EVERYONE Loves History...Even if They Say They Don't...And Here's Why.

By: Dylan Bowman, HAHS Board Member

April 7, 2026

Photograph from Wix archives.

Recently, I have had several personal conversations with friends about history...several of them stated that they did not care for it, and upon further investigation, they revealed it was mainly to do with how they were taught; the forced study and regurgitation of dates, names, numbers and events that seemed so far from home, both in place and time.

But that's when I told them they were thinking about it all wrong.

Of course, those names and dates and places of major events ARE important...without that knowledge we end up forgetting even some of the greatest lessons and stories there are to learn about the world and our place in it. But that isn't all history is about...in my mind, to think that's all there is is ludicrous, and is of no wonder that so many shun diving into it.

"Everyone likes history," I told my friends, "If you think you don't, then you just haven't found the kind of history you like."

And I stand by that statement. To truly dislike all history is to dislike everything...family, friends, one's community, culture, hobbies, and human existence as a whole. Think about it: our history makes up everything that we are. Without it, we would not exist.

So here's where my mind goes: if you studied the history of World War I but can't get into it, regardless of how exciting or invigorating the learning experiences are (because there's so much more to history than just reading a textbook or watching a History Channel documentary), then it simply may not be the kind of history you are interested in diving deep into. But that doesn't mean you don't like history.

Photographs from Wix archives.

Do you like music? Knitting? Hiking and exploring? Cooking? Sports? Video games? Gosh, there are entire UNIVERSES of history on every one of these topics (and anything else you can think of) because for something to EXIST, it has to have HISTORY to it. There are incredible stories behind every part of our world and it shouldn't be marked as a chore to experience and tell them to younger generations. History SHOULD be exciting!

I mean, the world is one's oyster. The only problem that can arise is when we care for nothing and no one, becoming self-segregated from society (and using social media doesn't count), forming our own little micro-cultures into which we look for only the easiest, low-commitment, instant-gratification avenue that we can find in everything that we think or do. As our Founding Father John Adams said:

"Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people."

And I completely agree with him.

So dive in with your sons and daughters...your grandchildren. Let them know that history is everywhere and in everything they love, whether its technology and video games or cooking and sports. Our decline in wanting to learn history has come from many years of people and institutions (including some schools unfortunately) claiming that learning is only to pass the next test and get into college...into that next job.

But that's not true. Learning is for our benefit and growth. And without true passion for our history and the lessons that we can learn from it, our country and world is in for one dark future.

Photograph from Wix archives.