Your Aunt Nell and Uncle Fred revisited Niagara Falls for their fortieth wedding anniversary, and all they brought you was a china bell with a decal of the falls on it. Hoaky, right?

But what if you also had a china bell from the Grand Canyon, the Redwoods in California, Meteor Crater in Arizona, the Okefenokee Swamp in Florida, and Cape Cod. All natural wonders seen by thousands of visitors every year. Six bells representing different natural communities, and representing the respect with which they are viewed. Maybe not so hoaky after all.

The point: anything can become the first item for an interesting collection.

Souvenirs remind us not only of the places we have been, but what makes those places memorable. Even if you have never been to Washington, D. C., a postcard of the Lincoln Memorial is a tie to the place, the man, the history and all the reasons a memorial so appropriate to that man, time and history. Souvenirs remind us to preserve those places that have meaning for us as best we can, even if we never visit them again. Souvenirs from other people’s travels tell us of their adventures, some of which more enjoyable at second-hand than they would have been at first-hand. (Do you really want to hike the Appalachian Trail yourself, carrying your food and bed every step of the way?)

Some souvenirs are created for specific events, like national or international exhibitions or centenary celebrations. The settings and decorations of these kinds of events are usually transitory. The only physical reminders of those times are a few buildings and sculptures, and the guidebooks and programs created for the events. The hopes represented by such celebrations live on, but get dispersed over time. The souvenirs are a reminder of the great gatherings of our country and our peoples, and should be cherished and preserved. But this is not really the stuff of museums, at least not until gathered together by a collector. Then, an exhibit at your local historical society or American history museum can be arranged, and you can share your knowledge and collection with the public.

These are just a few ideas for how a simple souvenir can become the basis for a great collection. I have quite a few souvenirs myself, and enjoy giving a new home to those that other people no longer want. Each one shows what the local populace thinks is important and also what the visitor was impressed by. All in a simple postcard, ashtray or snow globe.

I hope this article in the American Collectibles Guide will make you look at the souvenirs in your life a little differently, and perhaps with a little more respect.

Thanks, Aunt Nell and Uncle Fred.

* * * For something completely different, read about sleigh beds. * * *

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