Archaeology and Created Memory Public History in a National Park

The findings at archaeological sites in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia are examined by Schackel (U. Maryland, College Park) to demonstrate how interest groups created an idyllic past to present to the visiting public. The shorter (52 pages) of two sections describes Harpers Ferry during the Civil War. Section two, on rebuilding Harpers Ferry after the war, examines issues of race, tourism, economic conditions, the brewery industry, the boardinghouse community, and the creation of memory by Victorian citizens. Although the lives of wealthy residents are chronicled, Shackel uses special care to recreate the history of the poor, who left less evidence for the archaeologist to interpret. Annotation copyrighted by Book News Inc., Portland, OR