through interpretation, understanding; through understanding, appreciation; through appreciation, protection

Freeman Tilden's quote about the importance of interpretation fifty years ago still rings true today. If people do not understand why something is important, they often do not appreciate it, and therefore don't see the need to protect it.

In Tilden's theory interpretation is the front-line defense, protection stems from this, and not the other way around. But, as is a common theme through many of these readings, interpretation must be more than just providing information. It must provide a means of understanding and appreciation of a site, whether it be historic or natural. The interpreter must care about and understand the site themselves before they can impart that knowledge to others.

Interpretation is important not only after a site is founded, but even to found the site in the first place. Patricia West shows us that politics is interpretation. In order to get a site preserved it must be interpreted as something worthy of saving. Some of these are easier "sells" than others. The preservation of Orchard house was an easy to sell to preserve, although the reason for why it was protected was not the reason many people thought it should be protected. (It emphasized Mr. Alcott's utopian dreams, and not his daughters writing.

the past is the stories we tell is what Handler and Gable call what people discuss about history. History is fact, the past is the story woven from the "important" facts. Tilden would say that a compelling story is not enough for good interpretation, you must go beyond the story and find some way to compel the interest of the audience Handler and Gable show how that is done in Williamsburg, and how it is also prevented. The story is highly commercialized and sensitized, one must feel that things are better than they once where--the scripted idea of progress.

But these all also discuss that history is not static, the stories we tell change, and interpretation must change with new experiences.