ABSTRACT
Historical archaeology often is used to document architectural and landscape details for the management of public lands and for public interpretation at monuments and parks. Preservation in the East focused on buildings associated with the founding fathers and other patriotic history. There was great interest in protecting archaeological sites, particularly in the Southwest. In 1892 President Benjamin Harrison created the first national archaeological reservation at Casa Grande Ruins in Arizona. Archaeologists continue to investigate the many archaeological sites surrounding the reconstruction to learn about the daily lives of townspeople and soldiers. Even today, many individuals who work on archaeological projects are not professional archaeologists and may have no intention of following that career path. Historical archaeologists continue to excavate sites for the purposes of accurate visitor interpretation. The author returns to the possibilities and responsibilities of presenting the past as we go along and in the section on public scholarship, especially in, on public memory and public places.
