Museum exhibits play an important role in transmitting historical knowledge. They engage diverse audiences, often family groups, and memorialize a particular time or event. As such, they are ripe for criticism. Although museum exhibits may be contentious, they should acknowledge opposing points of view and encourage informed discussion about the content. Therefore, attempts to suppress such exhibits are counterproductive.
The art of an exhibition lies in the creative use of visual storytelling. Instead of simply presenting history on a wall, an exhibition tells a story as if it was happening right now. This creates a sense of drama, allowing the story to unfold in a way that is personal to the audience. Furthermore, visual stories often focus on the people who witnessed the event. In addition, contemporary museums should avoid object-based exhibitions.
The museum’s main hallway features several exhibits that reflect on the history of America and Abraham Lincoln’s presidency. The museum also highlights the history of the civil rights struggle in the twentieth century. One of the highlights of the exhibit is the work of David Hughto, who premiered his work in the museum 43 years ago.
The emergence of a new era of historical exhibits in the United States has been driven by recent social and economic trends, including an increased marketability of local heritage and a national dialogue about identity. Traditionally, scholarship on the subject of historical exhibits has centered on those held in large professional museums. However, recent scholarship focuses on corporate and academic exhibits.