I never gave much thought to public history's relationship with the environment. However, after reading a few articles regarding the interaction between these two fields, I realized just how much of an impact public historians can have on landscapes.
It is virtually impossible to find a track of land in Canada that has not been touched by humans. The landscape has been altered by the cutting down of trees, building of houses, construction of fences, and even the planting of foreign plant species. Major historical events, like battles, take place on land, altering it as well. While both public historians and environmentalists want to preserve and restore the land and the objects on it, they sometimes have difference priorities as to what exactly should be preserved and how.
Environmentalists are concerned with preserving the landscape and wildlife that might surround places of historical significance, while public historians seem more involved with physical objects and structures such as attractive houses and famous buildings. Preoccupations such as these could endanger the landscape, especially when high tourism traffic creates an increase in infrastructure. Suddenly concerns for the environment are quickly forgotten.
While reading about public history and the environment the example of
Magnetic Hill (pictured above) in New Brunswick, popped into my head. The Hill's claim to fame is that there is a hill (obviously) where it's easier walk/drive/bike up it than it is to go down (it does opposite of what a hill is suppose to). Even the water in the ditch runs uphill. Magnetic Hill has confused citizens living in the surrounding countryside since the 19th century. It used to be located on a rural road but is now the centre of a tourist mecca.
When my parents first visited Magnetic Hill in the olden days (sometime in the 1970's) there was nothing but a sign indicating which dirt road had the hill. Later when we returned in the 1990's on our family tour of the East Coast, I remember there was maybe a parking lot and increased signage. However, the last few* times I have visited Magnetic Hill in the 2000's I have witnessed a drastic change. There are shops, restaurants, giant stuffed lobsters and moose, and a fudge factory (well, to tell you the truth, I have nothing against the fudge factory, every historical site should have a fudge factory). The parking lot has increased in size and concrete. The rural New Brunswick scenery that used to be there is no more and has been replaced with border line theme park.
Magnetic Hill became the environmentalists worst nightmare. The natural rural environment has been replaced by a theme park that is supposed to be a replica of a fishing village, with a nearby water park and zoo.
Working together public historians and environmentalists could have found a way to still promote Magnetic Hill to tourists, but also maintain the rural landscape. Perhaps taking this opportunity to educate people on rural New Brunswick and the type of agriculture local farmers cultivated.
*Why have I been to Magnetic Hill so much? Because of all the restaurants and shops, it's a nice rest stop on the way to Halifax. And who can resist a fudge factory?
Spending sleepness nights wondering what you're going to do with all your random historical knowledge? Or are you frustrated that Canadian history has a reputation as being dull and boring and want to prove to your friends that history can be cool? Enter Kate Beaton.
