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9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
An enjoyable journey across the continent, November 5, 2004
What happened in the past is the past and what we say about it is history, James W. Loewen says as he opens Lies Across America (21). In the course of 95 vignettes Loewen demonstrates that much of the time history, as it is presented to the public through historic sites across the country, takes the form of non-controversial hogwash. Loewen points out that historic site visitors should realize that each location tells two stories: the story of the event or person it is commemorating and the story of its erection or preservation. The former is the truth and the latter is what those who erected or preserved the monument want the general public to think is the truth. Loewen argues many erectors suffer from the "heritage syndrome," the impulse to only remember what is attractive or flattering and ignore all the rest (47).
Through an often humorous and sometimes sarcastic tone Lies Across America demonstrates that European-Americans decidedly feel that nothing important happened until they arrived on the scene and after that what they did was all that mattered. The title of one entry says it all: "Don't `Discover' `Til You See The Eyes of The Whites" (74). Time and time again Loewen illustrates how many historic sites and place names slight Native Americans. Many tribes are known by negative names - names their enemies gave to them - and some monument monikers stigmatize Indian religion and culture, such as Devil's Tower in Wyoming, whose name blasphemes local Indians because to them it is a holy site (133). Across the landscape, Native Americans do not get the credit they deserve, such as two historical markers in California that omit the Indians' contribution in building Sutter's fort and some of the Catholic Church's missions.
Loewen contends that some historical markers present invented history, while others don't present enough. A monument in Almo, Idaho memorializes a massacre that never took place (89-93). Visitors at the preserved homes of Helen Keller and 15th president James Buchanan see a wonderful array of period furniture and architecture but learn little of the famous people who lived there. Nothing is spoken of Keller's radicalism at her home and at the former Buchanan residence visitors do not hear about the former president's political views and homosexuality (367-370).
Lies Across America teaches Americans to be highly critical of how history is portrayed across the landscape. It teaches visitors to take what is presented in every historic site at face value and not assume the monument depicts the whole truth. In the second appendix, Loewen includes questions every visitor should ask in order to get the real story of each monument or marker, and any visitor would benefit from asking the questions and uncovering their answers.
The book's one weakness is organization. Each entry is arranged geographically, when it would be a smoother read if done topically. Organizing entries together by topic would avoid disjunction. However, the volume is highly readable and should be enjoyable to anyone interested in history, both academic and laymen. Every entry grabs readers' attention no matter if they have prior interest or knowledge in the subject presented. Its content generates a whole host of trivia questions and answers while also discussing the more important themes of American history - racism, sexism, slavery, and exploitation.
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 Lies Across America: What Our Historic Sites Get Wrong 0684870673
James W. Loewen
Touchstone
Lies Across America: What Our Historic Sites Get Wrong
Books
An enjoyable journey across the continent
What happened in the past is the past and what we say about it is history, James W. Loewen says as he opens Lies Across America (21). In the course of 95 vignettes Loewen demonstrates that much of the time history, as it is presented to the public through historic sites across the country, takes the form of non-controversial hogwash. Loewen points out that historic site visitors should realize that each location tells two stories: the story of the event or person it is commemorating and the story of its erection or preservation. The former is the truth and the latter is what those who erected or preserved the monument want the general public to think is the truth. Loewen argues many erectors suffer from the "heritage syndrome," the impulse to only remember what is attractive or flattering and ignore all the rest (47).
Through an often humorous and sometimes sarcastic tone Lies Across America demonstrates that European-Americans decidedly feel that nothing important happened until they arrived on the scene and after that what they did was all that mattered. The title of one entry says it all: "Don't `Discover' `Til You See The Eyes of The Whites" (74). Time and time again Loewen illustrates how many historic sites and place names slight Native Americans. Many tribes are known by negative names - names their enemies gave to them - and some monument monikers stigmatize Indian religion and culture, such as Devil's Tower in Wyoming, whose name blasphemes local Indians because to them it is a holy site (133). Across the landscape, Native Americans do not get the credit they deserve, such as two historical markers in California that omit the Indians' contribution in building Sutter's fort and some of the Catholic Church's missions.
Loewen contends that some historical markers present invented history, while others don't present enough. A monument in Almo, Idaho memorializes a massacre that never took place (89-93). Visitors at the preserved homes of Helen Keller and 15th president James Buchanan see a wonderful array of period furniture and architecture but learn little of the famous people who lived there. Nothing is spoken of Keller's radicalism at her home and at the former Buchanan residence visitors do not hear about the former president's political views and homosexuality (367-370).
Lies Across America teaches Americans to be highly critical of how history is portrayed across the landscape. It teaches visitors to take what is presented in every historic site at face value and not assume the monument depicts the whole truth. In the second appendix, Loewen includes questions every visitor should ask in order to get the real story of each monument or marker, and any visitor would benefit from asking the questions and uncovering their answers.
The book's one weakness is organization. Each entry is arranged geographically, when it would be a smoother read if done topically. Organizing entries together by topic would avoid disjunction. However, the volume is highly readable and should be enjoyable to anyone interested in history, both academic and laymen. Every entry grabs readers' attention no matter if they have prior interest or knowledge in the subject presented. Its content generates a whole host of trivia questions and answers while also discussing the more important themes of American history - racism, sexism, slavery, and exploitation.
Ranger Reub
November 5, 2004
- Overall: 5
- Overall: 5
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Location: Cedar City, UT
New Reviewer Rank: 794,535
Classic Reviewer Rank: 79,918
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