When this country was founded Americans got to decide their history. They decided that Christopher Columbus discovered the new world. While the Canadians attribute it to John Cabot (link) , since he was English – these United States decided that an obscure Spanish explorer would be better suited as a symbol of independence from England. Even the Vikings were too English to be celebrated for discovering North America. The founders of this country wanted their own version of history and they got it.
Take Mormonism for example: Their Holy Land is in North America instead of traditional Christianity that claims its in the middle east. It’s the whole,”Look no further, we have everything here you could ever want” mentality.
We as Americans like to re-invent ourselves at will. It’s the American Dream to make yourself into whatever you want to be. Like how a certain person can be born rich and privileged, go to Yale and Harvard and make themselves into tough-talking word-flubbing cowboy. Amazing. And VERY American.
‘America’s Stonehenge’ (site) has been open to the public since 1958. The name is a bit of a misnomer. It was originally named Mystery Hill Caves, which I think would be more accurate. It is a mystery. No one really knows what it is. The first written record of the site is from the 1890’s. They have found no conclusive evidence that it’s a Bronze Age structure. But there are people that really want it to be that. They want it to be Celtic (site). They want it to be an American Stonehenge. There’s no evidence, but it is a telling allegory for this country.
With that being said:
Some of the structure (like this part above) was ‘restored’ by the researcher William B. Goodwin in 1937 (not to be confused with William Goodwin the father of the children whose accusations lead to the Salem Witch Trials).
Note: If you are going to be in New Hampshire in March, don’t wear sneakers while looking at rocks in the hills. Take my word for it. Snow does bad things to one’s toes.
That’s the table.
Don’t get me wrong. If you’re in the neighborhood, you should go. It’s worth the $9 cover charge. I’ve paid more for a meal that gave me food poisoning.
Going to New England, where my country was founded, gave me an insight into my country: I can be anything I want to be.
With that being said, I’ve undergone plans to become a tall, Filipino man. Only in America!… and certain parts of Russia.