Description
The Spirit of Colonial Williamsburg examines how the past comes alive at this living-history museum. In the early twentieth century, local stories about the ghosts of former residents-among them Revolutionary War soldiers and nurses, tavern owners and prominent attorneys, and enslaved African Americans-helped to turn Williamsburg into a desirable site for historical restoration. But, for much of the twentieth century, the museum tried diligently to avoid any discussion of ghosts, considering them frivolous and lowbrow. Alena Pirok explores why historic sites have begun to embrace their spectral residents in recent decades, arguing that through them, patrons experience an emotional connection to place and a palpable understanding of the past through its people.
Book Information
ISBN 9781625346940
Author Alena Pirok
Format Paperback
Page Count 232
Imprint University of Massachusetts Press
Publisher University of Massachusetts Press
Weight(grams) 363g
Dimensions(mm) 226mm * 149mm * 17mm
