A theme in all the readings included, the ways in which a museum is to display and inform the public while being historically accurate as well as sensitive to a variety of groups. A museum wants people to come to the museum, because it requires patrons and donations or earnings to keep the museum going. However, after completing the reading it seems impossible to meet everyone’s expectations. For example, at the Air and Space Museum there was a great deal of arguing as to the display of the B-29 bomber the Enola Gay. Its pilot, Brigadier General Tibbets was angry that the Enola Gay was being displayed in parts, and was not fully restored. Also, when deciding the script that would accompany the display, there was some debate as to the discussion on the use of the atomic bombs as well as photos of women and children’s’ burned bodies after the bombings. Some images or displays some may believe to be too graphic or shocking. However, as a museum it should be able to display images that are relevant to the history of the artifacts.
How are historians and museums able to dial down the horrors of war and other tragic events, and be historically accurate? In my opinion, they can’t, tragic events in history can’t be dialed down to better suit the public. In the text there is the mention of the Holocaust Museum as a horror tour. For example, the museum has a display in which the process of arriving and then being processed to the gas chambers. It is a display based on actual events, so it is educational not a horror tour. There is not a way to make the Holocaust Museum less graphic or shocking to some because it is teaching about the slaughter and genocide of 6 million Jews. In contrast, the Fred Harvey Museum displays Native American art, however does not include the information including; death marches, reservation systems, and any information about Native American culture. The focus is only on the artwork.