Buffalo's Opportunity

We have seen a great change in the focus of historic preservation over the last twenty-five years or so. We’ve broadened the definitions of just what is historically significant. We’ve broadened the spectrum of historical resources we believe are worth preserving. No longer are we interested solely in the buildings where famous people lived or the sites where famous battles took place. We’re interested in the buildings and sites that tell the stories of ordinary people, working people, and the stories of the different ethnic groups that constitute our larger American story.

We’re also moving from an interest in single buildings to an interest in districts and whole regions that tell those important stories about us as a people. We’re now including industrial buildings, sites, and landscapes; ethnic places and districts; the whole approach is more inclusive than it has ever been before.

We’re also looking for authenticity. We have been inundated by theme parks and historical replicas and other ersatz offerings. There is certainly a place for Disney World and amusement parks and Las Vegas. But we have felt the power of real places. We’re hungry for them. And we can tell the difference. I don’t mean that historic preservation experts can tell the difference. Just plain folks can tell the difference. We know the real thing when we see it.

This demand for authenticity has been reflected strongly in the growth in the tourism industry. The tourism and travel industry is one of the fastest growing sectors of our economy. But within that category heritage tourism, cultural tourism,
and eco-tourism are the fastest growing sub-categories. And authenticity is one of the motivating values of this growing market.