About the book
How do history museums and historic sites tell the richly diverse stories of the American people? What fascinates us most about American history? To help answer these questions, noted public historian Richard Rabinowitz examines the evolution of public history over the last half-century and highlights the new ways we have come to engage with our past. At the heart of this endeavor is what Rabinowitz calls “storyscapes” — landscapes of engagement where individuals actively encounter stories of past lives. As storyscapes, museums become processes of narrative interplay rather than moribund storage bins of strange relics. Storyscapes bring to life even the most obscure people — making their skills of hands and minds “touchable,” making their voices heard despite their absence from traditional archives, and making the dilemmas and triumphs of their lives accessible to us today.
Rabinowitz’s wealth of professional experience — creating over 500 history museums, exhibitions, and educational programs across the nation — shapes and informs the narrative. By weaving insights from learning theory, anthropology and geography, politics and finance, collections and preservation policy, and interpretive media, Rabinowitz reveals how the nation’s best museums and historic sites allow visitors to confront their sense of time and place, memories of family and community, and definitions of self and the world while expanding their idea of where they stand in the flow of history.
Editions of Curating America
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781469629506
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469629520
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890847201
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469629513
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890847195
Read an Excerpt
How do history museums and historic sites tell the richly diverse stories of the American people? What fascinates us most about American history? To help answer these questions, noted public historian Richard Rabinowitz examines the evolution of public history over the last half-century and highlights the new ways we have come to engage with our past. At the heart of this endeavor is what Rabinowitz calls “storyscapes” — landscapes of engagement where individuals actively encounter stories of past lives. As storyscapes, museums become processes of narrative interplay rather than moribund storage bins of strange relics. Storyscapes bring to life even the most obscure people — making their skills of hands and minds “touchable,” making their voices heard despite their absence from traditional archives, and making the dilemmas and triumphs of their lives accessible to us today.
Rabinowitz’s wealth of professional experience — creating over 500 history museums, exhibitions, and educational programs across the nation — shapes and informs the narrative. By weaving insights from learning theory, anthropology and geography, politics and finance, collections and preservation policy, and interpretive media, Rabinowitz reveals how the nation’s best museums and historic sites allow visitors to confront their sense of time and place, memories of family and community, and definitions of self and the world while expanding their idea of where they stand in the flow of history.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Curating America about?
How do history museums and historic sites tell the richly diverse stories of the American people? What fascinates us most about American history? To help answer these questions, noted public historian Richard Rabinowitz examines the evolution of public history over the last half-century and highlights the new ways we have come to engage with our past. At the heart of this endeavor is what Rabinowitz calls “storyscapes” — landscapes of engagement where individuals actively encounter stories of past lives. As storyscapes, museums become processes of narrative interplay rather than moribund storage bins of strange relics. Storyscapes bring to life even the most obscure people — making their skills of hands and minds “touchable,” making their voices heard despite their absence from traditional archives, and making the dilemmas and triumphs of their lives accessible to us today.
Rabinowitz’s wealth of professional experience — creating over 500 history museums, exhibitions, and educational programs across the nation — shapes and informs the narrative. By weaving insights from learning theory, anthropology and geography, politics and finance, collections and preservation policy, and interpretive media, Rabinowitz reveals how the nation’s best museums and historic sites allow visitors to confront their sense of time and place, memories of family and community, and definitions of self and the world while expanding their idea of where they stand in the flow of history.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Curating America?
History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas
Where can I read a sample of Curating America?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469629506
How long is Curating America and how many pages does it have?
Curating America has 392 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Curating America?
Richard Rabinowitz
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Curating America is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469629506) and ebook(ISBN 9781469629520) and ebook(ISBN 9798890847201) and ebook(ISBN 9781469629513) and pdf(ISBN 9798890847195)
Where can I buy Curating America online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Curating America from below
Where can I buy Curating America?