The work of a museum curator is to translate historical research and interpretation into a meaningful exhibition. The goal is to make a subject accessible and compelling to visitors, a task that is both challenging and exciting. In addition to the intellectual underpinnings of an exhibit, its form is equally important. A well-designed exhibition communicates information through a balance of text, artifacts, and interactive devices and can be as memorable as the objects or themes that are explored.
Unlike traditional academic products, such as monographs and books, exhibitions are both tangible and visual, allowing them to engage a broader audience. They can also encourage informed discussion of complex issues and controversies. While exhibitions should not impose an uncritical point of view, attempts to suppress them or to present only one version of history are inimical to open and rational discussion.
An important element of a museum’s mission is to share the story of America’s past with a diverse audience. This includes citizens of all ages and backgrounds, from those who live within the geographical boundaries of a museum to others who may have never visited a historical site.
Providing a history that speaks to all of these audiences requires a broad range of topics, approaches, and techniques. Historians working in museums should embrace this challenge. Many historic sites have a unique opportunity to interpret their local history and to provide a context for the community in which they reside. This is especially true for small museums that serve non-traditional and underserved audiences.
In addition to exploring the history of a particular region or country, an important aspect of interpreting the past is recognizing the shared experience of humankind and the interconnection of peoples, communities, and societies throughout time. In this vein, it is important to explore exhibitions that examine how and why cultural values and ideas have evolved over time. This includes exhibitions that explore core human concepts such as home, family, freedom, faith, and social justice.
In the tradition of the “cabinet of curiosities,” a successful exhibition is more than just “history put up on walls.” It is creative visual storytelling, an elegant metaphor that allows a deeper understanding of a complex topic. It can be a window into the dense research that goes into composing a history and can complicate a story rather than simply repeating it. While the majority of these reviews will discuss the history in an exhibition, this column is designed to promote dialogue on a variety of museum subjects that span the field. This includes examining the relationship between the academy and the museum profession, innovative programs, and significant collecting initiatives. However, the main focus will be on exhibitions that have a strong impact on both scholars and general visitors. This will include reviewing exhibits that incorporate a combination of artifacts, graphics, photographs, and texts, and/or creative use of re-created spaces or interactive technology.