03/12/2024
Ways to bring history into your everyday life:
1. Notice buildings. This seems unglamorous but it’s one of the best ways to develop historical empathy. “Who lived there? I wonder when that was built and what has changed around here since then?” Notice the differences between modern buildings and older ones. Sometimes the best museums are the ones we drive by every day. To find out how to learn about the history of the buildings in your area, visit: https://guides.loc.gov/house-history
2. Speaking of museums: GO. Go to the small, seemingly unimpressive ones with volunteer staff. Plan a trip to the bigger ones. Find out what the museums offer and do a little research on those subjects before you go: I promise it will enrich the experience for you! (Ps. Those museum volunteers are worth their weight in gold. Talk to them!) Find one here: https://greatmuseums.org/find-a-museum/ (Note: If cost is a challenge, Museums for All is a great program! https://museums4all.org/)
3. Find out where the closest re-enactments are and go. As many as you can, as often as you can. There is no one as devoted as a re-enactor. I learn so much every year! Here’s a good website to search (although lots of events aren’t listed: for these, contact your local historical society, Chamber of Commerce, or library): https://reenactingschedule.org/upcoming-events/
4. Add a history documentary to your week. History Hit is one of my favorite streaming services (not always appropriate for kids due to violence, etc.), but Amazon’s streaming service has a lot of great options! YouTube does as well (many, many History channel shows for free). Make it a point to learn something new about something old: your education didn’t end just because you finished school. Here are some good options: https://www.rd.com/list/history-documentaries/
5. Pick up a biography. (I absolutely love David McCullough and Ron Chernow for their writing style.) Here are some great options: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/best-sellers-historical-biography-memoir/
6. Visit a cemetery: the older the better. (Note: Don’t try to clean the stones without absolutely knowing what you’re doing! Check out Past Preservation for issues surrounding headstones.) To use cemeteries for historical/educational purposes, check out: https://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/educators/technique-guide/cemetery-information/
7. Stop for historical markers! These are absolutely everywhere, and they have something to say. Learn more here: https://www.hmdb.org/
8. Talk to older family members: they are walking primary sources! Once they’re gone, their stories are, too. Even if you’ve heard their stories 100 times, ask them again and this time—record their answers for posterity. I can’t stress enough how important oral records are for history preservation. Learn about oral histories here: https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Creating_Oral_Histories
9. Find out who lived on the land before you. This website shows indigenous lands before they were sent to reservations. While kind of sad and dark, it’s really important to know! Once you find out, research the tribe or culture to learn more about them. (Where are they now?) Check out this amazing website: https://native-land.ca/
10. Lastly, play a game. I LOVE the following! (Amazon.com)
-History Channel trivia game
-Chronology
-Professor Noggin’s History of the United States
-Who Knows History Better?
-The World Game
-Placing the Past
-Trekking Through History
-Go Fish US History
-History of the World
(There are many more!)
There you have it: ten ways to bring the past into the present.
