I have only recently started reading responses to this issue so forgive me if
I have repeated something that has already been said. I have spent many years
as an interpreter and am now a museum studies graduate student -- moving out
into the "real world" of professionals in May.  I have lots of experience on
both ends of this question--the docent and the supervisor/curator.

Here are some suggestions.

1.  Sometimes it is ok to tell "traditional" whoppers to your visitors but
only if you tell them later that it is a myth or legend or stretched truth, or
what have you. Sometimes the origin of the crazy story is just as educational
as the story is entertaining.  For example... At the site 18th century fort
where I worked, which was made into a museum in the 1930s, we tell a story
about a soldier who was decapitated and his headless body was thrown down the
well.  Now he haunts the building. Clearly this is not true. But, it is a
story that has been told to every fourth grader in a 100 mile radius since the
early 1930s when it was was "fabricated" as a visitor draw. Everyone wants to
hear the story--most of them already know the story before they get there. Now
if we don't tell it and the reasons why it isn't true, people leave assuming
it is. So they are still entertained, and they learn that museum professionals
and historic sites change their interpretation and learn new things about
hisotry as we get "smarter."  It is responsible to dissuade half truths,
especially if they are assumptions. Docents then still get to tell the stories
it is sometimes impossible to prevent them from telling.

2. Most exhibitions have published cataloges or related books, and most
historic sites have some kind of brief published history for sale in the gift
shop.  Docents can either have one of these general books on hand to look up
odd answers to even worse questions, or in a daring "two rights" answer can
let the visitor know that such a book exists in the gift shop, and they can
peruse it at their leisure (perhaps even purchasing the book!).  This way the
docent looks helpful, even if they don't know the answer, and if the visitor
really wants to know the answer, they might buy the book, but at least they'll
spend some time in the gift shop.  This is an answer that works very well with
those lovable history/art buffs who banter docents to prove who's smarter.

Hope this is somewhat helpful.

Erin Crissman
Cooperstown Graduate Student

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).