These past three weeks I’ve had the chance to visit a small corner of our country that I’d never visited before. Where I live in Washington state, our history is relatively new. Our artifacts are from the time of occasional early explorers, covered wagons, lumberjacks and trappers. Our oldest buildings are homesteads.
The earlier history belongs to the native peoples. They left scant marks on the land, choosing instead to leave fine, practical arts in their day-to-day apparel, totems and remnants of longhouses.
Pennsylvania showered me with understanding of the early beginnings of our country. The ingenuity of early settlers , the impact of the Revolutionary and Civil Wars as well as understanding the geography of the eastern region of the state. (I must admit I also enjoyed a touristy visit to Hershey Chocolate World as well).
It would be so enlightening for all students to visit the amazing hand-dug canals and early homes in southeastern Pennsylvania as well as Independence Hall and Gettysburg. The value in visiting Amish communities, crossing the rivers and mountains and seeing the forests, all as a comparison to their home territory. I was impressed with how much I assumed incorrectly. I’d like to hope more and more students are able to visit various geographic regions of our country, tour national historic sites, ask questions and learn first hand about our history. It’s inspiring and an important part of a total education.