Whether they celebrate common history, memorialize tragedies, or challenge the accepted perspective of a period, historical exhibitions offer one of the most powerful modes of public learning. In their capacity to bring people together in the same space and share ideas, they are unlike other types of historical presentations. This unique medium also requires the use of a variety of interpretive judgments, and its work is often influenced by the latest in museum scholarship. Nevertheless, the intellectual underpinnings of an exhibit can remain invisible unless a reviewer is skilled at examining both the research and the display form of a show.
Moreover, exhibitions are not only about history put up on walls; they are visual poetry and imagination that can expand the parameters of our knowledge by creatively interweaving ideas with objects, artifacts, graphics, photographs, and re-created spaces. To be successful, these displays need to address the needs of diverse visitors and incorporate a human component in their stories.
Twenty-first century museums must show that they deserve their tax exempt status by interpreting the nation’s history for citizens of all backgrounds, interests, and age groups. They must also demonstrate that they provide a useful service for the communities in which they operate by exploring themes that are of concern to people everywhere—like food or clothing, religion or politics, home or community, or even freedom and liberty.
In this column, we will explore histolircal exhibits that address these challenges and expand the boundaries of public knowledge. While we will occasionally review noteworthy accomplishments in museum management, innovative programs, and important collecting initiatives, our main focus will be on exhibitions. The reviews will seek to analyze critically the historical significance of an exhibit while examining how its physical form and interpretation communicate its meaning. We will pay special attention to the way in which exhibitions convey a sense of narrative and structure, and we will attempt to determine whether an exhibit manages to be more than just a book on a wall.