Kelly Klobucher | Museum Executive | Cultural Tourism Strategist | Non-Profit Leader

A Muse and The Backyard Tourist Blogs

Museums: A Love Story
Museums Drive the Economy in Pontiac, IL
Artists as Architects of Social Justice

Preserving Pride: Exploring LGBTQ+ Museums and History Sites in Illinois

Illinois has long stood at the center of LGBTQ+ history in America. From early gay rights activism in Chicago to nationally significant archives preserving queer culture, the state offers travelers a chance to experience history through museums, libraries, memorials, and public spaces dedicated to telling stories too often left out of traditional narratives. These places are more than attractions. They…

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Heritage Preservation as Economic Strategy

Preserving historic places is often framed as a cultural responsibility. But it is also a powerful economic strategy. Historic buildings, museums, and heritage sites attract visitors seeking authentic experiences. These visitors contribute to local economies through dining, lodging, shopping, and repeat travel. Preservation also supports long-term sustainability. Reusing existing structures reduces environmental impact while maintaining…

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Social Media

I took a trip to Graceland last week. I couldn't help but thing of ways to right size their business model to small museums. The Passage "Trail of Tears" Memorial in Chattanooga. #PublicArt #ThisPlaceMatters The Bluff View Art District, Chattanooga, TN is a historic, neighborhood perched atop stone cliffs overlooking the Tennessee River and downtown Chattanooga. "The Passage" in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, is a renowned public art installation and memorial marking the exact site of Ross's Landing, where the tragic Cherokee forced removal began in 1838. It features a "weeping wall" cascading into a pool and honors the seven clans of the Cherokee Nation. The Chattanooga Choo Choo is a world-famous historic site, a legendary 1941 big band song, and a thriving downtown entertainment hub located right here in Chattanooga. While there was never an official passenger train named the "Chattanooga Choo Choo," the name originally served as an 1880 nickname for a Cincinnati-to-Chattanooga wood-burning locomotive. Today, the name refers to the beautifully preserved Terminal Station, which operates as a multi-use retail, dining, and hotel complex. We hiked in a cave and saw Ruby Falls! #SoOutdoorsy #ImAHikerNow #GirlsWhoTravel Ruby Falls is a 145-foot underground waterfall inside Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee, discovered in 1928 and named after the discoverer's wife, Ruby. Visitors take a glass-front elevator 260 feet down into the mountain to walk a guided trail past stunning rock formations to the thundering waterfall, which is illuminated with a light and music show. Following the brown highway signs today! Found the Tina Turner Museum! Such a cool little museum! Sun Studio, in Memphis, Tennessee, is the legendary "Birthplace of Rock 'N' Roll" where Sam Phillips founded the Memphis Recording Service in 1950. It is the iconic studio where musical legends like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and B.B. King launched their careers.