Charged with preserving a window into the past, the Historic House Museum has much to offer through education, community involvement, and commercially. Using material culture to convey an accurate historic sense of place to the public is a powerful and invoking educational experience that would otherwise be limited in other museum settings. Communicating relevance is today’s challenge and maintaining that understanding is tomorrow’s foundation for the Historic House Museum.
Although affected by challenges common to the larger museum community, the debilitating impact of limited operating funds, adjusting to industry guidelines, and maintaining an all volunteer staff is greater and somewhat unique to the Historic House Museum. However, factors that are easier to control through organizational discipline are evaluating preservation redundancy, providing accurate historic interpretations, collection stewardship, operations management, accountability measures, and effective internal communication. Controlling these factors is likely to improve efficiency and allow an organization to redirect valuable resources to addressing the variables that can render a debilitating impact.
Whether a historic house museum is organized around the life of the occupant or time period elements, the method of communicating relevance over time must be clear and responsive to the fluctuating ways the public receives and processes information.
Historic House Museums may find their survival through an expanded preservation scope that engages the community more so by allocating space for educating small groups, meetings, gallery exhibits of associative works, and receptions. There is some concern that using less than 100% of the floor space for in-situ historical exhibits will redefine the meaning of a House Museum. If an overseeing organization has a collection of houses, they can develop some criteria for identifying the ones for in-situ exhibits and others for reuse or shared use. This careful application of scrutiny and forward thinking will open doors to new relationships that will respect the preservation integrity of the Historic House Museum and embrace the changing public environment.
Associating or partnering with local businesses, schools, and community groups in a manner, in which all can benefit, will give breath to the struggle of existence and relevance of the Historic House Museum. Accessing these houses and appreciating their contents can be a destination experience that continues upon entry as a visitor steps back in time.
Regardless of the type of intervention, meeting and surviving the challenges of the Historic House Museum requires a long-term commitment to planning, operations, and communication.
Food for Thought….
Why is this piece of history important or significant? Who should find it important, interesting, or entertaining? How many examples exist locally, regionally, and nationally? Is the interpretation accurate, clear, and compelling compared to other examples? Are the goals current and reflect forward thinking? Is an effective system in place for
accountability and measuring our ability to remain relevant? How can industry guidelines be used more effec
tively to address the unique challenges of the Historic House Museum?
Houston has some excellent examples of Historic House Museums located in Sam Houston Park managed by the Heritage Society and in Houston’s Historic Fourth Ward Freedmen’s Town managed bythe Rutherford B. H. Yates Museum Board
Related Links to local examples of Historic House Museums
www.museumsusa.org/museums/info/1168018
Others
www.oldhouses.com/historic-house-museums.htm
Posted by Crystal Y. Granger
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