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Get ready to dive into the rich and fascinating history of your community because May 1 marks the start of Local and Community History Month! This month-long celebration was first established in 2003 by The Historical Association to raise awareness about the importance of studying and preserving local history. From exploring old buildings and landmarks, to learning about the people who shaped your town or city, there are endless ways to celebrate this special month. So let's take a trip down memory lane and discover all the unique stories that make our communities so special.
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2003</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Establishment of the Holiday</div><div class='timeline-text'>Local and Community History Month is first established by The Historical Association to promote the study of local history and to raise awareness about community heritage.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2004</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First Celebrations</div><div class='timeline-text'>The first recorded Local and Community History Month celebrations take place. Local communities participate by organizing historical walks, exhibitions, and talks.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2008</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Increased Public Interest</div><div class='timeline-text'>Public interest in local history increases substantially, with a significant rise in local history groups and societies recorded across the UK.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2012</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Historical Association’s Resources</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Historical Association begins to provide comprehensive resources and guidelines to help schools and communities celebrate the holiday effectively.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2018</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Digital Celebrations</div><div class='timeline-text'>In light of the digital age, virtual tours, webinars, and online resources are introduced to celebrate local and community history.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2020</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Celebration during the Pandemic</div><div class='timeline-text'>Despite the global COVID-19 pandemic, communities continue to celebrate virtually with online exhibitions, virtual tours, and digital lectures.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Explore your town's historic landmarks</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Take a walking tour and visit the historic landmarks in your community. Learn about the rich history of your town and the people who helped shape it.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Attend a local history lecture</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Many communities have organizations or museums that host lectures on local history. Attend one and expand your knowledge about the history of your town.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Volunteer at a historical society</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Contact your local historical society and see if they need any volunteers. You can help preserve and share your community's history while also learning more about it.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Host a neighborhood history scavenger hunt</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Gather some friends and create a scavenger hunt that takes you to different historical sites in your community. This is a fun and interactive way to learn about your town's history.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Create a time capsule</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Gather items that represent your community's history and create a time capsule to be opened in the future. This is a great way to preserve memories and share them with future generations.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Preserving local heritage and culture</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Local and community history month is a time to reflect on the rich history of our neighborhoods and towns. It's important to celebrate and preserve the unique cultural traditions, events, and stories that make each community special.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Learning from the past</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Studying our local history allows us to learn from the successes and failures of those who came before us. We can gain a better understanding of how our communities have evolved and use this knowledge to shape a better future for ourselves and our neighbors.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Building a sense of community</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Through events, stories, and shared experiences during local and community history month, we can come together as a community to celebrate all that makes us unique. This can help foster a sense of belonging and pride in where we live, bringing people together and strengthening relationships.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Majority of UK Cities Have a Local Museum or Archive</h3><p class='facts-content'>In the spirit of celebrating communal history, most cities across the United Kingdom boast at least one local museum or archive facility. These establishments serve to protect vintage artefacts and chronicled information, ensuring that generations to come can continue exploring their ancestral histories.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Historical Homes are Turned into Museums</h3><p class='facts-content'>Quite commonly across the globe, historical homes with significant cultural and heritage value are transformed into museums. This helps in the preservation of local architectural styles and lifestyles of yesteryears that might otherwise be lost to time.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Libraries Often Play a Crucial Role in Hosting Local Historical Documents</h3><p class='facts-content'>Not only do libraries across the globe safeguard a treasure trove of reading material, they are also often primary locations for archival documents, photographs, maps, and other important local history materials.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Often, Specific Historical Events are Celebrated Locally</h3><p class='facts-content'>Many communities commemorate significant historical events that had a profound effect on their area. These can range from battle victories to industrial revolutions, reinforcing a culture of shared memory and collective history.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Storytelling Forms an Integral Part of Local History</h3><p class='facts-content'>Oral histories and storytelling sessions that pass down stories from generation to generation are an invaluable aspect of local history. They help to preserve the nuanced experiences of individuals and communities that may not be chronicled in official documents or texts.</p></div></div>
Local and Community History Month is celebrated on May 1 every year. In 2024 Local and Community History Month will occur on a Wednesday.
2023
May 1
Monday
2024
May 1
Wednesday
2025
May 1
Thursday
2026
May 1
Friday
2027
May 1
Saturday
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