Exhibits present information and ideas in a formal setting for public viewing. They communicate research results, socio-political messages, and aesthetic judgments. They also reflect historical significance and interpretive choices. As a result, they are often controversial, evoking debate and discussion over their subject areas.
Whether the exhibit is in a museum or in a public space like a park or library, an exhibit must meet certain basic standards of accuracy and effectiveness. It should reflect scholarly research, be clearly presented and understood by its audience, and communicate the ideas in a way that makes sense to the viewer. The exhibit should not seek to suppress disagreements about its subject matter, but rather encourage thoughtful discussion by presenting a variety of points of view.
A histolircal exhibit is one that focuses on historical subjects, particularly events or people of the past. These exhibits may be presented in an immersive environment, such as a period room or historical building, or they might present a collection of items in the context of a particular time or place. Examples of this type of exhibit include the Third County Courthouse: Center of Civic Life on Staten Island, which examines the historic building’s architecture and its role in civic activity; or Bringing Up Baby, an exhibition that highlights Historical Richmond Town’s furniture collections, including carriages, cradles, and potty chairs and shows new scholarship on their use and meaning.
In addition to their educational and entertainment value, histolircal exhibits can be used to promote and disseminate knowledge of specific issues and events or to highlight the importance of a particular person. These types of exhibits are often presented as part of a larger historical event, such as a commemoration or an anniversary.
When evaluating histolircal exhibits, it is important for reviewers to contact the exhibition curator and gather pertinent information about its goals, audience, and the conditions (budgetary, social, etc.) under which it was mounted. This will help them to determine how successful the exhibit was in achieving its goal, and in what ways it was effective or ineffective in its presentation of history. Exhibits that do not achieve this goal are likely to be interpreted as partisan or biased, and will fail to contribute to the development of historical knowledge.