The Civil War battlefield at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, now green and peaceful, reminds us that our society has often been divided by conflict, and that those who lived in the past faced decisions no less difficult than the ones we face today. Most historic places represent the everyday lives of ordinary people. Small country schools in Washington state recall the homesteaders of the late 19th century, who uprooted their families to settle in remote and isolated areas. Factories in eastern cities testify to generations of new Americans laboring long hours to make lives for themselves and their families. Both lovingly restored train stations and abandoned rail yards document the railroads that played a central role in American life in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Places related by location reveal the histories and collective aspirations of whole communities.
How communities interacted with one another through cooperation or conflict can tell us much about regional, or even national, values. The shared history these places embody makes America. We need to know that they exist and will continue to exist for future generations. In many cases, these stories were unknown until research undertaken in preparation for nominating the places for listing in the National Register revealed them. Most of these places do not speak to us directly.