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Preserving Culture and History

During my late childhood, my mother took me to museums and historical sites when we

took day trips or traveled out of state. I would always complain with boredom and beg to leave

early, or at least get ice cream on the way out. Although I still think Italian gelato is amazing, I am

now older and recognize that, in those moments, I missed the opportunity to learn something

fascinating. Through using travel as an opportunity to appreciate history and culture, I have learned

to value preservation for the lessons and reflections it teaches. Each exhibition and landmark offers

a glimpse into the lives of those from the past, creating a connection between their perspectives and

accomplishments with modern generations. This conversation between the past and present allows

people to be more mindful and take traditions as well as mistakes of the past into account when

making informed decisions about the future. Through reflecting on history, preservation is an

indirect tool that society can use to make people more open-minded and to strengthen ties between

different communities.

Unfortunately, in modern society, it is more common to hear how nonnative cultures are

stifled and how historically significant locations are neglected or simply torn down, regardless of

their benefit. As beacons of memory, civil rights, and human progress, the destruction of

historically significant structures causes immense loss to the communities they connect with.

Preserving the stories of the past is more important now, than ever before, with many cities

continuing to experience discrimination and the modern state of the world facilitating an

accelerated loss of cultural diversity. Recognizing the negative impact that people, today,

experience as a consequence of losing historical sites combined with my personal appreciation for

history leads me to dive deeper into the question: What is the importance of historic preservation in

modern society?

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Historic sites educate visitors on the past by preserving structures and showing the

influence that ancient life has on modern society. A notable example of this appears with

Pre-Columbian cultures affecting the population in Central America. People with ancient Mayan

ancestry today preside primarily in Guatemala, yet also account for some of the population in

Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, and Mexico. This indigenous population exhibits a culture that

shares traditional characteristics with their Mayan ancestors, even after centuries of European

dominance. Guatemalans of Mayan descent managed to preserve the native Indian language,

continue to practice traditional farming methods, and blended Spanish-brought Christianity with

old tribal religious practices such as sacrifices and rituals. Stanford graduates, Sarah Buell and

Karin Suter, discuss the role of UNESCO and the World Heritage list in protecting Mayan

structures in the following quote, “UNESCO has named three sites to its World Heritage list. The

first, Antigua, is the capital of the Captaincy-General of Guatemala … The second protects the

Archaeological Park and Ruins of Quirigua … A closer examination of the final site, Tikal

National Park, reveals the cultural and natural themes UNESCO explores when assuming a site”

(Buell, Suter 3). These landmarks further the identification and preservation of Mayan heritage as

sites of natural and cultural merit. This is particularly meaningful, because native Guatemalan

culture is significantly repressed. By fascinating tourists and visitors these sites are successful in

keeping indigenous culture alive. Another similar example can be observed with Old English

beliefs translating into modern English society. The divine right of kings, a religious doctrine of

political legitimacy, allowed for an absolute monarchy governing structure in multiple European

countries during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. This is often studied and easily visible in

historical documents, including artistic expressions: “The frontispiece of The Great Bible (1540)

shows King Henry VIII being whispered to by God, and the king passing on God’s words to the

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English people. The monarch has become the medium by which authority flows from God''

(Munro 5). The religious belief that the divine theory was founded upon fell apart during the

revolutions of the eighteenth century and lost all support. However, modern regions, such as the

United Kingdom, function under monarchy systems that began with the principles of the divine

theory. The reign of the English Royal family is still attributed to religion because of its beginnings.

Their presence reflects how ideologies and practices of the past are remembered in the modern

world. Despite the differences between the two examples, the indigenous people of Central

America and the English Royal family, it is clear that preserved objects and historical sites serve as

evidence of how modern society is influenced by beliefs from the past.

Historic sites are also significant because their preservation offers a unique opportunity to

educate the public. Often, historic sites commemorate and reflect upon pivotal changes in society

therefore showing a new perspective and teaching people to make informed decisions in the

present. A strong example of this is the vast quantity of landmarks across the United States that

show the country’s battle for racial equity through commemorating events in the Civil War. The

National Park Service details a monumental battlefield in Virginia,“In 2021, the NPS's American

Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) was pleased to award a $4.6 million Battlefield Land

Acquisition Grant to the American Battlefield Trust to protect 250 acres of the Williamsburg Civil

War battlefield in York County, Virginia'' (National Park Service). The Battle of Williamsburg was

a single component of the American Civil War, however, the Union’s victory over the Confederate

army forever changed the lives of African Americans by initiating the abandonment of slavery and

the process of racial desegregation. It is indisputable that racism still exists within the States

however, much progress has been made since the Civil War. Monuments and sites like the Virginia

Battlefield can therefore educate the public by discussing history. Another example to be made is

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the global commemoration of the 1915 Armenian Genocide through the creation of structures and

monuments. Unlike the Civil War battlefields of the U.S., buildings made as tribute to the

Armenian Genocide reflect upon the destructive actions of mankind and express tremendous grief.

Several monuments are listed and discussed by the United Armenian Council on their website.

One example follows, “The Armenian Genocide Monument, Dzidzernagapert, was constructed in

1965 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide… The monument, which

means "Citadel of Swallows", is named for a bird that always returns to its nest, even if its home

has been destroyed…People from all parts of the world visit the monument to express their respect

to all those who perished” (United Armenian Council Los Angeles). Memorials constructed in

Armenia and other countries, including the Middle East, Europe, and North America, capture a

great sense of loss felt for the Armenian population that suffered the atrocities committed by

Ottoman authorities during the early twentieth century. Overall, monuments dedicated to the

Armenian Genocide and U.S. Civil War illustrate how preserved sites are important because they

represent major events in history. Populations worldwide can get many takeaways from visiting

these sites.

Furthermore, the preservation of historically significant structures must be maintained

because they celebrate immigrant populations. Urban cities often commemorate cultural diversity

by dedicating the construction of monuments and historic sites in order to represent nonnative

cultures. An excellent example of this is right in the Bay Area. One third of San Francisco’s

population is immigrants and several monuments exist within the city to honor this. Landmarks are

dedicated to the Chinese American population within the city. San Francisco Planning details a few

in the following quote,“The Board of Supervisors recently initiated Landmark Designation process

for the historic City Cemetery (known today as Lincoln Park), important in San Francisco’s

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Chinese American history as the only municipal burial place for indigent dead between the 1860s

and early 1900s…Other existing landmarks … include the Donaldina Cameron House and the

Oriental Warehouse” (San Francisco Planning). San Francisco’s large Chinese American

population began and spread due to the harsh economic conditions of China during the late

nineteenth century and because of the California Gold Rush. The group faced criminality and

racial tensions as they settled; however, as their presence continued to swell, districts and

monuments were created in order to recognize their value. Furthermore, San Francisco also

contains a large number of Eastern European immigrants. Yana Rathman, an experienced tour

guide with a Masters from San Francisco State University, stated in an interview that “The Eastern

European community in Bay Area is larger than all of the ones in California and in the whole

country of the United States… many Polish, Romanian, Ukrainian, and Russian immigrants that

settled here. Orthodox churches like the Holy Trinity Cathedral are important buildings that show

their numbers in San Francisco and Berkeley”. By allowing the construction of cultural sites and

areas dedicated to nonnative groups, the city of San Francisco recognizes the melting pot of

diversity it holds and embraces the multiple communities as parts of its identity. This is similarly

done within multiple other cities that also contain a large number of immigrants. The preservation

of sites that honor foreign cultures makes a large difference because it teaches the public new

perspectives beyond their own and it urges them to become open minded and accepting.

Historic preservation additionally takes into account the intangible methods of keeping

cultures alive in modern society. Dallen J. Timothy, author of Cultural Heritage and Tourism: An

Introduction notes that, “The cultural heritage used today includes both tangible and intangible

elements…[it] encompasses nonmaterial elements of culture, including music, dance, beliefs, social

values, ceremonies, rituals and folklore” (Timothy 684). Beyond the value brought by the physical

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preservation of historically rich buildings, smaller cultures and minorities seek to further their

beliefs and perspectives by transmitting their nonmaterial traditions. Passing down even the

smallest of practices allows communities to keep their cultures alive. The Native American

population in the United States is a noteworthy example of this. Their population heavily declined

in the nineteenth century due to the introduction of white settlers. Today, Native Americans make

up less than ten percent of the total U.S. population. As a result, modern organizations and groups

seek to promote native traditions and practices to preserve their heritage and educate others. The

Association of the Ramaytush Ohlone (ARO), led by descendants from the tribe originating in the

San Francisco Peninsula, seeks to preserve and promote their traditions through various projects.

Their website includes multiple descriptions of the projects they have completed. The first one is

“the Exploratorium to develop an online walking tour of the "buried history" of San Francisco.

Ramaytush Ohlone history and culture will be the subject of at least three different locations along

the route located along the waterfront mostly south of the Exploratorium…” The second project,

worked on by the ARO and community activists, educators, and supporters is to “remove two

statues [of colonizers] located in San Mateo County…” The third and final “In partnership with

Demonstration Gardens, the ARO is co-sponsored the International Women's Dance event in the

newly renovated Federal Plaza on March 10, 2022” (The Association of Ramaytush Ohlone). The

accomplishments of the ARO illustrate how the Native American community is successful in using

nonmaterial aspects of preservation to conserve their culture. Indigenous language is another

method by which they maintain the traditions of their culture. The national Congress of american

Indians states the following,“Native languages are an irreplaceable part of Native religions,

ceremonial practices, and cultural heritage—and they are in a state of emergency…NCAI supports

the creation of more Native language immersion and revitalization programs and will continue to

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advocate for the protection of these and other critical tribal cultural resources” (National Congress

of American Indians). Continuing the use and practice of indigenous dialects is therefore important

to consider when trying to preserve a certain culture. The waning Native American population uses

several intangible methods to preserve their beliefs, perspectives, and traditions. Although historic

and heritage preservation has been successful in its mission to some degree, society must recognize

its importance in order to create a guarantee that smaller cultures are not lost in modern times.

The preservation of historically significant sites, and thus the preservation of cultures, is

particularly crucial due to the state of the modern world. Globalization, industrialization, and

migration advanced the human race in the last two centuries. However, they also created an

environment which accelerated the decline of cultural diversity. A report from UNESCO (United

Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) defines and refutes the idea that

globalization is, “an established fact, a constraint one should adapt to, a symbol of modernity to be

attained or a ‘recipe’ for improved performance depending on the context. The only thing capable

of resisting globalization, it is generally felt, is the assertion of an identity – in other words, of a

difference” (Cohen). Globalization and industrialization assisted the loss of diversity by

encouraging the exploitation of workers, influencing societal values, and promoting a consumer

culture. Combined with the effects of colonization, during the sixteenth century, and migration, in

recent decades, modern conditions of the world allow for the suppression of indigenous

populations and the loss of identity amongst foreigners. The neglect and dismantling of existing

historical sites without a doubt furthers this decrease. A local example of this was shared and

explained by Anay Sharma, a knowledgeable staff member at Head Royce Private High School in

Berkeley, California. He describes the campaign to protect Anna Head School as one of the first

private women’s schools in the Bay Area:

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Because the UC’s have been doing what we call deferred maintenance, as things arose they

aren't fixed right away, which has led to lots of damage on the property, including flooding

and fire damage. The issue is that there's another site like right next to the Anna Head

school which is People’s Park which has immense historical significance , and the UC’s

starting in August made a move to try and build on People’s Park, they've been trying to

build on there since literally the 1960s. And I think now is the time that we're reaching

where the UC system is really out of options for housing and is resorting to deferring

maintenance on properties just like the Anna Head school in anticipation of some sort of

repurposing effort. (Sharma)

The campaign to save Anna Head School is amongst the many efforts that are combating the loss

of historic sites and seeking to educate communities. Historic preservation must be seen as a

solution to the discrimination and declining diversity that all areas of the world face.

Historic preservation ultimately matters because it benefits society in multiple ways. The

maintenance of historically rich objects, buildings, neighborhoods, and districts embody the people

and events of the past. By using these structures to share the stories of history, preservation

succeeds in reuniting today’s generations with their roots and advances the development of a

healthy society. Historic preservation reflects upon past wrongdoings, maintains cultures, and

teaches individuals how to be better by offering the wisdom that comes with accepting new

perspectives.

Works Cited

The Association of Ramaytush Ohlone. “Arts and Culture.” The Association of Ramaytush

Ohlone, https://www.ramaytush.org/arts-and-culture.html. Accessed 20 March 2023.

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Cohen, Elie. “Globalization and cultural diversity.” UNESCO Digital Library, 2000,

https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000121070. Accessed 20 March 2023.

Munro. “The Divine Right of Kings | News.” Queen Anne's School, 19 February 2021,

https://www.qas.org.uk/news/2021-02-19/the-divine-right-of-kings. Accessed 20 March

2023.

National Congress of American Indians. “Cultural Protection & NAGPRA | NCAI.” National

Congress of American Indians,

https://www.ncai.org/policy-issues/community-and-culture/cultural-protection-and-nagpra.

Accessed 20 March 2023.

National Park Service. “Decade-Long Effort to Preserve Civil War Battlefield a Triumph for

Historic Preservation (U.S.” National Park Service, 10 June 2022,

https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/decade-long-effort-to-preserve-civil-war-battlefield-a-triu

mph-for-historic-preservation.htm. Accessed 20 March 2023.

Rathman, Yana. Personal Interview. 4 March 2023.

San Francisco Planning. “Chinese American Historic Context Statement.” SF Planning,

https://sfplanning.org/project/chinese-american-historic-context-statement. Accessed 20

March 2023.

Sharma, Anay. Personal Interview. 10 March 2023

Suter, Karin, and Sabrina Buell. “The Mayan Civilization - Present and Past.” Stanford University,

https://web.stanford.edu/class/e297c/trade_environment/photo/hmayan.html. Accessed 20

March 2023.

Timothy, Dallen J. Cultural Heritage and Tourism: An Introduction. Channel View Publications,

2011. Amazon Kindle.

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United Armenian Council Los Angeles. “Armenian Genocide Memorial Monuments - United

Armenian Council for the Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.” United Armenian

Council for the Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide - Los Angeles,

http://www.uacla.com/armenian-genocide-memorial-monuments.html. Accessed 20 March

2023.

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