| I recently appeared on my town's cable TV access | | | | Volunteer for them. |
| station, on a very popular show that "everyone" | | | | Donate. |
| watches. My subject? How we "do" history outside of | | | | Find out what, exactly, they need support for. Can |
| the classroom in my community, and how we - | | | | you help underwrite a lecture series? Help get |
| individuals AND businesses - can support our local | | | | research done? Pay for a local history book project? |
| history. | | | | Fund their collections digitization - which they are all |
| I happen to live in an extraordinarily historic town, and a | | | | supposed to be doing, but it's prohibitively expensive? |
| top tourist destination in New England. On the TV | | | | Offer 10% off something for customers who join |
| show, I cited numerous examples of how history | | | | the museum. |
| exists all around us in the public arena - from | | | | Use their historical photographs at your place of |
| museums, historic houses, parks, and memorials, to | | | | business for publications or displays. |
| house plaques, historic markers, the names of streets, | | | | Other ways to support local history |
| and statues of historical figures. But none of this | | | | Support a historical event by volunteering, donating, |
| happens by magic, nor is it all maintained and | | | | promoting it to family, friends, or within your business - |
| preserved by magic, and that's where we can all play | | | | and also go! |
| a role. | | | | Support preservation projects - businesses, |
| Ways to support local history | | | | especially, can be local heroes if they help save an |
| The host of the show and I both encouraged our | | | | important building or preserve a historical park. |
| viewers to get out and walk, take a tour, take a trolley | | | | Support history IN the classroom - history |
| ride, visit sites, and "play tourist" in their town. Truly, for | | | | education is getting cut and cut, how can you help? |
| very little or no cost, residents in a historical community | | | | Back a school project? Fund a new curriculum or visits |
| can plan a thoroughly enjoyable "stay-cation" to avoid | | | | from reenactors? Start a history scholarship or a |
| spending money on gas, hotel, and meals. Businesses | | | | history teaching award? |
| can give employees an afternoon off to explore, or | | | | Back public history projects - a mural, a statue, |
| sponsor a private walking tour for their staff. | | | | artwork for a playground, the creation of a new |
| So the first way we can all support our local history is | | | | walking tour -these projects last for a long time and |
| simply by learning and enjoying it ourselves. (And if you | | | | involve considerable publicity. |
| have kids, please bring them with you! Nothing turns | | | | Your business and town pride |
| young people on to history like seeing the sites where | | | | If your business is located in a historical community, you |
| events took place, or interacting with talented | | | | KNOW your customers love their local history. For a |
| demonstrators, reenactors, and tour guides.) | | | | small investment on your part, you can easily win |
| You can also: | | | | people over. You can attract customers and their |
| Join the nonprofit museums and historic house | | | | loyalty, and you can secure your reputation in your |
| museums in your town (most are membership | | | | community as a business that knows and cares about |
| organizations). | | | | its local history. |
| Promote these sites to your friends, family, and | | | | Tap in to town pride, and see how your efforts come |
| co-workers. | | | | back to you! |