Why does the US have a vendetta against historical architecture?

Question

Europe has buildings and structures that are hundreds or thousands of years old.

In the United States, it is likely rare to have a building last more than 100 years. Even a mere 30 years is often considered past its prime, for a building today.

It's a wonder we even have ANY historical structures left in the US with the "throw-away" society that we have become. If the US owned things like the Roman coliseum or the leaning Tower of Pisa, they'd be swiftly torn down and replaced with a parking lot, office building, or a Wal-Mart.

I'm primarily referring to structures from 1800's through the 1930's. I was just using the coliseum and tower as metaphorical examples to illustrate how I view the US apathy of historical structures.

I love to look at old photographs of old buildings. The architecture is amazing and beautiful. I especially admire Victorian and Gothic architecture. I look at photos of buildings that used to be in my area, that were built in the late 1800's -1930's, such as opera houses, movie theaters, hotels, mansions, etc. and I'm always like, "Wow! That used to be HERE? It's a shame it was torn down."

Answer 1

Hi Silver,

I hope you won't be offended by this observation. But one of the reasons you see so few older buildings in America is that the original buildings weren't built to last. So many of the earliest buildings were poorly constructed wooden structures -- nothing like the great cathedrals or palaces of Europe.

However, I've seen dramatic progress in recent years. For example, there are new attempts to renovate and protect the buildings of Frank Lloyd Wright. And particularly in the eastern cities, there is a genuine concern about preserving important architectural landmarks.

I'm afraid, though, the farther west one travels, the less important preservation is. Los Angeles, for example, "had" (Note: past tense) some of the best examples of Art Deco architecture anywhere, and they tore down a great deal of it. So I'm afraid I can see some merit in your despair.

My own home was built in 1781, and I've often remarked that if it were in America it would either have been torn down ages ago, or turned into a museum. In Europe, we have a much longer view of things. Part of the problem is that for all its wealth and power, the United States is still a very young country -- and like all youngsters, is far more concerened with the "new" and "now" than the "old" and "classical."

I just hope that when America finally comes of age there's a heritage left to protect.

Cheers, mate.

Answer 2

On the east coast cities have a large number of houses and whole neighborhoods from the federal and Victorian era just like London. We can't match cities like Rome from the 17th century because we did not have real cities then. The "old" preserved buildings of the past both in Europe and America were the dwellings of the well off or the rich. The poor lived in ticky tacky slums that has long since disappeared. The unusual thing about America is that many of today's well off choose to live in the suburbs in ticky tacky houses.

Answer 3

Part of the reason we don't have as many historical structures as Europe is because of the society that lived here previous to the colonialization. Native American structures weren't always meant to survive thousands of years, but to be easily relocated. We aren't going to have a castle built in 1207 because of those cultural differences. I know of many homes built more than a hundred years ago, but not more than three hundred years ago, because there weren't European settlers here.

There are groups who protect historical landmarks. When a company wanted to pave over Walden pond, Don Henley helped fight to keep it preserved with the Walden Woods Project.

Answer 4

Don't really see any comparison figures stated in your study between now and the past. But then I didn't visit your link. However what I find really shocking is the statement: "Views differ by party and ideology, with a majority of Democrats and liberals saying they have a positive view of socialism, compared to a minority of Republicans and conservatives." Isn't that just amazing that liberals favor socialism? LOL

Answer 5

I don't know but I sure agree with you. It pisses me off that we needlessly tear stuff down to build new stuff, over and over. Beautiful buildings, pieces of history, it's ridiculous. Look in my website at the section called "The Ormond Hotel". Look up the history on that place and then faint after seeing that it was torn down after years of history including the Rockefeller's, NASCAR and other unbelievable bits of history. Nice subject, thanks for bringing it up. Feel free to email me.

www.flickr.com/photos/sweetlight/sets

That flickr site is being used as mass photo storage as my real website is rebuilt.

Answer 6

Learn the proper definition of vendetta.