Stonehenge: Not Just a Lesson in History

By Laurel Pauling

AMESBURY -- Prior to seeing significant historical sites or going to places like famous monuments and museums, I am not usually thrilled. I know that they're important and impressive, and generally I enjoy visiting them and learning about their significance. I just feel like I'm less awed than most people. As our coach neared Stonehenge, I felt like I should be more excited to see this infamous monument. I prepared myself to experience this again, but when we reached the circle of ancient stones I was shockingly awed.

Driving the rural road through the English countryside we crested a hill and Stonehenge suddenly appeared in the distance. While the monoliths seemed smaller than I had imagined, their size has nothing to do with what makes them remarkable. Rather than a tour guide we were given audio sets that allowed us to take in the landmark at our own pace. As I began the tour, walkie-talkie-sized device held up to my ear, I found myself genuinely interested in the facts and stories the voice was telling me about Stonehenge: Why it was built, how, what it's main purpose was, and what rumors about it are true. Walking through them is now prohibited due to vandalism and conservation efforts. However, the path took me quite close and I had a view from every angle. Unlike my previous experiences in museums and at monuments, I was captivated by this recorded history lesson.

Between each segment the audio would stop, and I had time to take in my surroundings (and take pictures). During these moments, the magnitude of what I was seeing would sink in. There are some traffic noises from the freeway, and the babble of voices in many languages, but as I became absorbed in my surroundings those distractions faded into the background like white noise. I felt peaceful as I wandered around the stones, sitting in the gently waving grass under the blue, cloudy sky.


Despite my previous expectations, I did not find myself bored at any moment, or wanting to be the first to leave. Instead, I wandered around slowly and enjoyed all the time I had to take in the incredibly impressive structure, and listened intently to what I was learning about it. Something about the extreme complexity hidden under the simplicity of the stones was intriguing to me. It made me realize why close to a million people come to the site each year.

Maybe some of these people were history fanatics who know all about ancient culture and have made it a lifelong goal to see this famous testament to human achievement. But maybe some of these people were like me, having arrived here initially feeling they should be more interested than they were.

 After my visit, I learned that you can be a combination of both of those types of people, and find interest and serenity in a topic you don't normally enjoy. I hope Stonehenge taught those people like me the same thing, too.