Description
Book SynopsisSuitable for students and practicing professionals, this book features museum professionals discussing contemporary issues and successful programs, and offering practical guidelines and information, along with references and illustrations.
Trade ReviewThe book is a volume in the American Association for State and Local History Book Series and will be of interest to museum professionals as well as anyone who enjoys visiting historic house musems. * Utah Historical Quarterly, Vol.71 No. 3 Summer 2003 *
For those of us involved in interpreting house museums, this is the selection to make. . . . We now have a new body of guidance and encouragement as we work to locate a vital cutural niche for house museums in the twenty-first century. It is clear that if house museums are to remain viable, we must be able to assert their relevance and purpose to new audiences in a new century. Donnelly calls it a 'fundamental question of survival'. . . . Interpreting Historic House Museums highlights how crucial it will be to create and sustain a network of communication between people working with historic house museums in order to 'meet with vigor the interpretive challenges that lie ahead.''' -- Patricia West, National Park Service * The Public Historian *
A collection of essays that achieves a balance between theories and their practical applications . . . Interpreting Historic House Museums covers a lot of territory and brings the profession up to speed on recent interpretive innovations. . . . The essays are thought-provoking and vivid illustrations of a variety of tours and educational programs. Interpreting Historic House Museums demonstrates just how diverse and exciting the stories of historic house museums can be. -- Jennifer Pustz, Brucemore, Cedar Rapids * The Annals Of Iowa, Vol. 62, No. 2, Spring 2003 *
Lively and relevant...a compendium of bright ideas for enlivening house museums...[has] novel contributions to the house museum literature. -- Linda Young, University of Canberra * Historic Environment, Vol. 17, No. 2, 2003 *
This book is a really practical resource for anyone involved in the interpretation of historic houses. It reminds us of the need to look at familiar issues with new perspectives and new methods to meet the sophisticated demands of today's visitors. The discussion of contemporary issues and successful programmes, practical guidelines and information make this a useful book for both students and practising professionals. -- Ruth Taylor * Interpretation, Vol. 8, Nr. 3, Autumn 2003 *
Donnelly's edited volume, Interpreting Historic House Museums, will no doubt become a valuable tool for historic house museum staff. . . I would recommend this book to museum studies students and to anyone considering establishing a historic house museum. . . the practical guidelines are useful and relevant. * Museums Australia Magazine *
For those of us involved in interpreting house museums, this is the selection to make. . . . We now have a new body of guidance and encouragement as we work to locate a vital cutural niche for house museums in the twenty-first century. It is clear that if house museums are to remain viable, we must be able to assert their relevance and purpose to new audiences in a new century. Donnelly calls it a 'fundamental question of survival'. . . . Interpreting Historic House Museums highlights how crucial it will be to create and sustain a network of communication between people working with historic house museums in order to 'meet with vigor the interpretive challenges that lie ahead.' -- Patricia West, National Park Service * The Public Historian *
Rich in case studies, this book—like the symposia that spawned it—targets 'the small, understaffed, and underfunded' institution. It holds useful information for house museums of all types, however, while its integrative approach to interpretation renders many of its lessons pertinent to an assortment of historic sites. -- Mary Munsell Abroe, Kendall College, Evanston, Illinois * Journal Of The Illinois State Historical Society *
The advice presented in these essays is less prescriptive than eminently practical, and clearly understands the realities likely to be met by those working with house museums. * Journal Of Museums Aotearoa *
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Chapter 1: Past, Present, and Future: The Place of the House Museum in the Museum Community Chapter 3 Chapter 2: Interpretation Planning: Why and How Chapter 4 Chapter 3: Interpreting the Whole House Chapter 5 Chapter 4: Making Gender Matter: Interpreting Male and Female Roles in Historic House Museums Chapter 6 Chapter 5: Grounds for Interpretation: The Landscape Context of Historic House Museums Chapter 7 Chapter 6: The Historic House Furnishings Plan: Process and Product Chapter 8 Chapter 7: "I Wish You Could Take a Peek at Us at the Present Moment": Infusing the Historic House with Characters and Activity Chapter 9 Chapter 8: Balancing Our Commitments: Access and Historic Preservation Chapter 10 Chapter 9: Historic House Tours that Succeed: Choosing the Best Tour Approach Chapter 11 Chapter 10: Creating Memorable Visits: How to Develop and Implement Theme-Based Tours Chapter 12 Chapter 11: Engaging Visitors Through Effective Communication Chapter 13 Chapter 12: Building a Took Kit for Your Interpreters Chapter 14 Chapter 13: Endless Possibilities: Historic House Museum Programs that Make Educators Sing Chapter 15 Chapter 14: Programming at the Shadows: Education with a Mission
