The Purpose of a Monument

Edinburgh, Scotland

Public history, in one sense, is the visible presence of the past within a community. It can take the form of plaques on historic buildings, institutions that display artifacts, or committees dedicated to preserving and interpreting the past. Yet, this definition oversimplifies public history. It overlooks the deeper complexities of communities—questions about authority, what deserves to be remembered, and how we acknowledge events many might prefer to forget.

Adrienne Burk’s article In Sight, Out of View explores these complexities through the example of East Vancouver’s difficult legacy and the community’s attempts to memorialize it. Burk highlights the devastating reality of missing and murdered women, a crisis marked by both the creation of monuments and the ongoing violence that made them necessary. She describes a community where someone in their mid-forties may already be considered a senior due to low life expectancy, and where more than seventy-five women went missing or were murdered in less than fifteen years (44–46). In response, a group of women launched Marker of Change, a project that placed monuments in dangerous locations as a silent protest against violence. These markers were not meant for the living women who created them, but rather for those who were, and continue to be, lost (46, 51).

When reflecting on monuments, we must ask: What is their purpose? Who do they serve? Who do they represent? A monument carries meaning through its material, inscription, location, and design. It can even challenge dominant narratives. But that does not mean its message will be universally welcomed.

In this case, some opposed the monuments, perhaps because they questioned whether the women behind them had the authority to create such memorials. Yet this resistance underscores a broader point: public history functions best when it serves the whole community—not just academics or heritage organizations. It should reflect the struggles that have shaped a community and stand as a reminder of the histories some would rather forget.

Burk, A. “In Sight, Out of View: A Tale of Three Monuments.” Antipode 38, 1 (2006): 41-58.

Northwood, T. "The Purpose of a Monument." 2025.