Interpreting the Civil War at museums and historic sites / edited by Kevin M. Levin.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Levin, Kevin M., 1969- editor.

Series:

Interpreting history

Interpreting history ; 14

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Collective memory.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Museums.

United States.

History.

Museums.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Centennial celebrations, etc.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Historiography.

Historiography.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Battlefields.

Battlefields.

Public history--United States.

Public history.

Collective memory--United States.

Anniversaries.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

xxi, 114 pages : illustrations ; 26 cm.

Place of Publication:

Lanham : Rowman & Littlefield, [2017]

Summary:

Public historians working at museums and historic sites focused on the Civil War era are tasked with interpreting a period of history that remains deeply controversial. Many visitors have strong connections to historic sites such as battlefields and artifacts, and many harbor strong convictions about the cause of the war, its consequences, and the importance of slavery. Interpreting the Civil War at Museums and Historic Sites surveys how museums and historic sites approached these challenges and others during the Civil War sesquicentennial (2011-2015). In doing so, this book offers museums and history professionals strategies to help shape conversations with local communities, develop exhibits, and train interpreters. With the ongoing controversy surrounding the display of the Confederate battle flag and monuments, there has never been a more opportune moment to look critically at how the Civil War has been interpreted and why it continues to matter to so many Americans. Each chapter is written by a professional public historian currently working at a museum or historic site. They cover topics such as: Building relations: with the public How specific museums interpreted the war and overcame challenges of location, audience, and funding, and How the National Park Service and the Georgia Historical Society approached commemorating important anniversaries. Book jacket.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Among the Ruins: Creating and interpreting the American Civil War in Richmond / Christy S. Coleman Coleman, Christy S. 1

Chapter 2 Billy Yank, not Johnny Reb: Focusing Civil War Exhibits on the Union in Virginia / Mark Benbow Benbow, Mark 13

Chapter 3 A Civil War Museum in Kenosha, Wisconsin? / Daniel Joyce Joyce, Daniel, Douglas Dammann Dammann, Douglas, Jennifer Edginton Edginton, Jennifer 27

Chapter 4 Civil War Public History for the Next Generation / James Percoco Percoco, James 39

Chapter 5 New Wine in Old Bottles: Using Historical Markers to Reshape Public Memory of the Civil War / W. Todd Grace Grace, W. Todd 45

Chapter 6 From Tokenism to True Partnership: The National Park Service's Shifting Interpretation at the Civil War's Sesquicentennial / John M. Rudy Rudy, John M. 61

Chapter 7 Commemoration, Conflict, and Constraints: The Saga of the Confederate Flag at the South Carolina State House / W. Eric Emerson Emerson, W. Eric 77

Chapter 8 Getting to the Heart: The intersections of Confederate Iconography, Race Relations, and Public History in America / Dina Bailey Bailey, Dina, Nicole Moore Moore, Nicole 93.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Levin, Kevin M., 1969- Interpreting the Civil War at museums and historic sites

ISBN:

9781442273689

1442273682

9781442273696

1442273690

OCLC:

987796997