2 Responses to Just Shot: Stonewall Jackson Death Site, Guinea Station
I have become very ambivalent about the NPS presentation of this place. I always felt that referring to Jackson’s Death Site as a “Shrine” was a wee bit over the top. The two New England born rangers who were present years ago during my first visit shared a good chuckle with me on that one. However, the near complete refashioning of the site into an “enslaved labor on the plantation” teaching point seems very heavy handed. There were thousands of such locations throughout Virginia alone. This particular location really only derives its special significance as the location of Jackson’s death. I dislike the use of one of the minor “gotcha” sites as a means of transmitting a message that has many, many other more appropriate venues, including battlefield sites such as Antietam, Fort Sumter and Gettysburg.
I have become very ambivalent about the NPS presentation of this place. I always felt that referring to Jackson’s Death Site as a “Shrine” was a wee bit over the top. The two New England born rangers who were present years ago during my first visit shared a good chuckle with me on that one. However, the near complete refashioning of the site into an “enslaved labor on the plantation” teaching point seems very heavy handed. There were thousands of such locations throughout Virginia alone. This particular location really only derives its special significance as the location of Jackson’s death. I dislike the use of one of the minor “gotcha” sites as a means of transmitting a message that has many, many other more appropriate venues, including battlefield sites such as Antietam, Fort Sumter and Gettysburg.
Shrine, Statue, Monument…call it what you will. The woke desecration of anything Confederate is an abomination.