Stonehenge has been fenced off since 1977 to prevent vandalism, but before 1900 visitors were encouraged to take pieces home. In 1900, the landowner banned this practice and the monument was restored in the early 20th century.
It is always sad to see visitors defacing important monuments and now most governments do their best to preserve their cultural heritage. In Stonehenge, England, tourists can no longer approach the stone monoliths: since 1977 they have been fenced off and forbidden to visitors, to prevent vandals from climbing on them or chipping off pieces of stone to take home. However, picking up a stone souvenir was actually encouraged before 1900: visitors were even given chisels when they arrived at the site so they could have a bit of Stonehenge to themselves.
Protected thousands of years later:
Stonehenge’s landowner, Sir Edmund Antrobus, decided that the 5,000-year-old monument needed protection and in 1900 petitioned to have the practice of help yourself banned.
Throughout the Victorian period, Stonehenge was a popular meeting place. More than 3,000 people gathered each year on the summer solstice to watch the sun rise over the Heel Stone.
Stonehenge was substantially restored in the early 20th century when stones that had become flaky were straightened and then set in concrete.
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