WASHINGTON — Some of America's most prominent historians branded the proposed Disney's America theme park in suburban Virginia on Wednesday as a "desecration" of Revolutionary and Civil War landmarks.
"We have so little left that is authentic, that is real, and to replace it with plastic history, mechanized history, is a sacrilege," said David McCullough, president
of the Society of American Historians.
of the Society of American Historians.
"Would we as a country want a theme park at Normandy Beach? Would we permit that? Would we, in the name ofcreating jobs, make splinters of Mt. Vernon?" asked McCullough, chairman of Protect Historic America.
, make splinters of Mt. Vernon?" asked McCullough, chairman of Protect Historic America.
The new group, comprised of some 30 anti-Disney historians and writers, is led by John Hope Franklin, former chairman of history at the University of Chicago, and includes C. Vann Woodward, a retired Yale history professor who edited "Origins of the New South"; Shelby Foote, a Civil War expert and commentator on "The Civil War" documentary seen on public television; and writer William Styron, author of "The Confessions of Nat Turner."
Yale history professor who edited "Origins of the New South"; Shelby Foote, a Civil War expert and commentator on "The Civil War" documentary seen on public television; and writer William Styron, author of "The Confessions of Nat Turner."
But the Walt Disney Co., which has options to buy 3,000 acres of rolling hills and farmland around Haymarket, Va., for a $650 million tourism complex, insists the park will spark interest in history.
The site, 35 miles west of Washington and once surveyed by George Washington, is near the Manassas Civil War battlefield where two bloody campaigns were fought.
were fought.
"It's unfortunate that a group of historians would prejudge the project and draw conclusions about the historical content and potential impact of the park without having the necessary facts," a Disney's America statement said. The Disney Co. already pays two historians as consultants, and gave $100,000 to the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Battle Sites on Tuesday, a day before the project's latest opponents fired their opening salvo.
, and gave $100,000 to the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Battle Sites on Tuesday, a day before the project's latest opponents fired their opening salvo.
Many Virginia officials, including Gov. George Allen, warmly embraced the Disney project as a source of jobs, taxes and tourists when it was announced last fall.
, taxes and tourists when it was announced last fall.
Although many local residents consider the Disney park an economic boon, some environmental and preservation groups and owners of nearby farms and estates oppose it.
boon, some environmental and preservation groups and owners of nearby farms and estates oppose it.
Richard Moe, chairman of the private National Trust for Historic Preservation, said the project's "collateral sprawl" would imperil 16 battlefields, 17 historic districts and 10 towns.
Disney's America is scheduled to open in 1998 with elaborate exhibits on everything from the Revolutionary War through Vietnam, from life on the farm to urban immigrants.
When completed, the project would have 2,500 housing units, 1,300 hotel rooms, two golf courses, a campsite and a large commercial area.
Disney expects to draw 5 million to 6 million visitors a year.
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