Often, historical exhibitions memorialize tragic events, highlight injustices and promote certain points of view about a particular subject. This interpretive element is inherent in the process of selecting themes, photographs, objects, dioramas, maps and documents for inclusion. It is a necessary component of the dissemination of history, and museums should encourage informed discussion of these issues.
Twenty-first century visitors expect museums to be more than just history put up on the walls. Museums need to demonstrate that they deserve their tax-exempt status by offering useful services for all the people who live in their communities. This means doing more than just telling the same stories that they always tell, but tackling new, more inclusive topics.
Museums should use creative visual storytelling, which includes a narrative structure, to communicate complex research in an accessible way. This is accomplished through the careful juxtaposition of artifacts, photographs and text. It is also achieved through the creative interjection of re-created spaces and interactive devices. Human-centered subjects, such as rites of passage (birth, death, marriage/joining and coming of age), food or clothing, race or religion and abstract concepts like home, freedom or faith, and democracy are particularly well suited for this type of inclusive collecting and visual storytelling.