The History of History in Early Marietta and the Origins of David McCullough's The Pioneers

In The Pioneers, David McCullough marvels at how readily, and unexpectedly, he located historical sources that documented the lives of the founders of Marietta, Ohio, the first U.S. town built in the Northwest Territory. Yet McCullough's subjects constructed this archival presence and historical memory of their townbuilding efforts themselves. By not critically engaging with city leaders' extensive and deliberate campaign to make history, McCullough framed his book on their terms. A closer look at the history of place—and particularly Mound Cemetery—reveals the deeper meanings that McCullough's subjects attributed to the architecture of Marietta and their enduring influence on the town's historic landscape.