From appreciating historical value to what to do with your hands, a few things are just a bit different when you step into the past.
Let’s face it: Historical sites are their own animal when it comes to handling crowds of tourists. Visiting Six Flags is very different from exploring Saint Peter’s Basilica. From appreciating historical value to what your hands should and shouldn’t touch, a few things are just a bit different when you step into the past:
#1 Appreciate the Historical value. While every place in the world definitely has its story, certain spots on our planet have been recognized and designated as more special to the heritage of humanity than say, your college cafeteria, or your man cave. Coming to a historical site is often about being part of a shared experience with humanity, whether it be the quaint home of a president, or a sprawling religious monument created by passionate past peoples. From sprawling UNESCO sites to a little state park, the experience is what you make it, and we think it is simply better if you let the importance and value sink in. (i.e., Get off your phone.)
This is not the place for Angry Birds. The Temple of Apollo at Didyma, Turkey.
#2 Unlike malls, historical sites often have tour guides. Listen carefully. Guided tours offer insight and depth into a historical site. The tour guides also know the ins-and-outs of their job, and how to best preserve the historical site for the future. Please follow their instructions and don’t be a jerk.
This wonderful chap gave a friend and I a tour of the Michigan Capitol Building.
#3 Stop by the visitor center/desk at museums and historic sites. The first stop at any historic site/museum should be their front desk. You can’t just walk into most places. Sometimes there is a fee you need to pay to see the place, or you need to sign up for a tour (even if it is free). So please, don’t barge into a historical place and expect full service at once without finding out what is going on first.
#4 Ask about photography. Especially in museums with older paintings, the photography policy is an important thing to know. Flash photography can damage and fade these works of art into nothing.
Mhairi Gowans Ask or look for signs regarding photography policies, even if you are just posing for pictures.
#5 Look with your eyes, not your hands. In museums and historical homes, every surface is important. The curators and workers are already fighting a battle against time and decay, without your extra finger grease or attempts to play soccer with a mummy skull.
Do not under any circumstances do this. “Love Locks” are by no means forever. Workers have to cut these off historic bridges constantly, which damages them, and if you are caught by authorities, expect a hefty fine. On the Ponte Vecchio, in Florence, Italy.
#6 Don’t Steal. Looting didn’t end once the pyramids were cleared out; today many museums and archaeological sites are still victims of the practice, and it is still a big problem. Every item taken is a puzzle piece that the experts no longer have. Please be respectful. And seriously, do you need one more sarcophagus in your bedroom? Think.
#7 Cost: Cheap, Cheap Cheap! Something often overlooked is that entry fees for historical parks the world over are often at bargain-basement prices compared to tourist attractions like roller coasters or large shopping destinations. The dead come cheap.
#8 Last of all…Be Quiet and Respectful. You are often not the only person in the place. Some like to take in all the history without having to block out a zillion people talking obscenely loud. This rule can be applied basically anywhere, whether an historic place or a national park. If you must talk, a whisper is called for, especially in a museum or a church. Nothing is more disrespectful than using an outside voice while someone is praying right next to you.
Great tips! I hate going to museums and having to listen to someone else’s loud conversation.