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Monuments of Diverse Heritage in Early America: Placemaking and Preservation by Black, Indigenous, and Jewish Peoples explores a more inclusive history of preserving public historic sites. At a time when some Americans have embraced white nationalism in response to unfolding demographic changes and others celebrate individual identities over all else, an inclusive, tolerant, and unifying historical vision is sorely needed. While past preservation efforts sometimes resulted in exclusionary forms of historical inspiration, that need not be the case in the future. Bringing greater attention to the diverse heritage of the United States will not only help dismantle the lingering remnants of exclusionary and elitist narratives but also celebrate a pluralistic and diverse past and present. An inclusive, empowering history can provide social cohesion while allowing room for individual groups to have authority over their pasts and representation in public, side-by-side with one another.
About the author
Barry L. Stiefel, Ph.D. is Professor of Historic Preservation & Community Planning in the Department of Art & Architectural History at the College of Charleston. He has completed numerous publications that address sustainability, cultural-ethnic architectural history, historic transportation mobility, human-centered preservation, community-building through historic places, and preservation education.
