Historical exhibits are a form of storytelling that explores history in a different way than an essay or textbook. These displays are usually visual, which can create drama and encourage dialogue about historical events. They can be viewed by a variety of audiences. While most exhibits are created by local organizations, a growing number of professional museums are also producing such exhibits.
Historical exhibits can help visitors to understand specific historical events and how those events have affected people in the present. They can also help viewers to understand how people lived in the past and how they shaped their communities. Many people view historical exhibits with family or a group of friends. Some historical exhibits are intended to memorialize particular tragedies or injustices. Others are aimed at broadening visitors’ understanding of history.
There are two main types of exhibits: permanent and special. Permanent exhibits are those that are permanently displayed in a museum. Examples of permanent exhibits include the National Museum of American History and the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Special exhibitions include planetarium Space Shows, walk-throughs, and giant-screen films.
Generally, the purpose of a museum exhibit is to teach the general public about historical events. This can be accomplished by using a range of methods, including texts, artifacts, and multimedia. However, some people are concerned about the proliferation of historical exhibits, arguing that they can provide inaccurate information or are insensitive to the issues involved. The best exhibits, however, are ones that provide visitors with a broader perspective on the subject at hand.
One example is the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, which has been displaying pre-Columbian artifacts since its opening in 1899. Visitors can see a full-scale replica of Monte Alban archaeological site, as well as a Kunz Axe and Triceratops.
Another example is the Hall of Mexico and Central America, which features archaeological artifacts from the continent’s pre-Columbian civilizations. Visitors can see items such as a diplodocid skull and sauropod vertebrae. Other exhibits focus on topics such as food, clothing, and religion.
In the United States, the national dialogue on identity and recent social and economic trends have encouraged the creation of historical exhibits. These exhibits are viewed by a wide range of people, and can provide a context for discussion and debate. Often, historical exhibits are created by local community groups, allowing for discussions about history that might not be possible otherwise.
When selecting a museum exhibit, reviewers should consider the content of the exhibit as well as the setting and presentation. Reviewers should also consider the role of the historian and the curator in the creation of the exhibit. As part of the selection process, reviewers should consider the accuracy of the exhibit’s content and the interpretive judgments made by the curator about the causes and effects of the event.
If a museum exhibit is controversial, reviewers should also consider how the exhibit addresses competing points of view. For example, it may be necessary to acknowledge the competing perspectives of those who authored the text, those who were affected by the event, and those who were not. Furthermore, experimental interpretive techniques, such as interactive exhibits, may play an important role.