Tangible & Intangible History

    If you have a watchful eye while touring through Regina on a drive to the grocery store or to work you may notice interesting things sprinkled through each neighbourhood. Things like the train engine in front of the Casino, or beautiful houses lining South Albert Street. These are examples of tangible history, history that is shown through the physical objects that you could touch, being as big as the Hotel Saskatchewan downtown, to as small a ceramic cow by Joe Fafard. Tangible historical objects are specific to the area they are located in, as the people within that area decide what is important and significant to their community. 

    In contrast to tangible history, it is intangible history. Intangible history is more culturally significant to an area, things like local stories and folklore, languages, traditions, customs, and beliefs. Examples of some of Regina’s intangible history would be hooded sweaters being called bunny hugs, the ghost stories of the Computer Clinic on College Ave, or wearing a watermelon on your head for a Rider game. Intangible history is something that can only be experienced by being within a community and by taking part of it.

Image sourced from City of Regina Archives Item CORA-C-2608, November 26, 1989.