The State of Public History in Indiana

A Conversation with David Vanderstel, Reid Williamson, and Sal Cilella

David Vanderstel: Both of you have been a part of the history scene in Indiana for a number of years in different capacities.1 In your opinion, what is the state of history and historic preservation in Indiana?	1
THE STATE OF HISTORY IN INDIANA
Reid Williamson: Historic preservation is certainly far better off than it was some thirty years ago. I judge that by the participation of the citizens of the state—not just the elected officials, not just our cultural leadership, but the grass roots—everyday citizens who have a sense of the importance of history as evidenced by the historic architecture and historic sites in their communities. This kind of participation has grown immensely in a number of ways.	2
DV: Why do you think that the public is more interested now in historic preservation?	3
Before and After: The Holler House, Lockerbie Square, Indianapolis Courtesy Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana
RW: I think a lot of it has to do with the rising awareness of what is now, but was not previously, recognized in each community as valuable and worthwhile. There seems to have been a reversal somewhere in the almost thirty years that I've been working here, from an attitude of "that old building, that eyesore, let's get rid of it and move on" to "wait a minute, what does that building, that historic site, tell us about ourselves, about our community?" That interest has coalesced into over 200 local organizations devoted to the preservation of their community's architectural heritage.	4
Sal Cilella: Reid can see this more dramatically than we can by the physical evidence of buildings and people wanting to save them. We don't usually deal with that kind of evidence, except in my own case. My first professional job was as the director of the Northern Indiana Historical Society. I was there from 1970 to 1973, and our museum occupied an 1854 courthouse in St. Joseph County, which the citizens of the county and the politicians had saved. They went further than that after I left. They saved the Oliver Mansion down the street, physically moved the historical society out of the courthouse down to the mansion, and established a new Northern Indiana Center for History. Most importantly they saved the old courthouse. I went through it when I came back to Indiana two years ago. It is magnificent, and it's being shown in something of the same condition in which it was established, with clerks' offices, judges' offices, and a refurbished courtroom on the second floor.	. . .