In an era dominated by technological changes, instant global telecommunications and educational emphases focused on science and math… do people still care about history, historic places or history organizations in the 21st century?
What do you think, Ohio?
Let’s be real. History and culture in Ohio are threatened, as they are elsewhere, by the economic realities of 21st century America. While Ohio is home to major cultural centers in its major cities, internationally renowned historic sites and museums, parks, world-class libraries and arts organizations, these cultural resources and institutions – as well as the travel and tourism industry that supports them – are reeling from a combination of economic woes exacerbated by huge state budget reductions.
The Ohio Historical Society and the Ohio Arts Council, for example, now receive about the same amount of annual state support they received in the mid-1980s. A lot of history has accumulated over the past quarter century. Resources have not.
Research indicates that there is a clear tie between those who say that history is important and civic participation. People connected to history are simply more engaged citizens. They are 23 percent more likely to do things like vote, join community organizations and find other avenues for civic engagement than those who say they do not think history is important. That’s good. Quite frankly, the future of history in Ohio is threatened and you are needed now more than ever.
The real stuff of history is located in your community and its institutions – the local archives, libraries, museums and the older buildings and neighborhoods throughout Ohio. Got any good stories? Tell us why history matters to you…
Filed under: HistoryMatters Tagged: | Budget, HistoryMatters
History does matter — it changes the way we think about ourselves, our past and our future. It keeps us from “reinventing the wheel” — so to speak. In our own lives — who would say that our past doesn’t matter? Our present is built on our past.
Read the story about the bulldozer and the sleeping bull at: http://www.edenvalleyenterprises.org/stories/slpbull.htm — You can bet the little boy who had that conversation never thought about bulldozers the same way again!