Vision and reality coalesced in Nebraska, creating a new 'somewhere' for travelers.
"We had seen radio stations at other top attractions and knew that an Information Station would be crucial for an enroute tourism spot such as the Archway," recounts Jeff Smith of the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument Project, when asked where the idea for the station originated. Now, with the Monument's new Information Station in place, instead of being a perplexing (albeit amazing) structure seemingly in the middle of "nowhere," via the radio, the Archway invitingly communicates personality and purpose to the more-than 12,000  Interstate-80 motorists who pass beneath the giant portal every day on their way westward. I-80 is the primary route linking the US' east and west coasts. That the Archway towers over this busy highway symbolically presents it to motorists as the Gateway to the West.  The Archway's broadcast message from the station invites and directs travelers to the museum. Many will understand and remember the encounter in years to come; for the massive, 8-story-high structure houses innovative experiential exhibits that, through interactive audiovisuals, engages guests in the story of the Great Platte River Road "from the days of the Oregon Trail to the fiber-optic future of tomorrow" – in the process, subtly metamorphosing a previously supposed "nowhere" into "somewhere" for anyone interested.

Best-laid plans and coordination enabled success.
Even though establishing a Travelers Information Station (TIS) was thought by museum staff to be a good idea, how does one actually go about implementing a radio station, never having done it before? With a little help from friends and associates; that's how.  

"Funding was not really a problem," says Smith. "We built anticipated cost into our owner-furnished equipment budget, and when a foundation board member saw the cost, he decided it would be a fitting donation to make." This good fortune may seem lucky. But in actuality, it more likely resulted from project visionaries' having a well-defined and communicated plan AND a well-coordinated effort behind the scenes, pulling in the outside experts needed. This including local city administrators and remote technical consultants.

 

Antenna Installation (lower left) An Inconspicuous Addition to the Massive Structure

Relates Smith, "On the recommendation of the Nebraska Department of Roads, we contacted Information Station Specialists, who had provided stations to other Nebraska cities." ISS owner Bill Baker immediately responded with consulting assistance, equipment and integration services to bring the project to fruition and help change the museum's vision into reality. "It was a pleasure to work on a project with people who have such a clear idea of what they are communicating and who their audience is. The Archway developers have chosen the perfect medium – TIS – to attract and inform motorists at that exciting moment when they first see this awesome structure." 

Tom Coviak, ISS technician at the site, instructed the installation team and museum staff on how to set up and use the TIS equipment, leaving documentation with team members for  future reference. Coviak attributes "a remarkably easy installation to cooperative efforts with Archway operations consultant Jerry Pospisil of JBP Consulting (Orlando) and onsite museum maintenance manager Ron Gregory. And behind the scenes, ISS project manager Steve Whitcomb helped select the best frequency for the new station then obtained FCC licensing – no small matter. Precision resources (databases and maps) are required to locate open frequencies, which are compared and tested for quality, so the one ultimately chosen is not only legally open but does not suffer from or cause interference to other low-power or commercial broadcast stations.    

To prepare their new broadcast, Archway staff, in coordination with Kearney administrators and the Department of Roads, drafted a preliminary message, which Bill Baker edited and produced in the "TravelTalk" format, an engaging multi-voice talk-radio presentation style. Now, that the Archway is open and the system is turned on for real, that recorded message (with alternative winter and summer segments) loops all day. It can be heard clearly a dozen miles around the Monument and, along with billboards and brochures, lets travelers know about the new "somewhere" in the Midwest, Great Platte River Road Archway Monument.