‘It’s supposed to be 1863, but it’s really not’: inside the representation and communication of heritage at a pioneer village

Abstract

While much heritage studies research concerns dissonance and the use of history in contemporary spaces, nuances of the narrative construction process have only more recently begun to receive attention. This paper investigates the dynamics of heritage representation, in particular the contests among park staff, which have resulted in tremendous variation in heritage narrative communication at Spring Mill Pioneer Village. Contestation among the site’s administrators and interpretative staff regarding representations of time and place in the village has resulted in inconsistencies in both the material landscape and performative storytelling. As a result, the interpretative staff use a number of narrative tactics when engaging with tourists. While the village is located within a state park and therefore has a clear hierarchical power structure, this case illustrates how dissent manifests in the actual communication of the village’s narrative. Thus, this paper contributes to the ongoing study of spatio-historical context of heritage sites as revealed in the multifaceted construction, contestation and communication of narrative.

Keywords:

• place
• time
• narrative
• authenticity
• performance

Acknowledgements

The author would like to acknowledge the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and Spring Mill State Park for their support of this research, and in particular, express my appreciation for the park’s staff who shared their experiences and stories of working in the village. Special thanks, also, to Daniel Knudsen and the anonymous reviewers who offered insightful feedback and constructive critique.

Notes

1. ‘Hoosier’ is the official name for residents of the State of Indiana. Its specific etymology and folkloric history are widely contested. What is fairly well accepted is that the term arose in the pioneer-era of the state (150–200 years ago), particularly in the southern region. Its colloquial usage eventually spread throughout the Ohio Valley, where it is still used outside of Indiana to denote a derogatory character (backwards, country folk). Yet, within the State it is a signifier of collective identity, even used as the mascot for the flagship university.