Jamestown, the first English settlement was 408 years ago. Compared to world history, four centuries pales in comparison. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the end of the American Civil War. Our grandparents or great-grandparents may have heard stories from their grandparents, who were likely alive during the Civil War. These events are documented in history books and have been studied and retold countless times. While I know the information, I feel disconnected from those events due to the years since then and the fact that no person alive today was alive then.
The Civilian Conservation Corps was established 82 years ago during the Great Depression. While it was disbanded after eight years, it set the foundation for most of the conservation agencies existing today. The programs that I have worked for over the past 2 years are directly descended from a time in history that I feel completely disconnected from. I live in buildings that were built by the CCC but it's still hard to fathom the significance of the places I see every day.
I've always been fascinated by history, especially the time between Jamestown and the Civil War. My parents were alive when Neil Armstrong first walked on the moon, yet it seems so long ago to me that my mind just sets it in the context of events that happened long before my lifetime. It's hard to wrap my head around the fact that some of the events that I've witnessed in my lifetime are already history for the younger generation. Many of the things I do each day may be significant history in my life but it's sometimes hard to stop and realize the moments that will be remembered forever. I like to think that the trails I work on will still exist for generations to come. Just as I walk trails built by the CCC I hope my work is one way of leaving a lasting history.
