Interpreting the Civil War at Museums and Historic Sites (Interpreting History)

Kevin M. He currently serves on the board of directors of the National Council for History Education . Over the years he has led numerous professional development workshops for history teachers at Ford's Theatre, the National Park Service, Massachusetts Historical Society and Yale's Gilder-Lehrman Center. Levin is an award-winning historian and educator based in Boston and has taught American history on both

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. Many visitors have strong connections to historic sites such as battlefields and artifacts as well as harbor strong convictions about the cause of the war, its consequences and the importance of slavery. 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. They cover topics such as:Building relations with the public How specific museums interpreted the war and overcame challenges of location, audience, fundingHow the National Park Service and Georgia Historical Society approached commemorating important anniversaries. In doing so, this book offers museums and history professionals strategies to help shape conversati

Carmichael, Fluhrer Professor of History and director, Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College) . The authors draw on their experiences as educators, administrators, interpreters, and historians, as they analyze successful—and failed—strategies for interpreting the war. Rather than lament the supposed decline in historical interest in America as is the party-line of cynics today, the authors in this volume offer powerful examples of dynamic exchanges with the public, digging deep into the conversations taking place at Civil War sites, revealing the challenges of interpretation, and pressing us to be more creative and collaborative with our audiences and our colleagues without losing sight of the practical realities in helping the American people think historically about the past. (Dwight T. Pitcaithley, Former Chief Historian, National Park Service)Kevin Levin has assembled an impressive cast of practicing publi