BellaOnline Forums Education Museums How do you feel about moving historic structures?

I just posted an article about Greenfield Village, where Henry Ford moved many significant historic structures from all over the country to Dearborn, MI.

How do you feel about that?

Do you think preserving a historic building on site is important? Or doesn't it really matter, as long is it is preserved? Does the building lose significance because it was moved? Or is it more important to note what happened INSIDE the building that really matters?

Just something to think about...

Kim

I think moving historic buildings to save them from being demolished "in the name of progress" is alright . I do think history needs to be preserved for future generations...if in its original surrounds all the better but moving it is better than pulling it down. I do hate to see lovely old buildings lost in a concrete jungle and if some philanthropist makes a place for history to be viewed...it sounds wonderful to me ! What can be nicer than to spend time in a place surrounded by the "presence" of our forebears and learn to appreciate them and their way of life.
I don't think a building's character or significance needs be lost by moving it as long as its history is documented.

We have "Settlers Villages" here (in NZ) where people voluntarily give their time, dressed in period costumes, cooking, spinning and doing all the things in the way that they were done in earlier times. It makes you appreciate how hard their lives were and the sacrifices they made .

May we always remember our roots , what we owe to our forebears and my thanks go to those who help preserve their memories and momentos.

I prefer them in their original spot. It makes it easier to look around and imagine what it all looked like when it was happening. That said, I'd rather it be moved than destroyed.

There is also the issue of "historic landscapes" -- such as protecting the edges of the battlefield at Gettysburg from development.

Sometimes the space AROUND a historic building is as important as the building iteslf. But too often, encroaching development changes the landscape too much anyway, so it doesn't really matter if a house is moved or not.

Have any of you been to the Paul Revere House in Boston? The poor thing is surrounded by skyscrapers! It is wonderful that it is preserved on its original site, but it is hard to imagine Boston as a fledgling colonial town when the house was built!

Kim