29 People Share How They Can Tell If A Tourist Is American

Yeah its very sad how people from USA dont consider "history" anything that happened before the colonisation. Spain was very different millenia ago but we consider the celts and iberians our history too. Same with the pre indoeuropean tribes that were basically replaced by indoeuropeans. Most of us dont descend from them but they are part of our history.

If you apply that most Native American culture did not leave any record of their existence because everything that they used was made of natural materials. It’s easier to find a Roman coin anywhere in the UK then it is to find an arrowhead anywhere in the United States

True but there are no buildings to admire or quaint villages to saunter in. I get this.

The Chillicothe Hopewell Culture mounds are part of my upcoming summer vacation, so believe me, I'm not dismissing or minimizing pre-Columbian or pre-Revolutionary American culture, but this comment is simply ridiculous. There simply aren't that many historical sites to see in the Eastern U.S. (Western Indians tended to make more long-term structures, and I do want to go see them some day, but for an East-coast tourist like me, visiting New Mexico is as far a journey as a Spaniard visiting Russia.)

“These people” are actually hundreds of different cultures across the states. There are museums with vast collections of artifacts, but you won’t find ancient Native architecture because they just didn’t build that much and many were nomadic. There are incredible cliff dwellings in many areas of the country.

Thing is, that Native culture was predominantly nomadic so there's very little of it left.

During a stay in Texas, my hosts one day invited me to see "antiques", I was extremely disappointed to discover the same kind of stuff piled up in the gernier at my grandmother's house or that found at flea markets. I was expecting "really" old stuff and not just "vintage" ^^ '

There are few lasting structures from Native American culture since they built most structures from natural materials like wood. If Native Americans had built a 1000 seat cathedral that's still standing, it'd attract the same attention as old European buildings. Mounds of dirt that used to be an ancient ceremonial spot doesn't have quite the same appeal.

You're a bit wrong there were people before the us but they were there BEFORE the us

Technically though, the USA as a country isn't that old, it came in to being at the signing of the declaration. They're not saying the land is that old, much like some European countries have only existed for a few decades.

One issue here, though, is that there are way fewer structures that held up, as most living etc. quarters were fashioned of biodegradable materials, as were very early Euro ones. On the other hand, the Aztecs built amazing pyramids and cities, which are most definitely considered history. It see!s to depend on where and whst sort of culture.

America can mean our country or our continent, and the distinction is important because one is a governing body and the other is an area of land. We consider that our country started by gaining independence from 🇬🇧. Our continent has a rich Native American history. They are both our history, but the distinction is important. Example would be the Louisiana Purchase. It became part of the US but its French heritage is not US history, it's history tied to the Louisiana area.

You are right. Many people are beyond annoyed now at what they teach us as American history.

I am deeply interested in indigenous culture, but sadly many of the items are destroyed. You can go to a location and hear stories, and see artist renderings, but you can't SEE it, or TOUCH it. There is a difference and while I still seek it out, there is something magickal about standing with history

Tell me you know nothing about our history…..

You are talking to the wrong people and visiting the wrong parts of USA. There are large Native American earthworks in Minnesota, Pueblo structures in the southwest, tribal totems in the northwest, ...

The little town I grew up has got a church which is 800 years old, in Somerset.

Kristen, the tourist reference the United States, not the history of indigenous nations.

Kirsten, thank you for this statement.

We do consider it history, but there is not a lot of ancient Native architecture in the US other than the pueblos.

Yeah, well Europeans came and killed and buried and all that the Native cultures here if they could. Believe me, I'd love to have more of our ancient/older history around, but, see, these white people showed up.... (speaking on behalf of my great-greats, who were Native and hid it to stay out of reservations and keep their children with them)

Their art and culture is seen as history. But they didn't build any buildings.

Maybe part of that is also, they seem to not consider themselves American per sé. It's always - Irish American, or Dutch American or Scottish, even African American. The American part is never the emphasis. So maybe they really would prefer to be their heritage than American? Even though patriotism seems to have been born there. I don't know. just a thought.

There is a group of people in America who likes to destroy history, they are called "Democrats"

In Europe it'd be vintage, not old :)

I have a chair that's older than the US ... and it's still used.

True, my family kept a lot of the old furniture we inherited for some generations, and it dates back from mid 1950 (from my grandparents to 18th century, though a lot has been heavily altered over the years, so the most worth we can get out of anything would be the handles. And before you ask, no, it is not worth a lot of money seeing as my family is not a rich family historically, most of our older furniture came from fishing communities or farming.