Dear Claudia Funder,
 
You are mighty welcome! (for the citations on living history museums and
theme parks)
 
In US common usage, a "living history museum" is a site that simulates life
in another time with an eye towards presenting the visitor with an accuracy-
influenced experience that may be entertaining as well. A "historical theme
park," over here, would lean more towards entertainment and less towards
historical fidelity (e.g. Busch Gardens, Williamsburg) than does the living
history museum. Is the terminolgy similar Down Under?
 
Some of our oldest "living history museums" include Colonial Williamsburg in
Williamsburg, Virginia, Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, Massachusetts,
Mystic Seaport in Mystic, Connecticut, Old Sturbridge Village (once called
Old Quinnebaug Village) in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, and Greenfield Village
in Dearborn, Michigan, all founded between the 20s and the 40s. The
grandfather of these museums is Skansen, in Sweden, founded in 1881. The
interpretation at these older sites has changed over the years to reflect
academic scholarship.
 
I have been especially interested in the phenomenon of First-Person
interpretation, (where people actually take on the roles of historical
characters), and have been analyzing communications techniques that
interpreters at such sites use to "connect" effectively with visitors.
 First-Person Interpretation is used at the Pilgrim Village at Plimoth
Plantation, at Connor Prairie in Fishers, Indiana, and in selected locations
and scheduled times at Mystic Seaport, Old Sturbridge Village, Colonial
Williamsburg and many other sites.
 
I have developed interpretive programming in both first- and third- person,
as have others who monitor Museum-L. Is there any particular aspect of
development that interests you?
 
I'd sure like to hear more details about the Sydney project.
 
 Also-- some First-Person-related queries for the rest of you Museum-L-ers:
 
Publicly available articles and evaluations on visitor responses to First-
Person programs are few and far between. Does anyone out there have leads,
citations, or actual site evaluations to which I could have access?
 
Does anyone have information on First-Person sites or programs outside of
North America?
 
Please E-mail responses.
 
Cheers,
 
Stacy F. Roth                     |    [log in to unmask]
 P.O. Box 383                      |    Voice: (215) 943-1232
 Langhorne, PA 19047               |