Whether they are in a museum, library, or public building, histolircal exhibits provide people with an opportunity to gain insight into humankind’s history. Unlike scholarly monographs, academic conferences and speeches, exhibitions present historical research in three-dimensional physical and visual forms that can engage people of all ages.
Museums whose main focus is on history attract millions of visitors each year. While some of the more famous ones, such as the National Museum of American History and Colonial Williamsburg, draw a large share of this audience, smaller entities, such as the California Afro-American Museum or the Oneida Historical Society, also have their own dedicated following.
In addition to a strong pedagogical mission, most museums are tasked with providing historical information in ways that are both accessible and relevant to the widest possible audience. The medium of the exhibition presents unique challenges that are not found in other areas of the museum, including management and interpersonal skills, knowledge of material culture, a sense of visual literacy, and an ability to create inclusive visual narratives.
Because of these challenges, a well-designed and researched exhibition requires the collaboration of museum educators, historians, curators, designers, and others. As a result, exhibitions can be highly complex and multifaceted. Successful exhibitions are able to communicate the research behind them at a level that is understandable by non-academic audiences, while also expanding the boundaries of our understanding through the imaginative marriage of ideas and objects.
The most effective way to convey historical knowledge is through the exhibition medium. Yet, although exhibitions are widely used in the museum world, few scholarly journals have paid much attention to them as a form of scholarship. This new series of exhibition reviews in Perspectives seeks to change that. The series will examine the intellectual underpinnings of each exhibition, its reflection of current scholarly research and perspectives, and its contribution to the field. Moreover, each review will also consider how the exhibition’s design and layout help convey that information to the intended audience.
Continuum: A History of Buffalo and Erie County
The exhibition explores the rich history of Buffalo and Erie County through artifacts, photographs, and stories that are woven together to highlight key events and moments that have shaped our region.
Presented in partnership with the county, this exhibition is an opportunity to look back and reflect on the remarkable evolution of our city and county. The exhibition celebrates a rich heritage and illustrates the impact that Buffalo and its residents have had on shaping America’s history.