I think the issue of using originals and reproductions in a living history setting is more complicated and is one that almost every historic site deals with.  It begins with the use of historic buildings, which are themselves usually part of a museum's collection, and leads to a can of worms with artifacts as well.  

This seems especially true for historic sites with living history programs.  Most living history sites I know struggle to find a balance between showing "the real things" and showing a way of life or a process.  Collecting and preserving PROCESS is a big part of some museum's collecting mission.  In order to demonstrate (preserve) processes, you have to USE stuff.  When you use something, it tends to deteriorate.  Unlike some other types of museums, where all artifacts are in carefully protected and regulated environments, artifacts (or reproductions) at living history sites are out in the open and at risk for all kinds of dangers.

It would be pretty irresponsible of me (and MANY people would not be amused) if I let the interpretive staff at the Biddle House conduct cooking demonstrations with an original wooden bowl that belonged to Agatha Biddle.  They are great interpreters, and great cooks, but they tend to be a little hard on things.  To have them use the bowl just because it's the "real thing" would completely contradict the part of our mission that charges us to "preserve."  Instead, we buy reproduction items for the staff to cook with.  They can be used for their original purpose, and are easily replaced if destroyed.

One way that we and many other sites give visitors the opportunity to see "the real thing," while still allowing for good living history programs, is to have original artifacts exhibited in separate spaces.  Often these exhibits are in visitor centers or other buildings on site.  It allows us to both protect the things we are charged with preserving and give visitors access to original artifacts.  That's where I think the Biddle bowl belongs.

For more information about how living history sites think about artifacts, take a look at the article "The Challenges of Collections Care in Living History Museums" written by Bob Cottrell in the Summer 1995 issue of History News.

I've worked at several living history sites and heard the question "Is that real?" thousands of times.  I've found that while many visitors expect to see original artifacts, many other visitors mainly want to see "how it was."  When I explain that we are using reproduction to show a process that would destroy an original artifact, most visitors understand and are happy to know how we operate.  This is just my opinion (it would be a neat study though) but I think it is shared by many others working at living history sites.  

One thing that Museum-L helps me to understand is how truly diverse the museum community is.  We share many of the same struggles, but all have our own challenges and rewards as well.

Lisa Craig Brisson
Museum Educator
Mackinac State Historic Parks
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