New York City and its rural resources in Westchester County. Both the interior and exterior space may be utilized as a Croton Waterworks New York CityWestchester Center, with the goal of fostering Section 4: Interpretation Proposed Interpretation by Typology 63 along with a brief history/significance statement of the structure), blue searchlights could be put in place to mark the sites of these once-crucial features of the Croton Waterworks system. Section 4: Interpretation via monitors may be utilized at some sites to show their interiors, particularly for a shaft like Shaft 25. Off-site interpretation would include information on the Croton Waterworks website or diagrams/photographs in a museum environment. Siphons Due to the below-grade nature of siphons, projections on the ground or painted lines showing the length, depth, and shape of the siphons would be effective means of telling the public about these unseen features. Above: A proposed architectural competition poster calling for a new fountain design for the 119th Street Gatehouse Proposed Interpretation by Typology Keepers’ Houses Although six keepers’ houses once existed along the length of the Old Croton Aqueduct, only the keeper’s house in Dobbs Ferry is extant. Interpretation of both the demolished and extant structures is important to telling the story of how the aqueduct “keepers” lived. The conversion of the Dobbs Ferry Keeper’s House into a historic house museum would aid in educating the public about the human aspect of the Old Croton Aqueduct’s construction and maintenance. For the demolished structures, “On This Site” signage (with a historic photograph or drawing along with a brief history/significance statement of the structure) could be combined with a physical artistic/architectural interpretation of the houses (like Robert Venturi’s Franklin Court in Philadelphia). Water Towers Two water towers are known to have existed along the length of the Old Croton Aqueduct: one at 98th Street (between Amsterdam Avenue and Columbus Avenue), which is now demolished and High Bridge Water Tower, which is extant. Besides “On This Site” signage (with a historic photograph or drawing 64 65 Digital media has expanded the versatility and availability of interpretative strategies. These outlets provide on-demand access to immense amounts of information, completely reshaping the way we encounter the world around us. In particular, the Internet, social networking services, and cell phones have drastically transformed how knowledge and experience are exchanged. No longer are we required to physically visit a building or travel to a museum in order to engage with and learn more about it. We believe that the Croton Waterworks can benefit tremendously from these types of digital media. We recommend a variety of digital interpretative strategies that will work to engage and educate those who use them. In the following pages, we will outline how a smartphone application, an informative and interactive website and blog, and the use of quick response (QR) codes can be integrated into a holistic interpretative approach. In addition, we acknowledge many other existing or in-development tools that may prove useful in future interpretation schemes for the Croton Waterworks. For example, Google has recently introduced Google Goggles and Google City Tours, two applications that have already become indispensible tools for interpretation. Other potential resources include Broadcastr, a website and application dedicated to providing location-based stories, and GPS My City, another application that provides informative walking tours. It is through this multitude of digital media technologies that we envision the Croton Waterworks reaching more people than ever before. Recognizing the prevalence and power of digital media as a means of outreach and raising awareness, our group created two websites and a social media account on Facebook in order to establish an online presence. These resources are available to anyone with Internet access, which has allowed our group to address a broad and diverse group of individuals and organizations. Our participation in these online forums aims to fulfill two specific needs: to make our research and progress available to the general public and to encourage public discourse of the Waterworks system. These media also provide an off-site means of interpretation. The Croton Waterworks Website The Croton Waterworks website has served as a repository for historical research focused on system functionality, typologies, and individual structures. The website also functions as a point through which the public can access our group mission statement, images, statement of significance, videos, maps, oral histories, and Croton-related stories. We have included a varied program of references for visitors to access. These range from links to institutions like the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center and the Waterworks Museum in Berlin to relevant news stories like NPR’s urban exploration coverage and The New York Times’ exposé on hydrofracking. The site also contains a “Did You Know” section that highlights fun facts and stories such as the recipe for a Croton cocktail and Miru Kim’s photographic installations. Alumni Weekend. Despite an