Historic preservation and interpretation in the shadow of two United States icons: Abraham Lincoln and Route 66

Dyson, Carol J. (2008) Historic preservation and interpretation in the shadow of two United States icons: Abraham Lincoln and Route 66. In: 16th ICOMOS General Assembly and International Symposium: ‘Finding the spirit of place – between the tangible and the intangible’, 29 sept – 4 oct 2008, Quebec, Canada. [Conference or Workshop Item]

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Abstract (in English)

Springfield, Illinois, in the U.S.A claims two internationally visited historic spirits of place: Historic Route 66 Highway and Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War president. Both Lincoln and Route 66 are associated with significant historic places and new museums here. Each year an International Route 66 festival is held, a new Lincoln museum is visited by half-a-million visitors a year, and 2009 will see a major bicentennial celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. Yet what are the relationships between spirit of space, commemoration, and tangible authenticity? While tourism grows on the historic highway, the small motels of Route 66 are being demolished and were named an “11 Most Endangered Historic Site” by the National Trust in 2007. Meanwhile, with oncoming bicentennial celebrations, Lincoln-oriented historic sites and places are undergoing major changes. Contrasts and similarities with how two historic spirits of place are being commemorated, interpreted, reinterpreted, appropriated, and recontexturalized is the subject of this paper.

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Authors:
Authors
Email
Dyson, Carol J.
UNSPECIFIED
Languages: English
Keywords: historic places; commemoration; heritage at risk; interpretation; tourism; spirit of place; preservation
Subjects: L.PRESENTATION AND TRANSMISSION OF HERITAGE > 02. Interpretation
O.INTANGIBLE HERITAGE > 01. Generalities
E.CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION > 01. Generalities
H.HERITAGE TYPOLOGIES > 09. Historic buildings
Name of monument, town, site, museum: Historic Route 66 Highway, USA; Abraham Lincoln, USA
ICOMOS Special Collection: Scientific Symposium (ICOMOS General Assemblies)
ICOMOS Special Collection Volume: 2008, 16th
Depositing User: Jose Garcia
Date Deposited: 10 Sep 2010 10:52
Last Modified: 13 Jan 2011 19:12
References: Ambrose, Patty, Executive Director of Illinois Route 66 Heritage Project, Inc. Interview by author, June 19, 2008.

Andreasen, Bryon. C. Illinois’ Lincoln. Lincoln Land College Elderhostel, Springfield. Lecture June 2, 2008.

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United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service Special Resource Study Route 66, July 1995.

Pessen, Edward. 1984. The Log Cabin Myth: The Social Backgrounds of the President. New Haven: Yale University Press.

Scott, Quinta and Susan Croce Kelly. 1988. Route 66: The Highway and Its People. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.

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Sculle, Keith A. 1996. The Cultural Origins of the Route 66 Revival. Bulletin of the Illinois Geographical Society 38 (Fall): 35-41.

Steinbeck, John. 1939. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Viking Press.

Schwartz, Thomas, Illinois State Historian, Interview by author. Springfield, Illinois, 27 June 2008.

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URI: https://openarchive.icomos.org/id/eprint/104

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