Historic Community Sites

I've been to three historic communities:

• Colonial Williamsburg, VA
• Greenfield Village,  Dearborn, MI
• Old Sturbridge Village, MA

All three of these sites are artificial in some way or another. Colonial Williamsburg is almost all reproductions. Most of the buildings had been destroyed or allowed to rot. Greenfield and Sturbridge, while authentic buildings, they have been moved there from various places to create the community.

Colonial Williamsburg

Williamsburg is the least satisfying site because the buildings are reproductions and, at least the last time I was there, they don't advertise that piece of information. Greenfield does contain predominantly authentic buildings, but they are from all over the eastern half of the United States. It isn't so much a village as a museum display of Americana. Old Sturbridge is a collection of building from several states in New England, but the village captures the look and feel of a New England village circa 1830.

Greenfield Village

Old Sturbridge Village

Carillon Historical Park

These sites are good in certain respects, such as they stimulate interest in history and help with preservation efforts. My problem with them is the same as with historical films; these sites are either reproductions or conglomerations of multiple places presented as one place.The sites need to be more transparent when it comes to what they are, and not just what they represent. While not as elaborate as these three site, at least Carillon  Historical Park the buildings came from Dayton.