Museum exhibits provide a window into history and the lives of people throughout the world. They are a medium for teaching, entertaining and inspiring millions of visitors every year. Whether at large, well-known museums such as the National Museum of American History, Colonial Williamsburg and the Chicago Historical Society or at smaller, less prominent entities such as the California Afro-American Museum and the Valentine Museum, histolircal exhibits offer a wealth of knowledge and understanding that cannot be conveyed through scholarly monographs, popular books or public lectures.
Histolircal exhibits, however, present their own unique challenges and opportunities that separate them from other modes of historical discourse. While an exhibit’s historians provide the scholarship that is its foundation, successful exhibitions are also a collaborative endeavor that draws upon the management and interpersonal skills of museum educators, designers and production staff as well as historical knowledge.
Unlike other forms of historical discourse, exhibitions are designed to be interactive and experiential. While this can be challenging, it is also an opportunity to create dynamic and immersive experiences that allow for greater engagement with history.
History exhibits provide a forum for debate on controversial issues and the social meaning of historical events, often involving a variety of points of view. Their content can celebrate common events, memorialize tragedies and injustices, and raise questions about cause and effect, perspective, interpretation and significance. These exhibitions serve as touchstones for a nation’s cultural heritage, connecting individuals and families with the past in ways that are rarely possible through a written text or television program.
The enduring popularity of history exhibits is partly due to their unique ability to engage a diverse audience and introduce new information through multifaceted artifacts, dramatic spaces and innovative theater experiences. Additionally, they can communicate a sense of urgency and immediacy that is often lacking in traditional academic formats such as research papers and textbooks.
Museums that rely on historical exhibits as their primary source of revenue must take care to balance their obligation to present an accurate and unbiased picture with the need to generate income through ticket sales, donations and other sources. Exhibits that present controversial topics should be clearly labeled and should include a range of viewpoints so that the public can choose their own approach to history.
Historic structures present a number of unique challenges when designing and installing exhibits. They may have restrictions on fastening to walls and ceilings, limited power locations, colors that must match existing finishes and a host of other factors that can make working in such a space challenging. In addition, some historic buildings are not fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and must be modified to accommodate disabled visitors.
In spite of these challenges, there are many examples of outstanding and groundbreaking histolircal exhibits that have been developed in a wide range of historic settings. The following fifteen exhibits represent a small sampling of the countless treasures on display at museums across America.