Are destroyed heritage resources still relevant? It’s a matter of interpretation

By Jeff Guin

What good could come out of a burned-out husk of a building? Could a museum’s ruins contribute to a culture the same way it did when it was still intact?

Few would dispute the significance of ruins found in most of the world’s ancient settlements. But easy answers are harder to come by in modern America when a structure is destroyed at merely 200 years old, in a rural location, during a bad economy.

Heritage Resources students at Northwestern State University of Louisiana took on this challenge during their Heritage Resources Methods II class. Their topic was the Kate Chopin House in Cloutierville, La. Named for the legendary feminist writer who once lived there, the structure burned nearly a year ago.

The students were charged with the mission to “use skills and knowledge gained in class to help visitors value the importance of this place.” The mission was a challenging one. Very little remained to identify the structure as the elegant showcase of Creole-style architecture it once was.

Course instructors Julie Ernstein, Susan Dollar and Pete Gregory encouraged the students to find creative methods to help visitors gain an experience that goes beyond the visual aesthetic. The class presented its initial findings on-site last May. Members of the Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches, which owns the property, were present to hear their recommendations.

Using 11 five-minute interpretive stations located throughout the site, students provided historic, architectural and literary context for the site. They also detailed action steps for preserving what’s left of the main structure and its contents.

The class presentation is potentially only the beginning of this project. Inspired by the creative solutions coming out of the activity, Dr. Ernstein recently applied for a Cane River National Heritage Area grant to craft a comprehensive interpretive plan for the Chopin House. The plan would assist APHN in making some long-term decisions about the site.

So, what makes a heritage site “a heritage site?” It’s the value a community places on it. From the Parthenon to the archaeological excavation sites of small forgotten communities around the world–and even the remains of a brick-and-bousillage house in rural Louisiana–these places still hold value as our legacy.

Here’s a video of Julie Ernstein and the group performing a “This Place Matters” spot for the Chopin House.

The video is on the Natchitoches Preservation Network podcast feed on iTunes as well.