Keywords
Lanscapes, Ruins, History
Abstract
John Brinkerhoff Jackson, the foremost historian of American landscapes, concluded his essay "The Necessity for Ruins" by stating that for most modern Americans "History ceases to exist." By this, Jackson did not imply that Americans have no interest in the past, for each year millions flock to historic sites. Rather, for Americans, the past is a plaything serving no purpose beyond bolstering their national self image.
Recommended Citation
Daynes, Gary
(2024)
""History Ceases to Exist": Gettysburg and the American Memory, 1865 to 1985,"
The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing: Vol. 20:
Iss.
1, Article 3.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/thetean/vol20/iss1/3
Included in
Ancient History, Greek and Roman through Late Antiquity Commons, History Commons, Medieval Studies Commons, Religion Commons