Rick,
I hope you've gotten some encouragement and new ideas from the replies so
far. I run a small medical history museum and I go through the same
questions sometimes.
I'd like to add that perhaps people don't have to care about capital "H"
history to enjoy your museum. History is a living and changing concept.
Perhaps you can interest some non-history people with exhibit that deals
with a  contemporary issue and place it in its historical context. Or
approach a historical subject through art or song, etc. Sometimes you
might have to trick non-history people into seeing something historical at
your museum.
~ Cassie

Curator
Rose Melnick Medical Museum
and University Archives
Youngstown State University

On 6/24/13 12:00 AM, "MUSEUM-L automatic digest system"
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>There are 2 messages totaling 396 lines in this issue.
>
>Topics of the day:
>
>  1. Do all museums have ceilings? (2)
>
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>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Date:    Sun, 23 Jun 2013 05:53:44 +0000
>From:    "Stuckle, Danielle L." <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: Do all museums have ceilings?
>
>Are you absolutely sure you know who the locals are, who the tourists
>are, and who are the former residents who might still have ties to the
>community?  What are you doing, or not doing, to reach each audience
>segment? How are you telling the local stories, and how can you get
>better at telling those stories so that they are relevant to all your
>potential audiences?  Are you absolutely sure you are considering all of
>your potential audiences, and that you are reaching them all and engaging
>them fully?
>
>Saying people aren't interested in history is like saying people aren't
>interested in music.  Not everybody goes for the same thing.  You have to
>figure out the right combination of artists and genres to appeal to your
>particular community.  The same thing with history--you have to figure
>out how to mix it up a bit to create something fresh for your visitors.
>
>I've been to some fantastic rural museums that draw audiences comparable
>to some of the bigger museums in my area because they have found ways to
>tell a good story and can really connect with people. I've also visited a
>lot of museums with the same tired exhibits and programs that I've seen a
>hundred times.
>
>
>
>On Sat, Jun 22, 2013 at 7:50 PM, Mike Reuter
><[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
>Hi all::
>
>I lead a small county historical society in rural Wisconsin. As I am
>creating new programming, unearthing new membership and generally
>attempting to get our museum better connected with the community, my mind
>tends to drift back to the big picture of our museum's mission.
>
>I wonder if our museum and all others out there have a growth ceiling
>that is based both on population and what I call, "care of history". Only
>so many people in my community are going to "care about history", no
>matter how much effort we put into changing their minds otherwise.
>
>Are there any other professionals out there that wonder the same thing?
>And what to do about it, or just grind ahead with the belief that with
>value-based offerings, a museum can evolve into a critical community
>asset?
>
>Just curious as I sit here managing a rental event.
>
>Thanks!
>
>Mike
>
>--
>Michael Reuter
>Executive Director
>Rock County Historical Society
>
>www.rchs.us<http://www.rchs.us>
>608-756-4509<tel:608-756-4509>
>
>"Where Past Meets Present"
>
>
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>------------------------------
>
>Date:    Sun, 23 Jun 2013 17:57:35 +0000
>From:    Lauren Guzniczak <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: Do all museums have ceilings?
>
>
>Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Catherine Bayles <[log in to unmask]>
>Sender: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
>Date: Sat, 22 Jun 2013 20:12:45
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-to: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Do all museums have ceilings?
>
>Mike,
>
>I think that we, as museum professionals, are often asking how we can get
>our community to "care about history" , "care about science" , "care about
>art" , etc.
>
>I have no brilliant answers for you, but I do wonder if maybe we are
>asking
>the wrong questions. Instead of figuring out how we can get our audience
>to
>appreciate the offerings of our institution, shouldn't we be asking our
>community what they need from our museum? I do not believe that a museum
>can evolve into a critical community asset without the input of the
>community. Instead of trying in vain to convince our potential audiences
>that our mission is valid, why don't we take a critical look at our
>mission
>and start a conversation with community stakeholders to see what is
>working
>and what is *not* working.
>
>Now, I'm not advocating that every institution throw out their mission
>based offerings, I just think that sometimes we get "stuck" and forget
>that
>we have a potential to be a vital asset to our community, if we know what
>they need. Start a conversation. Ask a question. Listen. Lather, rinse,
>repeat.
>
>Best,
>Cate
>
>-- 
>Catherine Bayles
>Emerging Museum Professional
>[log in to unmask] | www.freshinthefield.wordpress.com
>
>
>On Sat, Jun 22, 2013 at 7:50 PM, Mike Reuter
><[log in to unmask]>wrote:
>
>> Hi all::
>>
>> I lead a small county historical society in rural Wisconsin. As I am
>> creating new programming, unearthing new membership and generally
>> attempting to get our museum better connected with the community, my
>>mind
>> tends to drift back to the big picture of our museum's mission.
>>
>> I wonder if our museum and all others out there have a growth ceiling
>>that
>> is based both on population and what I call, "care of history". Only so
>> many people in my community are going to "care about history", no matter
>> how much effort we put into changing their minds otherwise.
>>
>> Are there any other professionals out there that wonder the same thing?
>> And what to do about it, or just grind ahead with the belief that with
>> value-based offerings, a museum can evolve into a critical community
>>asset?
>>
>> Just curious as I sit here managing a rental event.
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Mike
>>
>> --
>> Michael Reuter
>> Executive Director
>> Rock County Historical Society
>>
>> www.rchs.us
>> 608-756-4509
>>
>> "Where Past Meets Present"
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link:
>> http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-HOME.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1
>>
>
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>End of MUSEUM-L Digest - 22 Jun 2013 to 23 Jun 2013 (#2013-46)
>**************************************************************
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