ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the idea of historic reconstruction with reference to the chapel within the Landscape of Grand Pré World Heritage Site, in Canada, and reference to Maurice Halbwach's work on collective memory and group identity. The evolution of the use of historic reconstructions is then discussed, beginning with nineteenth-century European precedents including Viollet-le-Duc's work on the walls of Carcassonne, and Burges' reconstruction of Castell Coch. Late-twentieth century reconstructions in Europe are also addressed, including the Globe Theatre, in London, and the Frauenkirche, in Dresden. Policies that have influenced the use of historic reconstructions are also examined, especially the formal standards adopted by the federal government in the United States, and Australia's Burra Charter. Several documents developed by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) are considered, including the Nara Document on Authenticity and the Riga Charter. Within this context, the question of how historic reconstructions have been used in the United States and Canada is posed.
