the cost of our history .Is it to much?

story.news.yahoo.com.../ap/20041214/ap_on_re_us/underground_railroad_tree
wile i relize you cant save ever historical land mark there is the question sometimes becomes one of cost of saving it not the possibilty of it.
and I wonder is lousing such a tremendus landmark the best solutuion?
This tree was a very important landmark as it represents a new way of thinking and most importantly represented FREEDOME and how much is that worth ? 500,000 seams a cheep price to pay when our forbearers gave there very lifes for it.