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Elizabeth Sulock
Manager of Public Outreach & Living History, NHS
Kirsten HammerstromDirector of Collections, RIHS
Risky Business:Living History Events in
Traditional Museums
Event Overviews
Stamp Act Riot
Recreates a specific event in Newport history in the place where it happened
What Cheer Day
Brings to life a typical day in the Brown family
Stamp Act Protest
Washington Square, Newport, RI: August 23, 2014 Organized by the Newport Historical Society
Stamp Act ProtestWashington Square, Newport, RI: August 23, 2014 Organized by the Newport Historical Society
What Cheer DayJohn Brown House Museum, Providence, RI: October 24, 2014Organized by the Rhode Island Historical Society
What Cheer Day 2013
• Used RIHS’ “Faith & Freedom” theme as a driver
• Also inspired by the Occupy Movement
• Alice Brown’s pre-marriage pregnancy and family opposition to her suitor, James Brown Mason
• Slavery and the slave trade
What Cheer DayJohn Brown House Museum, Providence, RI: October 24, 2014Organized by the Rhode Island Historical Society
Preparing • Provided materials to read • Training Session/ Orientation• Offered a schedule of the day’s events • Minimal script for people to memorize
Event Successes• Happy interpreters: reenergized interest in
programming focusing on civilian/daily life• Refocused staff on research and shifted long-
term interpretive goals• Both organizations are eager to offer more
new/innovative programming and take more risks
• Helped to initiate our latest partnership, History Space
Stamp Act Successes
• Social media buzz• Media coverage• Expanded organization’s
professional network• Attracted new audiences• Extended life on web through
social media photos & YouTube videos
Event Successes
Has inspired partner organizations to try this approach
Images courtesy Newport Restoration Foundation.
Common Concerns• African American history challenging to
represent• Some interpretation aspects are works-in-
progress• Covering event expenses: is it worth it?
Risks
Stamp Act • Public space: can
visitors & interpreters suspend disbelief?
• Uncertain about public reaction
• Staging a protest and hanging an effigy in the wake of Ferguson
What Cheer Day
• Messing up the house• No guided tours;
unclear docent role• Unscripted,
“eventless” day• Event w/o John Brown
Stamp Act Concerns
Stamp Act Protest: Attempting to interpret something that has not been done in our area. Sparked concern for how the public would react.
Common Risks Going Forward• How authentic can we safely be?
• Will interpreters be interested again?• Do interpreters work well together?• Is another day of occupation interesting?• Are staff beyond event organizers engaged?• For other organizations: how do you build
relationships with interpreters/re-enactors you can trust?
History Space Workshops
• “Professional development for public history practitioners.”
• Guides new and experienced interpreters in building appropriate period wardrobes• Secondary benefit: Interpreters
gain familiarity with each other and establish better interactions.
• Helps expand interpretive and improvisational skills
• Use our collections to build personas—both library resources and textiles
History Space Talks
• Free talks create a better audience-- authors, teachers, kids
• Material culture knowledge creates better consumers of history, museums and living history
• Expands our mission and reach
"An educated consumer is our best customer."
--Sy Syms
Recommended Museum Risks
• Be Specific–Use your locations as
inspiration for your interpretation and events
• Trust Your Interpreters– But you’ll need good ones
• Think Beyond Happy History– Interpret events not usually
represented