The Importance of Marking Historic Spots, an Address

"The Importance of Marking Historic Spots, an Address" by Henry W. Shoemaker is a speech from 1922 that emphasizes the value of remembering important places from the past, especially in Pennsylvania. It tells how people have honored these sites over time, from Native American traditions to more modern methods. The address talks about how Native Americans and early settlers marked significant events and places, mostly related to fighting and staying alive in the wilderness. Shoemaker stresses how vital it is to appreciate things like the old charcoal iron furnaces that were key to Pennsylvania’s industry. He brings up that many people don’t know about these old industries and asks for more work to be done to save their stories. Shoemaker suggests that by marking these historical spots, we can build a connection between what happened then and what’s happening now, inspiring pride and safeguarding cultural history.