Washington County set to conclude project celebrating Old Spanish Trail

The Washington County Historical Society and the Tourism Development Council (TDC) have completed the final phase of a three-year project dedicated to the Old Spanish Trail (Highway 90), as part of the Historic Highway 90 Corridor plan initiated in 2015.

This project aims to celebrate and interpret the heritage of Washington County and its segment of the Old Spanish Trail National Highway.

The first phase of the project, completed by the Washington County Historical Society, saw the installation of 30 interpretive panels throughout the county, detailing the historical significance of various locations. These panels provide visitors with on-site historical information, and there are plans to add more panels as funding becomes available.

In the second phase, the TDC developed a digital story map using ArcGIS technology. Launched last year, this map highlights historical narratives from Chipley to Caryville along the Old Spanish Trail. Efforts are currently underway to expand this digital resource, incorporating additional historical points throughout Washington County. The complete digital map is slated for an official launch in July 2024.

The culmination of this project is a 36-page glossy printed guide, offering a comprehensive look at the history of the Old Spanish Trail and Washington County. This guide not only serves as a valuable resource for visitors to local museums and visitor centers but also directs readers to the digital story map for further exploration.

This dual approach is intended to allow for an unlimited amount of digital content, for visitors to experience both in-person and online.

“Our goal with this project is to help people explore and appreciate the rich heritage of our county and our segment of the Old Spanish Trail,” Washington County Tourist Development Center Director Heather Lopez said. “Heritage tourism is a growing segment and we wanted to place more focus on it. Our largest tourism assets are in outdoor recreation and history and we needed to have a way to interpret and promote the history in the county better.”

The completion of this project is coincides with Washington County’s bicentennial celebration in 2025. The guide and expanded story map are expected to be ready by July 2024, with a formal launch event planned to showcase these new resources.