The Pros and Cons of Living Near a Historical Landmark

WolfenWarrior has a wonderfully specific problem. And we're just dying to know where she lives! –Sparkitors

I live near a historical landmark. I'm not going to tell you which one, just suffice it to say it's the kind that tourists love, which isn't really saying much. Life in the vicinity of a tourist attraction has its ups and downs, which I will now explain in this handy list:

Pros:

You live near an important part of history. What isn’t cool about that? A lot of history buffs would probably LOVE to live where you do.

You can brag about it everywhere you go. Not many people can say, “You know that place we read about in history class today? I live NEXT to it.” *smug expression*

...and it never gets old. There’s nothing better than hearing the phrase, “Oh, really?” with its accompanying expression of shock and awe. This inevitably follows you telling someone where you live.

You can go to any and all cool events held at the landmark. Whether it’s a reenactment, ghost tour, or holiday celebration, there are always interesting things going on at a historic place.

Cons:

The whole history thing gets old real fast. No, you're not a history buff, and no, you will not give them a free tour because you know the place like the back of your hand. And even you don’t know everything about the place, so PLEASE STOP ASKING QUESTIONS.

When your history class is studying your landmark, your forced to headdesk repeatedly. Really? Really? You have to see the stupid place every day, and now you have to read about it for SCHOOL?!

THE FREAKING TOURISTS. They don’t know where they are. They don’t know where they’re going. When looking at their maps, they stop in the middle of your road. They also park on your road, and go down your driveway. (Really? How are you that lost?) Most of the time, they also stop to enjoy the scenery, effectively blocking you from getting home. Lastly, they are completely ignorant of the rules and customs of your town, making them infuriating to talk to. This is by far the WORST part of living near a piece of history.

THE TOUR BUSES (See TOURISTS, above). Sometimes, tour bus drivers actually seem to know what they’re doing. Most of the time, they don’t. They park on the road, which is already barely two lanes, leaving about 9 feet for you to get past them. And when there are three tour buses parked in a row on the road, you might as well stop your car where you are and walk home.

Which historical spot would you love to live next door to? Or is nothing worth dealing with the tourists?

Related post: How to Make History

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