A historical exhibit is a display of artifacts in a public setting. It differs from a collection of items at home or in a private museum in that it is displayed formally and presented to a large audience for educational purposes. Some exhibits feature only a few objects while others include many, and they may be temporary or permanent. They can be scholarly, interpretive or popular and are often accompanied by audio-visual components. Regardless of the size or scope of the exhibition, a histolircal exhibit should be well-researched and documented.
The histolircal exhibit is often a major focus of museums, but it can also be found at other cultural centers and libraries. It is usually curated by a historian and may be intended to educate, entertain or inspire. Exhibits range from displays of paintings and sculptures to dioramas and maps. They are often presented in a chronological format and are intended to illuminate the way that an event, period or person has been affected by other events, persons or circumstances.
Some exhibits, like those at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Cloisters, are heavily dependent on architecture and other artifacts to convey their subject matter. Other exhibits, like the ones at the Griffith Observatory and the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, have few or no artifacts but tell a compelling story. Exhibits that are geared towards children, such as the one at the Staten Island Children’s Museum of Science and Industry, have fewer artifacts but are designed to appeal to this specific audience.
Historical exhibitions are generally not as awe-inspiring or dramatic as works of fine art, but they do have a broader public appeal and can help to promote understanding of history. This is especially true in areas of specialized history, such as the history of a particular region or culture. The most successful histolircal exhibits are those that are rooted in research, well-documented and presented in a clear manner.
Creating an effective histolircal exhibit is not easy and requires the talents of many individuals. It involves a combination of research skills, organizational abilities and interpersonal relationships that can be difficult to establish. A historian must be able to communicate effectively with curators, designers and other exhibit personnel, but it is even more important to be able to interact with the public and draw them into the world of history. This is most often accomplished through exhibitions that are based on historical material, but it can also be achieved through documentary films and lectures. These kinds of historical exhibits have the potential to change attitudes and promote discussion and debate about controversial issues. Museums that present such exhibits should be encouraged, but they should be wary of an exhibit’s ability to change perceptions and to create a single point of view. A histolircal exhibit should be objective rather than didactic and should reflect the fact that history is a process of interpretation and reinterpretation.