Why Study History?

Some people ask, “Why is history important?” Texas heritage is one of the best assets we receive from our ancestors. Our everyday lives are rooted in history. We are all products of what has gone on before us. Where we live, how we live, and what we believe is rooted in the generations that lived before us.

Do you ever wonder why people in the 19th Century would leave their established homes and travel in an iron-wheeled wagon pulled by mules or oxen for hundreds of miles to begin a new life in a land that has no buildings, no roads, and no schools or churches? Do you think that our government officials today are less efficient and less productive than the Texas officials were in the mid-19th century? Does your patriotism and respect for our nation measure up to the sacrifices that the generation of the mid-20th century made for our country and the freedoms we enjoy today?

If we do not know where we have come from, we are more prone to stumble and make mistakes. Our ancestors’ experiences can teach us how we can prevent some of these pitfalls. Studying history can help us understand how fortunate we are to live where we live. Knowing the sacrifices that our ancestors made can help us appreciate our freedoms and our desires to preserve these freedoms. Through the study of history we can all better the way we live and contribute to society. The study of history helps us understand and appreciate our heritage.