September 9, 2007
Petersburg gets vote for Museum of the Confederacy’s third site
Blog Virginia Palmetto writes: “…the Museum of the Confederacy, the largest holder of Confederate artifacts, is splitting into three museums… One museum will be at the Appomattox Courthouse National Battlefield Park, the second at the Chancllorsville National Battlefield Park and the third and a yet to be announced location. …let me throw in my two cents about the third site: Petersburg. Petersburg is a logical choice due to the siege, the importance it had during the war, and the fact that it is in the genesis of an urban renewal. Downtown Petersburg is beginning to be transformed to a very cool place. If you havenít been there, you should visit and get a sense of the potential there for unique place to live, work and have fun.” Thanks to the folks at Virginia Palmetto for the vote, and thanks to fellow ‘hoodbloggers at the Near West End News for sharing the find!
More info on the MoC split is in the RTD.
I doubt this will happen, since in my experience, the city and its politicians are not intersted in using Petersburg’s Confederate history to promote tourism.
PART appears to have been working to promote same:
[via]
The city’s successful scheme to sieze Southside Station from the War Between the States, was all about the city government’s unwillingness to use Petersburg’s Confederate past to promote today’s tourim. For example, in her deposition, which was read into the record at trial, Rosalyn stated that she would never support using any Confederate symbol to promote tourism in Petersburg since such symbols would bring back to her too many painful memories of slavery.
If I were she, I wonder if I wouldn’t have the same issues.
I personally think this entire region would be better off if it were to bury its past and place more emphasis on the future (want to talk free WiFi?), but I recognize that is easy for me to say as I am not from this region and have no connection to the area’s history.
I will say this though: when I was in Ireland in the early 1990s, the deep-set sense of who wronged whom 523.14 years ago was so profound that I found I had absorbed some of the venom directed towards the English — in only 4 months! Yes, I was younger and more impressionable then, but the lesson was probably all the more obvious for just that reason about how easily prejudices and animosities and such can carry foward if you don’t work to put the history to rest.
All that said, my take on some of the local tours that I have been on is that the Confederate history is not so much glorified as interpreted (opportunities lost, opportunities gained) from the various points of view of the day. If nothing else such information has helped me understand this region’s present challenges better. (And I don’t discount the economic boost increased tourism could be to the region. I guess I have just wondered about the extent to which everyone in the community can get excited about such tourism, and I sure hope other economic development efforts are given similar attention, as would be befitting a proper city that offers something for all demographics.)
WHO is this person who has “painful memories of slavery”???
My father lived in what was basically German occupied southern Italy during WWII and I don’t think I can feel his pain even though he’s told of the hardships of that time.
Lest anyone say that living in occupied territory is not slavery I’d agree but then again… someone elseís memories (Lucky me my father is still alive) cannot cause someone ELSE pain much less someone else who is at least 100 years in a grave and several generations removed.
Virginia and the south in general needs to consider preserving and presenting history but backing away from the current ìThe South shall rise again!î mentality. Southern Cavalier culture contributed to the Civil war and is currently keeping division but not so much that they still have their pride but more so that others donít understand nor tolerate it.
I suppose the Southern Gentlemanly thing to do is to be more reserved about it. As long as the past is deservedly preserved and respectfully (from both sides) presented things should be fine. But then again Iím not a Southern Gentleman and would be considered a ìDamn Yankeeî in some circles. The ìItís a XXXXXXX thing, you wouldnít understandî needs to go away.
Petersburg should promote itís CIVIL WAR historyÖ not confederate nor union.
AMERICAN history should be learned and interpreted by all citizens. The censorship or deletion of parts of our history because it is painful, was wrong or even evil smacks of the way the Soviet Union handled its problems with history.
I suspect that this post will not appear in the comments section, but I will get it off my chest anyway. Ms. Dance is not worried or concerned about slavery past or present. The very fact that this city is in the pathetic shape that it is, is because she was mayor for 12 years or so. She is without a doubt the biggest racist in town. The fact that she was voted in as mayor had nothing to do with her qualifacations. If you are white YOU are the racist in her mind. She has been invited to Civil War events in town and promised to attend and give speeches about the Civil War. Her smart tactic was to accept those invitations and then when everyone was waiting in the hot sun for her to make an appearance, she would suddenly cancel.
The theme for 2007 in Petersburg was supposed to be “Come see Petersburg as it was during the Civil War. And come to Petersburg and view African American History.” I’m sorry, but in case someone missed it, this is 2007!!
With Petersburg’s involvment in the Civil War, especially during the 10 month seige and Lee’s retreat that started right here on River Steet, it could make Gettysburg look like a childs lemonade party. Have you been to Gettysburg? Lines to get in the restaurants, lines to get in the visitors center, lines to get in the stores and shops. For what? A 3 day battle? No, not really. It’s just that them Yankees sure know how to advirtise and promote what is sure to bring in the bucks. Will we ever wake up??
Michael, you have a really good point there.
Confederate History should and must be preserved in order to balance the scales of time. To hide it would give it a raw deal as though southern culture was a bad thing.
We need to know that just as many God fearing people defended their southern way of life as did those who fought for the northern counterpart.
We must come together in truth. Truth be told it was the fiery southern general William “Billy” Mahone who upon defeat of the Confederacy, helped rebuild Petersburg, not in bitterness or anger, but in a desire to make Petersburg a better place to live. The great railroad system, the order of government, Virginia State University all have roots leading back to this famous, but not much talked about Confederate General.
A grand Confederate museum would do well to preserve the heritage and history that supports a way of life that is not painful or miserable in and of itself… we must root out the pain and misery that can be found in every society.
Perhaps R. Dance did not know of this history, or perhaps it was not expedient for her rise in the democratic party machinery here, but nevertheless, history should be taught in it’s entirety even though it may be painful.
The truth shall set us free, but first it just might put a bee in our bonnet. We have nothing to fear but fear itself is so true. Also, people telling lies about or hiding the past can be kind of scary as well.
You know, there’s truth in all the comments so far here. Leadership in Richmond, Petersburg and the surrounding Metro area is not really keen on embracing anything that flys a Confederate Flag. But at the same time they’re turning their back to what could be a massive economic engine that could run for the next 50 years. People want to know about the Civil War, but are turned off by the CONSTANT bickering between those that “feel the pain” and those that have “pride & heritage”.
I don’t understand why the facts just can’t stand on their own. Well, I do understand because that would require humility on both sides, and that’s a laughable thought here in “modern” times.
I can’t even cite a locality that has totally embraced their civil war history and marketed it to tourists. If anyone knows of such a place, please let me know. But I tell you this, when the day comes that a Civil War Museum is opened that has no angle to it, no agenda, no message, it just tells the stories of men, women and children of the 1860s, then that will be a success.
Case in point; Yorktown battlefield has flags of all the combatants displayed in the relevant places.
Flying the Stars and Bars (Confederate States Flag) or the Confederate Battle Flag (this, the one some clam to represent racism) from some parts of the city as historical presentation would be proper.
Saying it didn’t happen or hiding it is just as wacky as a holocaust denier saying the death camps didn’t happen or shouldn’t be shown.
“Those who don’t study history……”
Yup, they are still fightin’ about the flag….in the paper today. This time it is WHICH Confederate flag should we fly at the Capital. Richmonders love to argue!
http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/search.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2007-09-11-0146.html
How important is it to know the honest history of the South?
For those of you who do no know Petersburg, or for those who have not attended any Southern “Civil War” programs here, I share this “Virginia Is For Lovers” site:
http://www.virginia.org/site/description.asp?AttrID=47025&MGrp=3&MCat=11
What we find most often today in our selfish “politically correct” country and community are accusations based on one’s own lack of knowledge of factual history and attempts by these people to put themselves on a higher moral plane through their academic ignorance, or that of the public.
In many cases it is used for power, influence, and for money. If the people of our country do not recognize our honest history and know their honest legacy, then we’re all in trouble. “Kooky” history has been taught by so called “historians”, teachers, and others right here in Petersburg in the past, and it is happening today.
Those who either accept, allow, and participate in such activity damage our community and damage others including our children and potentially the minds of our future generations. If one is sensitive to the truth about our world’s past then they might want to think about the consequences of knowing nothing about it. Another option is to lie about our history. That will make some people feel better.
Found this link below. Where do you think such history is taught? If you think nowhere, your right.
http://www.petersburgexpress.com/Mahone_Friends.html
In contrast, I share this wonderful Walter Williams article as another example or heritage and our legacy misused. I’ll leave it to the you again to decide how important our history is today. Quote:
“I don’t feel no ways tired. I come too far from where I started from. Nobody told me that the road would be easy. I don’t believe He brought me this far,” drawled presidential aspirant Hillary Clinton, mimicking black voice to a black audience, at the First Baptist Church of Selma, Alabama. I’m wondering if [Guess Who] visits an Indian reservation she might cozy up to them saying, “How! Me not tired. Me come heap long way. Road mighty rough. Sky Spirit no bring me this far.” Or, seeking the Asian vote she might say, “I no wray tired. Come too far I started flum. Road berry clooked. Number one Dragon King take me far.”
The full text can be found at:
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/WalterEWilliams/2007/09/12/insulting_blacks
I’d like to share how Robert E. Lee and many White Southeners felt about Slavery before and after The War. If you did not know this quote then you don’t know this early Southern Civil Rights leader:
“So far from engaging in a war to perpetuate slavery, I am rejoiced that Slavery is abolished. I believe it will be greatly for the interest of the South. So fully am I satisfied of this that I would have cheerfully lost all that I have lost by the war, and have suffered all that I have suffered to have this object attained.”
Petersburg
Fort Monroe is to be the third site