Historical landmarks play an integral part in maintaining the culture and history of any country, providing educational opportunities to learn about past events.
Tourist attractions and their impactful beauty make them essential components of urban environments, so any threat of demolition and replacement with something else is cause for alarm.
Preserved for Future Generations
Retaining historical landmarks provides many advantages to future generations. Pompeii ruins allow us to see life 2,000 years ago as well as learn more about technology of its era; additionally they help inspire the next generation of architects and engineers.
Historic preservation can also serve as an invaluable asset in community development. When restored and used as intended, historic properties attract tourists who bring economic benefits back into the community in terms of restaurants, hotels and B&Bs, gas stations and other businesses that service visitors.
Historic preservation can encompass more than buildings and structures; it also encompasses neighborhoods, archeological sites and landscapes. Locally, service clubs and church groups often host presentations promoting preservation of historical landmarks; they may even sponsor dramatic productions such as “haunted history walks” at Halloween, period Thanksgiving/Christmas celebrations or concerts featuring traditional music held within historic halls.
Added Value to the Property
Historic buildings and landmarks hold great appeal for many people and can increase the value of your property. Furthermore, keeping such structures preserved can bolster tourism in your region, which generates income to boost local economies while creating jobs.
While restoration of historic landmarks may be costly, their benefits make your property more appealing and increase its value. Furthermore, historic designation can protect a neighborhood from future development to preserve quality living conditions in that neighborhood.
Landmarks opponents like REBNY attempt to disentangle preservation from property values by asserting that historic status restrictions and regulations prevent economic development. According to an Economic Journal study however, this isn’t the case and building height restrictions and preexisting desirability are two key indicators of whether a property’s value increases after being designated historical.
Tourist Attractions
Historical landmarks can be popular tourist attractions. This applies whether the attraction is a national monument, must-stroll neighborhood, or spectacular sight within an expansive national park.
Tourists visit historic landmarks for both history and culture learning opportunities. Furthermore, these places serve to remind us how vital these landmarks were in shaping America into what it is today.
The Statue of Liberty stands in New York Harbor as an ever-reminding symbol of freedom and democracy, while other iconic historical landmarks such as Times Square in Manhattan, Empire State Building in Midtown Manhattan and Metropolitan Museum of Art can all be found within city limits.
Other landmarks recognize the contributions of different people, particularly immigrants. Ellis Island is an iconic historical landmark that recognizes their impactful contribution to United States economy while Women’s Rights National Historic Park commemorates 1848 First Women’s Rights Convention held in Seneca Falls, New York.
Oddities
People visiting historical landmarks often witness some surprising sights. Did you know, for instance, that Mount Rushmore faces weren’t chosen by government but by sculptor Gutzon Borglum instead? Such unique facts about these monuments only adds more character and should be protected as much as possible to ensure they continue being important historical landmarks for our society.
Historic landmarks that can be found within Declaration Park include the Waterwall, Wesleyan Chapel, Elizabeth Cady Stanton House and M’Clintock House.
