decorah, IAMore Samples
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Making Sense of Place, Inc.
Historical Interpretive Planning for museums, 
historic sites, and historical societies.
Historic Planners or Interpretive Planners or Historical Sites Interpretive 
Planning Consultants or Living Museum Curators or Open Air - Living
Museum Interpretive Specialists. Nature and Environmental History
Our goal is to interpret cultural exhibits for modern sensibilities through 
interaction, hands-on environments, and early technologies and methods.
STORIES OF THE PAST, MEANING FOR
THE PRESENT: INTERPRETING THE
HISTORY OF CITIES
federal statutes on historic preservation
city requested an archaeological investigation
publicly owned lots in the historic city neighborhood. 
Driving forces behind the city council’s decision 
growing appreciation of public history. With a better understanding of 
the city’s 
underground heritage
councilors hoped to plan for future development
more importantly the research might enhance public interpretation 
and attract visitors. Region’s tourism from Richmond to Yorktown, 
Madison to Milwaukee Wisconsin - widespread interest in some of the nation’s 
earliest historic sites plus a broad range of resources including prehistoric 
and possible early explorer and indian sites, prairie farm houses, and 
evidence of a military involvement during the Civil War, many historical 
points of 
interest.
The council astutely perceived 
that the city’s public history was despite the potential resources 
and the presence of several interpreted sites, most excellent. The current 
archaeological investigations have already begun to enhance interest in 
the city’s heritage. However, key to any future public history success 
will be the development of an interpretive plan. To paraphrase a planner 
for Colonial Williamsburg, public historians must decide what history will 
be taught and say why it is important. 
The following treatment outlines and justifies interpreting historic waysides 
and rest stops and nearby properties in Dane Count