Does historic preservation in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and across the United States succeed? The answer depends on how success is defined. If preservation is measured only by whether every historic building survives, then it will always fall short. For public historians and preservation advocates, however, success includes building public awareness, creating long-term protections, and laying the groundwork for future action.Read More
The National Park Service’s ability to interpret the breadth of American history that is reflected in its more than four hundred sites is fragile. The fate of one of these, the Blackwell School National Historic Site, serves as an example of how quickly gains made in this effort can be undone. Read More
Editor’s Note: This post is part of a 2025 History@Work series authored by members of the NCPH Labor Task Force in response to our Special Open Call on “#Advocacy in the Field.” In addition, this piece is part of a series based on Rutgers University student interviews with practicing public historians.Read More
Editors’ Note: We publish the editor’s introduction to the February 2025 issue of The Public Historian here. The entire issue is available online to National Council on Public History members and others with subscription access.
This issue presents four articles that demonstrate the diversity of public history scholarship today.Read More
Editor’s Note: This post is part of a 2025 History@Work series authored by members of the NCPH Labor Task Force in response to our Special Open Call on “#Advocacy in the Field”. You can read each post as it’s published throughout the year under H@W‘s #Advocacy tag.Read More
Despite their profound cultural and historical importance, civic leaders often neglect the preservation of African American churches in the South in favor of saving buildings that promise economic benefits or contribute to the development of private or public communities. Yet, these churches have always been central to African American communities, serving as places of worship, centers of civil rights activism, and sacred spaces for social and moral support. Read More
In 1997, my hometown of Fort Collins, Colorado, was ravaged by a flood. During the deluge, the Johnson Center Mobile Home Park was completely destroyed. As a young child, I walked through the empty lot where the homes used to sit and wondered about the community that had been erased. Read More
The tourist perception of Las Vegas is often limited to its iconic neon lights, or recently, the Knights hockey team winning the Stanley Cup championship. While The Strip has played a significant role in shaping the city, it tends to overshadow Las Vegas’ rich history and community. Read More
Editors’ Note: This essay is by the recipients of the National Council on Public History 2023 Excellence in Consulting Awards-Group Award Honorable Mention. The award was presented to Guy Hermann, Sara Zarrelli, and Jacques Brunswick of Museum Insights for their Connecticut Landmarks Portfolio Assessment.Read More
Editors’ Note: We publish the editor’s introduction to the August 2022 issue of The Public Historian here. The entire issue is available online to National Council on Public History members and to others with subscription access.Read More
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