Station VS. Guided Tours

Comparison between Station and Guided Tours Formats
at the SS William G. Mather Museum

Attribute	Station Tours	Guided Tours
Description	Visitors move on a prescribed route receiving interpretation from guides stationed at key junctures for the entire tour experience	Visitors are led by one guide interpreter on a prescribed route throughout their tour experience
Tour Length	45'-90' with 60' average	60'-90' with 75' average
Visitor Perspective	Advantages   Encounter different perspectives, expertises   Changes frequently, stimulating   Sense of discovery§ Freedom, flexibility Disadvantages   Can get lost readily, miss info. and sections    Info. disjointed - hard to see big picture	Advantages   Establish a relationship with Guide   Continuity, completeness   Wayfinding much better   Guide can reassure, prompt Disadvantages    Pace inflexible to individual needs, interests   Experience only one individual's knowledge, style
Museum Perspective	Advantages   More flexible to walk-in visitor fluctuations   Smaller staff can provide min. coverage   Can place expertise in best location Disadvantages   Harder to control visitor experience, safety, and security   Message disjointed - no momentum	Advantages   Guide provides watchful presence - monitors safety and security   More thorough, even coverage   Affords flexibility needed for volunteer scheduling Disadvantages   Cannot accommodate attendance fluctuations readily   More expensive for minimum coverage
Interpreter Perspective	Advantages   Not as physically taxing   Develop an expertise and comfort for particular sections (ideal for new Docents) Disadvantages   Due to traffic flow, hard to give visitors needed attention since other visitors may come upon the scene and need briefing   Hard to control quality/amount of information for each visitor   Interpretation tends to be more perfunctory, rote	Advantages    Establish a relationship with a group   Can develop material throughout tour   Can give a bigger picture Disadvantages   Much more weather sensitive, especially if covering an outside station   Physically taxing   Could be stuck with problematic visitors for a longer time.

 

Principles | Definitions

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