Museum Do museums over do weapons?

[Kurt G]

Are we talking all new exhibits or refurbishing the old ones? That makes a huge difference.
1. More story, fewer weapons and only weapons that are relevant to the story.
2. Hands on activities regardless of whether there are new exhibits. Engaging the visitor/enhancing the visitor experience is one of the best ways to ensure repeat visitors.
3. Civil War, Slavery and the Underground Railroad
4. Dioramas are so 20th century and they take up a lot of space. There are so many more modern ways of doing this.

I will also point out that Co K of the 1st Michigan Sharpshooters provides a great opportunity for the museum to collaborate with First Peoples.

There is a monument on the capitol grounds to the First , but I don't think it mentions the importance of Co. K.

 

[Library Lady]

A couple of hundred soft plastic soldiers in 1/32 scale and depicts Petersburg. The kid do love it, but it is seen as a distraction from learning about Michigan in the Civil War. Many children spend most of their time in the Civil War gallery looking at the diorama.

I wonder if the diorama inspired this student.

26th Michigan Volunteer Infantry – Military History of the Upper Great Lakes

 

[major bill]

Education-wise, the 'feely-touchy' approach is often ignored. It is what elementary school kids do and how they learn. So, with that in mind, wouldn't a reenactment group - infantry, cavalry and artillery brought in for these visits - be more educational than storyboards and static exhibits? Give them a 'Civil War field meal' too! Make it an experience they won't forget so easily.

The Museum does use reenactors at big events but not for normal museum tours. The Museum looked at allowing reenactors to become docents with out the year and a half training, by limiting them to the Civil War gallery after some sort of abbreviated training and certification. Nothing ever came of this. Perhaps the abbreviated training and certification did not set well with some reenactors. The Docent Costume Committee and Museum Staff would have had to review the reenactor's uniforms and equipment and some type of prepared outline of what their talk would cover would need review and certification. When I wear a Civil War uniform and equipment these are purchased out of the Docent Costume Committee funds and so are much easier to pass the Docent Costume Committee and Museum Staff reviews. We do have docents who also reenact various periods, but still their costumes and equipment must pass muster from Docent Costume Committee and Museum Staff and have documentation about each item in the Costume Certification Book. Rules are rules and even some docents who reenact have some issues getting this done.

 

[major bill]

There is a monument on the capitol grounds to the First , but I don't think it mentions the importance of Co. K.

The First People of Michigan do not put too much importance on Company K so I am not sure the Museum should either.

We have a display case about Andersonville which is looking a bit old. I thought perhaps this case could be redesigned to cover both the experience of Company K soldiers at Andersonville POW Camp and Company K when they were the guards at Camp Douglas POW Camp. Again one would need to look at the goals of the Museum, which is Michigan in the Civil War to see if Company K at Camp Douglas fits in. Also what does the Michigan Education Guidance say are the main learning objectives for school children?

 

[121st PA Vols]

Not at all as I'm 1/4 Cherokee and didn't find it offensive at all, nor do I cling to tribal myths. I find them entertaining, just I do Hercules, Apollo, or Odin. Why I pointed out earlier hardly all people of native american ancestry today still believe tribal mythology.

I even wear a buffalo bone pendant with tribal turtle carved on it......however because it looks cool, not that I subscribe to turtle island myths or that it grants any longevity.

Been following this thread tho I typically stay exclusively with 'all things Gettysburg.' I wanted to mention my mother who was part Native American (as many are from Georgia) on occasion mentioned "what all the fuss was about" arguing this point or that about sports names, and so forth as she didn't know anyone in the family who took offense to (eg) using the terms Indian, Warrior, etc.
I don't know anyone in my hometown area (Chambersburg friends, Crawfoot-Choctaw) who are offended by all the things you hear others, mostly non-Native Americans, say NA's are offended by. Maybe NA's have a better sense of humor than many want to admit!
Not picking a fight just pointing out a relevant family perspective.

 

[Kurt G]

Been following this thread tho I typically stay exclusively with 'all things Gettysburg.' I wanted to mention my mother who was part Native American (as many are from Georgia) on occasion mentioned "what all the fuss was about" arguing this point or that about sports names, and so forth as she didn't know anyone in the family who took offense to (eg) using the terms Indian, Warrior, etc.
I don't know anyone in my hometown area (Chambersburg friends, Crawfoot-Choctaw) who are offended by all the things you hear others, mostly non-Native Americans, say NA's are offended by. Maybe NA's have a better sense of humor than many want to admit!
Not picking a fight just pointing out a relevant family perspective.

I have to agree . I saw a fairly recent pole that said most preferred the term Indian . We are at risk of lumping cultures and individual thoughts together based on ethnicity , tribal affiliation , etc. I would no more say to an Odawa that "because you are Odawa you probably think and believe this way " than I would say to an Italian that " because you are an Italian you probably think or believe this way."

 

[archieclement]

Been following this thread tho I typically stay exclusively with 'all things Gettysburg.' I wanted to mention my mother who was part Native American (as many are from Georgia) on occasion mentioned "what all the fuss was about" arguing this point or that about sports names, and so forth as she didn't know anyone in the family who took offense to (eg) using the terms Indian, Warrior, etc.
I don't know anyone in my hometown area (Chambersburg friends, Crawfoot-Choctaw) who are offended by all the things you hear others, mostly non-Native Americans, say NA's are offended by. Maybe NA's have a better sense of humor than many want to admit!
Not picking a fight just pointing out a relevant family perspective.

I'd agree, think its like in CW era tribes were divided into mixed blood/pure bloods. I imagine some of the ones on reservations today perhaps take tradition/lore more seriously.

However only 22% of those who census identify Native American live on reservations. 60% of self identified Native Americans also identify themselves as Christian which would make tribal myths, exactly that to them. Many more of varying degrees of Native American ancestry don't identify as Native American on census, such as myself I identify Caucasian as am 3/4ths.

Think even a distinction could be made between wanting to preserve tribal lore, and actually believing tribal lore as far as its mythical origins of things.

 

[Western Reserve Volunteer]

Here's my thoughts on the redesign:

1. When thinking about redesigning the gallery, think about the things that it doesn't do, the people who's stories it doesn't tell, and try to reach out to those people and see what needs it doesn't address. What matters here is having an open mind and trying to understand what these communities need. You don't have to follow all their suggestions, and no one exhibit can be all things to all people, but you need to understand everyone's point of view first before you go any farther.

2. Consider accessibility & viewing height of displays especially from the perspective of children. This is something I learned from the Miyazaki Museum in Japan, which is one of the few museums built with children primarily in mind: make it so that they can see things more easily. Making viewing more accessible to people in wheelchairs is another good idea, not just for disabled but also aged Museum goers. It's hard to appreciate things when you have to crane your neck... and the ADA might have not yet been a thing, or at least been a very new thing and thus poorly thought out, when the gallery was designed.

3. Hands on activities are very good for kids, and just generally good museum design practice. I would definitely recommend adding something here. One thought, based on what you have said about having duplicate weapons, is designing a stand which allows a visitor to lift the weapon, and feel its weight. The US Army Museum in Carlisle had displays like this that were very effective (the only Infantry weapons I could lift when I visited where the M1860 Springfield and the M-16!), you could try reaching out to them on how they constructed them. The idea of letting the kids role play a bit with repro equipment is also a solid idea.

4. The diorama: I can see where Petersburg, being not in Michigan, would kind of cause a hiccup in the narrative. I'm not sure if there were any Michigan units involved (though I imagine they were)? The war wasn't fought in Michigan, though, so at least some kind of larger context ought to be provided. I would consider what battle the museum would like to focus on that Michigan played a significant role in, and consider reusing the elements of the existing diorama to depict that.

I loved models and dioramas as a kid, and still do now. If it's drawing the crowds it's probably because: 1. It's more compelling than the rest of the gallery, because it humanizes the war in a way guns hung on a wall don't. and A. It's the only thing in the gallery they can look at that's at kid height.

5. If the diorama is unsalvageable, I'd suggest one of two kinds of replacements: Either consider integrating a digital element to the gallery or maybe try and build a place where the kids could wargame? I think you could actually combine these two ideas, possibly there is a commercial product that might allow you to do it.

I feel like a more abstracted and tangible experience might be a good idea for the younger audience you are going after. Something as simple as rules for moving wooden blocks representing Michigan units and their opponents around the field and resolving combat (this could be resolved by simple die rolls and a results table, and something like a "move one square per turn for Infantry and two for cavalry" rule) would be low tech but very effective.

Generally though, trying to get something technological and digital going is a good idea, albeit expensive. VR in particular allows for some pretty immersive experiences, ditto augmented reality.

6. The Curriculum: its a good starting point but I wouldn't chain myself to it. It's bound to get revised at some point in the future and that will make the exhibition quite dated. Also, school curriculums tend to destroy any semblance of the nuisance and scope of history. I didn't learn about the Stonewall riots until Grad School, I'm ashamed to say, in spite of them being a pivotal part of American history. Most of the North's racist pre & especially post Civil War past gets ignored by schools but is very much part of many people's lives to this day. Even positive things like the stories of free black peoples in the North & West get excluded. Nowadays school curricula have more to do with hitting test goals than education, which is why trips to the museum are important: they provide for learning different things in different ways than are possible in a classroom setting. And that can be life changing!

7. I think focusing on the race riot in Detroit is an excellent idea and should be a centerpiece of the new exhibition. It's complicated stories like that which need to be told, because they make people think critically about things.

 

[Old Soldier]

A couple of hundred soft plastic soldiers in 1/32 scale and depicts Petersburg. The kid do love it, but it is seen as a distraction from learning about Michigan in the Civil War. Many children spend most of their time in the Civil War gallery looking at the diorama.

If they do that, then more should be made of that experience, give them the story, highlighting the area of the diarama that shows it. Use all the senses, they can see the battle, give them the smell and taste of gunpowder, the sound of rifle and cannon.

 

[121st PA Vols]

I'd agree, think its like in CW era tribes were divided into mixed blood/pure bloods. I imagine some of the ones on reservations perhaps take tradition/lore more seriously.

However only 22% of those who identify Native American live on reservations. 60% of self identified Native Americans also identify themselves as Christian which would make tribal myths, exactly that to them. Many more of varying degrees of Native American ancestry don't identify as Native American on census, such as myself I identify Caucasian as am 3/4ths.

Think even a distinction could be made between wanting to preserve tribal lore, and actually believing tribal lore as far as its mythical origins of things.

Good and interesting points. I identify as American. Who wants to breakdown my makeup of Scandanavian, Welsh-Celt, Native American, and Iberian, into what group(s)? Well of course some do.
I believe what we call people like myself and many others is simply put........American. No offense to those wanting to stay on the Rez in their minds and-or in fact.

 

[archieclement]

Good and interesting points. I identify as American. Who wants to breakdown my makeup of Scandanavian, Welsh-Celt, Native American, and Iberian, into what group(s)? Well of course some do.
I believe what we call people like myself and many others is simply put........American. No offense to those wanting to stay on the Rez in their minds and-or in fact.

That's one of the things that's always struck me odd on forum.

One can certainly recognize/honor Confederate or Union ancestry, just as one can Native American, German, Scot, Irish ect. One can certainly also recognize what their forefathers believed. It doesn't mean at all that today one doesn't identify as American or that they believe what their forefathers did. There's certainly aspects or beliefs all my forefathers had, Union, Confederate, Native or European that I don't share today as we are from entirely different eras and cultures. Having hyphon ancestries doesn't change I identify simply as American.

 

[GwilymT]

That mythology is mythology isnt insulting at all. Nor that some may choose to cling to myths, change that they are myths.

Myth-a traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events.

Clinging to myths and mythology. I love it!

 

[archieclement]

Clinging to myths and mythology. I love it!

Believing things like the hills and valleys were formed from a buzzard flapping his wings would seem to definitely qualify, as haven't heard many geologists signing on to the myth.

 

[major bill]

The Museum maybe could use a reproduction Civil War musket for people to touch. Touching a real Civil War musket would violate our protection of artifacts rules. Even a reproduction musket might cause confusion and a few visitors would send in complaints about the Museum damaging artfacts. Remember the Museum is a State institution and were tasked with protecting artifacts.

As silly as this sounds a docent dressed as a World War One soldier used a privately own real WWI mess pan and got corrected on the use of real artifacts. He had to go before the Costume Committee and Museum staff. No wearing a real WWI helmet or using real WWI items! I was in line to see if I wore antique glasses with new lenses while wearing a Civil War uniform. A visitor mistook my modern glasses for antique frames. My modern glasses look nothing like Civil War era glases. The visitor did not question my modern tennis shoes as real artifacts. This is why I do not wear reproduction Civil War shoes. If the State want to buy me a pair of reproduction shoes, I will wear them.Too funny.

 

[PrivateBrooke]

The Museum has a Austrian Lorenz musket on display. Because so many Michigan regiments received Austrian Lorenz early in the War, this musket might be a good display item.

That would be perfect! My version was more of a generic one, you should certainly modify it to fit Michigan, specifically. Perhaps something about a very famous cavalry commander from Michigan? Although I'd bet you already have done that.

 

[major bill]

Women were a major demographic statistic in Michigan during the Civil War. Should any redesign include more on Michigan women during the Civil War? There has been a shift in the 30+ years about how to show women in the Civil War. We already cover women soldiers fairlyy well, but probably could do more about Michigan Civil War women who were not soldiers. The lack of women in the Civil War is offset by the use of female abolitionists in the other part of the Civil War gallery which talks about abolitionists and the Underground Railroad.

So perhaps put a few swords and pistols in storage and use the space for a couple display of what Michigan women did or the clothing they wore during the Civil War? Civil War female fashion is interesting.

 

[GwilymT]

Believing things like the hills and valleys were formed from a buzzard flapping his wings would seem to definitely qualify, as haven't heard many geologists signing on to the myth.

Me neither. There are lots of myths out there that professionals do not sign on to...

 

[thomas aagaard]

The Museum maybe could use a reproduction Civil War musket for people to touch. Touching a real Civil War musket would violate our protection of artifacts rules. Even a reproduction musket might cause confusion and a few visitors would send in complaints about the Museum damaging artfacts. Remember the Museum is a State institution and were tasked with protecting artifacts.

As silly as this sounds a docent dressed as a World War One soldier used a privately own real WWI mess pan and got corrected on the use of real artifacts. He had to go before the Costume Committee and Museum staff. No wearing a real WWI helmet or using real WWI items! I was in line to see if I wore antique glasses with new lenses while wearing a Civil War uniform. A visitor mistook my modern glasses for antique frames. My modern glasses look nothing like Civil War era glases. The visitor did not question my modern tennis shoes as real artifacts. This is why I do not wear reproduction Civil War shoes. If the State want to buy me a pair of reproduction shoes, I will wear them.Too funny.

Some people (including museum) workers need to get that just because an item is x years old, don't automatically make it rare or give it value.
The Copenhagen museum have an archeological workshop that is only open in weekends. (since it is used by the actual archeologist on workdays)
They allow you to touch a lot of items found over the last few years in digs in the city... why, because when they have found 50+ of something and have registered it, the value you get out of using as a teaching tool with children is way more than its value as yet another item in storage.
Letting people touch a 600 year old piece of a shoe is fine... if you have sufficient pieces that you can loose one with no issue.

 

[Claude Bauer]

I think the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg has a good balance of weapons and other interests, including large displays on music, medicine, and slavery (the root cause of the war was slavery, so yes it should be an aspect of the conflict included in any Civil War museum.)

A war museum by definition would have a lot of weapons, but wars don't take place in a vacuum--as we all know, war affects everything in society, and there's also more to the actual combat than who killed who, when, where and with what. Displays about medicine, music, the material culture, etc. should also be included.

And let's face it--people, esp. kids, go to museums to see things, not read display boards 3-4 paragraphs long.

The museum's video on their web page sums it up well:

Explore The National Civil War Museum – Harrisburg, PA

The National Civil War Museum is one of the largest museums in the world dedicated solely to the American Civil war.

www.nationalcivilwarmuseum.org

 

[debwallsmith]

Not at all as I'm 1/4 Cherokee and didn't find it offensive at all, nor do I cling to tribal myths. I find them entertaining, just I do Hercules, Apollo, or Odin. Why I pointed out earlier hardly all people of native american ancestry today still believe tribal mythology.

I even wear a buffalo bone pendant with tribal turtle carved on it......however because it looks cool, not that I subscribe to turtle island myths or that it grants any longevity.

Due to your ancestry, you feel comfortable enough to speak for all indigenous people? I'm sure my First Nations/Peoples friends throughout North America, particularly those from the Southwest, West Coast and arctic would disagree with your POV.