Freeman tildens principles of interpretation

Freeman Tilden (August 22, 1883 – May 13, 1980) is known as the Father of Heritage Interpretation and lived to be 97 years old.

Tilden was the first author to ever provide a definition for the field of interpretation: “An educational activity which aims to reveal meanings and relationships through the use of original objects, by firsthand experience, and by illustrative media, rather than simply to communicate factual information.” He’s famous for writing the book Interpreting Our Heritage in 1957.

In this book he laid down the principles and theories of park interpretation that would inspire interpreters across the world for future generations to come.

The chief aim of interpretation is not instruction, but provocation.

- Freeman Tilden

Freeman was not a trained environmental educator or interpreter, instead he was a writer from a young age. It w