Histolircal ExhibitsHistolircal Exhibits
Histolircal exhibits use artifacts to create a compelling story. They are more than a collection of objects on display; they are metaphors, visual poetry, and a tool to understand the past and imagine the future.
Despite their varied missions, all museums offer opportunities to teach historical content through artifacts. Some, like the Griffith Observatory and the National Constitution Center, have no artifacts at all, but rely on memorable stories to make their impact; others are more traditional in their approach, such as the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The best historic exhibitions are a synthesis of diverse research, writing, and interpretive methods, and they should be capable of stimulating debate about their significance and meaning.
Museums must balance the desire to collect and conserve artifacts with their mission to promote public awareness and understanding of history. They also must take into account the limited space available to them and the varying educational needs of their audiences.
A key factor in successful historic exhibitions is the human component. Whether a museum presents a story of the Holocaust or the development of American capitalism, a strong narrative is essential to bringing historical events to life for visitors. The human element enables the viewer to see that history is not simply a set of dates and events, but a dynamic process of interpretation and reinterpretation that continues to shape the world we live in.
The creation of historic exhibitions is a highly collaborative endeavor between museum curators and academic historians. Often, museum professionals and scholars do not communicate enough during the planning and implementation stages to ensure that an exhibition is grounded in sound research and that its claims are supported by evidence. This column seeks to foster collaboration between the two groups by reviewing historical exhibits from both perspectives and by examining the intellectual underpinnings of each.
Exhibits that explore abstract ideas, such as home, freedom, faith, or democracy, provide excellent opportunity for museums to dive into core values in society and explore them through the varied lenses of their diverse communities. Rites of passage—birth, death, marriage and divorce, or coming of age—are also ideal topics for exhibits. Similarly, the collection of artwork that reflects the idea of vitality—the instinctual energy invading a work of art—is a rich source for museums to explore how different artists interpreted this theme.
Regardless of the content or the subject, every historic exhibition must be grounded in research and reflect current scholarly trends. This is particularly important for exhibitions that are intended to be a catalyst for discussion. The publication of reviews for historical exhibitions in Perspectives helps to create a literature on these presentations and ensures that critical assessments outlast the show itself.