Ed,
I would suggest:
1. Historic House Museums, by Sherry Butcher-Younghans, Oxford University Press
2. Ideas and Images: Developing Interpretive History Exhibits, Kenneth L. Ames, Barbara Franco, and L. Thomas Frye, eds., Altamira Press.

Feel free to contact me if you need more info,
Fielding Freed
Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site


 -----Original Message-----
From:   Ed Gyllenhaal [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent:   Tuesday, May 21, 2002 2:34 PM
To:     [log in to unmask]
Subject:        Interpreting historic house museums

Hello

Hi

What are the best books available on historic house interpretation?

I'm working on a project to interpret a historic house using a guided tour
and an exhibit of photographs that will be created in certain rooms. Almost
none of the original furnishings have survived. (The house is used quite
often for rentals and is furnished accordingly.) However, the house figured
prominently in the town's local history, and is interesting from an
architectural point of view.

We would like to emphasize the period of American social and cultural
history illustrated by the house and its inhabitants, but focus especially
on the role it played in local history. Since there are so few original
furnishings and artifacts we will be relying heavily on photographs and
information conveyed by docents.

Any ideas for resources that could help us with this?

Thanks,

Ed

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