What is a Museum

What is a museum? A museum is to public history as Wall Street is to a stockbroker.  The museum's function is to provide the venue for history to serve the community with knowledge of the past. Museums also serve as bridge connecting different groups together. In Private History in Public, Tammy Gordon examines exhibits comprised mostly of ordinary people instead of public historians.  This type of history which is found in small towns, local businesses, and homes in many ways provide the same services as a museums.  

The display of everyday life from the past is just as important as an exhibition in large cultural institution, because it more identifiable and personal.  For example someone might find a old photo of a child from the early 20th century more interesting than an important  document from the same time period, because the photo of child can be identified within their own life. The interaction between the people and exhibit is what gives an exhibit its significance. The approach to how museums are able to create those interactions with the  public while still continuing its educational mission is observed in the works New History in an Old Museum by Andrea Witcomb and Re-Imagining the museum by Richard Handler and Eric Gable. 

New History in an Old Museum is primarily based on Colonial Willamsburg and the conflicts and politics of the museum.  Those conflicts are how to incorporate new studies and findings into older exhibits, what type of message should those exhibits send, and how to objectively address political issues in the museum?  Another  interesting theme of the book was how museums have to balance being an educational institution, but still has to place a great emphasis on finances.  The financial side of the industry is just as important, because it can be the deciding factor on what is displayed and what is not. Museums have a difficult task in balancing between cultural, political, social, and historical influences all in one place, but this what makes a museum unique.  A museum is place that can bridge all of these influences together to create the perfect learning atmosphere.