Will History Vanish Without State Spending?

It is an oft-disseminated lie that the government is the needed guardian of our historic sites and museums. Just as the private sector has begun to save our state parks from closing, it too can keep our treasured historic sites alive.  

Last year, private donors stepped in to save the site of Washington’s Crossing; this kept the re-enactment of the event alive. Boyd Theater was listed as one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places until a private developer purchased and revitalized the building, turning it into part of a hotel. Dickson Tavern, one of the oldest structures in Erie, was vacant for five years until a private architecture and design company purchased the property from the city to renovate it, use it for offices to preserve its history.

As state and federal financial support continues to dwindle, it becomes more and more obvious; the future of our historic sites is not in the government. If the places are valuable to Pennsylvanians, they will be preserved without government support. Private philanthropy and admission fees can and should take the place of government funding.