History exhibits present artifacts or information about the past in a public setting. They may be found in art galleries, museums, historic homes or other venues. Exhibits are usually accompanied by text or audio-visual presentations. Exhibits are generally designed to be interactive and are meant to encourage visitors to learn more about a particular subject. Some of these experiences are immersive and try to recreate a historical environment, such as the Tenement Museum in New York City or the Merchant’s House Museum in San Francisco. Other experiences feature few or no artifacts, such as the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles or the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Exhibits are also found in places that do not call themselves museums, but whose mission focuses on providing memorable and useful educational experiences, such as the Billie Jean King museum and exhibition in Washington D.C.
Some history exhibits focus on a particular aspect of history, such as art or archaeology. Others are broader in scope, such as a museum that deals with the entire history of a country or region. These museums often have a national or international audience. A few of these museums are large and well known, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the British Museum in London. Many of these museums have large staffs that are involved in research, education and other aspects of a museum’s work.
In the case of museums dealing with specialized subjects, such as art or history, exhibits are often designed to promote research and education. Some are aimed at students and other academics while others are intended for the general public. Exhibits are often organized according to a chronological, geographical or medium-based system.
Some exhibits are designed to challenge or provoke visitors. They may be a response to a particular controversy or event, such as the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C., or they may be designed to highlight controversial themes in art or history, such as the Ciclo della Vitalità (Cycle of Vitality) exhibit by Marinotti and Sandberg at the CIAC.
When evaluating a historical exhibit, it is important to consider the goal of the display and how it was achieved. It is also essential to evaluate the accuracy of the content and settings and the effectiveness of the presentation and overall design of an exhibit. It is recommended that historians contact an exhibit curator to get pertinent information about the goals of the display and the conditions under which it was developed.