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An Historical Perspective of Civic Engagement and Interpreting Cultural Diversity in Arrow Rock, Missouri

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Abstract

Since 1912, Arrow Rock, Missouri, has transformed itself from a small river town into a major heritage-tourism center through a grassroots historic preservation movement. The result has been that in 1963 Arrow Rock was recorded as a National Historic Landmark site, in 2006 the National Trust for Historic Preservation listed it as one of its “Dozen Distinctive Destination” sites, and in 2008 it was recognized as a “Preserve America Community.” Like many historic towns, Arrow Rock’s preservation and interpretation focused initially on its “white, male, and rich” heritage, ignoring the majority of its past citizens. Beginning in 1996, Arrow Rock has utilized public history and archaeology to develop new interpretive programs that address its African American heritage and that attempt to engage this previously marginalized descendant community.

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  1. Indiana University, Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, 423 N. Fess Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47408, USA

    Timothy E. Baumann

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Baumann, T.E. An Historical Perspective of Civic Engagement and Interpreting Cultural Diversity in Arrow Rock, Missouri. Hist Arch 45, 114–134 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03376824

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