modern encroachment

[Heather Hilt]

To many times land developers build right across historic sites. They disregard the history behind these places. The national park sevice does not have enough money to keep up. Pretty soon there will be nothing left for posterity. This is a sad thought. What can we do to help ensure that these places will be left: do we all need to donate money to the National Park Service, Petition the Government, Make sure that kids are taught how important these sights are and that they help bring history alive, more re-enactment so the public is informed, or what? Any ideas any one.

[James Devine]

Hi Heather,
Talking about history helps. Sounds cheesy but talk about it at work, at parties, at events. I talk about where I have been historically speaking and where I hope to go all the time. I find that people are in general interested in the topic. The more you know, the more they get interested. I have gotten many people to go see historical parks just by asking 'where are you going on vacation...oh thats by...'
Just this past week a co-worker was going to the Outer banks, NC who is into RC planes. We talk about history and I advised him to go see Kitty Hawk. He just told me today how much he loved it. The things you mention are spot on. But that is the idea I would offer on the topic. Thanks for bringing it up!

[Darrin Dickey]

Heather,

I think the answer lies in a multitude of actions. I think we definitely need to spread the word about the importance of these sites. Many of the local citizens have no clue that sites are near them or what the site it all about. I live on land where the Battle of Stones River opened. Most of my neighbors have no clue they also live on battlefield land. Of the few that do know, only a small portion even know when or what the battle was.

I also think it's important to get local preservationists, developers, government and businesses to work together on these sites. In my town, a local developer is going to build on the land where the old Harding house stood during the battle. But before he starts tearing everything apart, he agreed to work with Middle Tennessee State University, local preservation groups and even a local metal detecting club to do an archeological survey. They are recovering artifacts that might have been lost forever otherwise.

The hardest thing to do for those of us interested in historic preservation is to accept that we can't save every inch of historic ground. Cities and economies must grow and they're going to overrun these areas, no matter what we want. So I think we have to fight as much as possible, but if we lose, then we need to learn to work with those developers (as I noted above) to save what we can and work with local governments and other organizations to try to at least put up historic markers so we can educate others on how historically important the site is.

We also have to remember that others do not always share our passion for the past. To some degree, I think that's the fault of those of us who have that passion. We frequently don't do a good job telling the stories of what has happened historically right here in our midst.