It turns out that there are a lot
of reasons!
Many important and interesting
things have happened in York, and records of them are found all over the County. These historic and cultural resources are
important to us for their historic value, because they link us to the past in a
very real way.
But historic preservation makes
sense in other ways, too. One reason is
that York’s history is a large part of its identity, and that is something that
should be shared with future generations.
York County wouldn’t be, well, York,
without the Shoe House, or the snack food factories, or the rotating
weightlifter at York Barbell, or the small town streets lined with historic
homes. And how different would our
comfort foods be, without our Pennsylvania German roots?
And when a place has a unique
identity, people like to live there, and people like to visit, too. Places that attract people have strong
housing markets, and can support a wide variety of homegrown businesses and
industries.
Heritage tourism pumps a lot
of money into the local economy, and residents benefit. Visitors boost businesses and local tax
bases, while everyone can enjoy the many parks, celebrations, arts venues,
museums, and businesses located in historic buildings and areas.
There’s rarely enough money to save
everything that is deserving of it, but it’s good to keep in mind that
preserving often pays off.
