A historic venue and museum serve for various reasons, namely: preservation of history, public education, promotion of tourism as well as economic development and community building. Thus, the preservation of such heritage property like conversion into a museum helps ensure that apart from conserving an important element of a city’s, region’s or country’s history, it will be available for present and upcoming generations.
There would be no physical contact with the past without historical sites and museums where people can touch important events, significant individuals, cultural artifacts and many other things. There will be no common story to develop the community around. It leads to losing such historical architectural buildings through demolition or decay unless they are actively maintained or rehabilitated by museums.
One of the major goals for any museum located in an historic place is to preserve what one can learn from it. Train stations, battlefields, historic homes plus other sites that served as witnesses to important happenings offer an unprecedented view into the past. It speaks through its architecture and contents . Therefore once a museum uses exhibits, tours and programs to interpret history about its locale; it ensures that future populations will know more about who used to live there as well as some specific events which had taken place including social contexts attached thereto.
For instance places like plantation museums look at complex issues involving slavery and racism that persist today. Historic house museums illustrate how people lived in past eras. But for these being transformed into museums, powerful educational experiences bringing history alive would have been lost to members of the public.
In small towns with limited industry, having a museum at an important historic site or building can bring visitors from all over the state or country. More tourists visiting museums is also translated into higher tourist spending in hotels as well as restaurants, shops and other businesses within the local area.
When those visitors to the museum come they will have a positive image about it for their community. In the end it leads to reputation growth that increases visitor numbers. Each year people come to charles deering estate due to its historical museums in ancient buildings which have made it a thriving tourist destination. Also, millions of people are attracted by the historical train stations that have splendid architectural designs for them to visit these important monuments.
Historical sites’ museums can serve as gathering places that bring together the locals to identify themselves. Community members come to museums where they celebrate their cultural similarities. People will have a sense of pride since they associate these physical symbols with what happened in the past which has made them appreciate how today looks like; therefore, this is an important factor for the historical site museums that foster community relationships.
Conclusion
In today’s world where there has been growing division among nations, rapid changes adapting globalization and increased mobility, historical sites along with museums act as bridges between the self, our pasts and other cultures we take part in.In addition to preserving historical facts for academic purposes, these museums also aim at promoting tourism and economic development.
