Hi Mike and all,
I agree that, realistically, there probably is a ceiling of interest
at most museums. But your comment about using value-based
offerings to build interest brings to mind an example that may be
worth pointing out. A county historical society in my home town
put together a titillating value-based show about local history
called Taboo Fargo / Moorhead: An Unmentioned History. It
sounds to me like this might be a good model for small museums
to look at, as it no-doubt has crown appeal while at the same
time touching on real issues that are worth debating. It was done in
collaboration with a class, and I am very much looking forward to
seeing it this summer when I visit my parents.
Here is how they pitched it: "Every city has its secrets, and Fargo
and Moorhead are not excluded. The untold stories of these prairie
towns are the subject of this exhibit, which spans 1871-1935. Topics
includes the Ku Klux Klan, prostitution, divorce, bootlegging, and
sundry crimes and vices. Photographs and artifacts will be displayed;
important underground figures will be interpreted; and secrets will be
revealed." Also, "Students dove into the archives of Cass and Clay
county to find the police records, court files and newspaper articles
featuring the darker side of early Red River Valley society. One
character that came to light was Malvina Massey, an African-American
woman who ran a successful brothel in downtown Fargo. Her image
remains a mystery but a cache of records including a detailed
inventory of her estate paints a detailed picture of her life in North
Dakota."
http://www.hcscconline.org/calendar/taboo-exhibit-opens/
http://www.hcscconline.org/ai1ec_event/taboo-fargomoorhead-an-unmentioned-history-exhibit-reception/?instance_id=
Does anyone else have suggestions for rigorous crowd-pleasing exhibits
of local history that are worth thinking about as models?
All the best,
Travis
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"
>
>
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--
--------------------------------------
Travis Nygard
[log in to unmask]
www.travisnygard.com
--
--------------------------------------
Travis Nygard
[log in to unmask]
www.travisnygard.com
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