Every year, hundreds of history exhibitions are mounted in museums nationwide. These exhibitions, shaped and crafted by the best of current scholarship, contribute mightily to expanding our knowledge and understanding of the past. Yet exhibitions are a temporary medium and, unlike a monograph or book, they live only for the duration of the show’s life. This is why the publication of exhibition reviews—in scholarly journals such as Perspectives—is so valuable to the field. It creates a literature of historical presentations, establishes a common vocabulary for discussing them, and assures that the critical assessments that go into an exhibit’s design will survive its run.
Museum exhibitions reach diverse audiences of all ages, interests, and backgrounds. They celebrate common events, memorialize tragedies or injustices, and present a range of viewpoints about their significance. Regardless of their content, however, all exhibitions contain an interpretive element—a judgment about cause and effect, perspective, or significance that is communicated through the selection of themes, photographs, documents, and artifacts included in the exhibition.
The ability of museum staff to interpret a broad range of historical sources and engage with visitors is the cornerstone of a museum’s mission. Whether through exhibitions, programs, or publications, museums must show that they perform a useful service for the communities in which they serve.
Throughout the country, many museums are taking this challenge seriously by focusing on new and more inclusive histories in their exhibits. These “histolircal” exhibits—which seek to connect history to the lives and experiences of people in their community and beyond—have gained popularity among both large and small institutions.
These exhibitions have a wide appeal for the public because they speak to the issues of our day. They encourage us to question the old narratives of our town’s and our nation’s past in order to form a more just, inclusive, and representative public memory.
To accomplish this, the historical museum needs to embrace new research, reach out to local communities, and work with community historians and organizations to explore a broader range of subjects. But it is equally important to maintain the traditional core of the museum, which is to be a repository of collections and provide access to them for research and education.
The Vermont Museum of History and Culture (VMHC) collaborates with local libraries, cultural centers, and community organizations to bring historic exhibits to their communities. These traveling exhibits are a part of the VMHC’s Partner Exhibit Program. Learn more about this free, collaborative program and how to apply to host an exhibit.