Exhibition Reviews

We often hear historians remark that the "past informs the present," but how does the present inform the past? "The Once and Future Web: Worlds Woven by the Telegraph and Internet" at the National Library of Medicine (NLM) in Bethesda, Maryland, poses both questions to its visitors. Just as the history of the telegraph in many ways foretold the influence of the Internet, today's online culture can help us rethink our understanding of the impact of telegraphy. A range of physical objects, including Samuel Morse's 1837 prototype telegraph and an Edison stock ticker, are juxtaposed with items such as a Sage Light Gun (precursor of the mouse) and an early Internet time-sharing device. Archival materials—from the first official Morse code telegraphic message ("What hath God wrought?") to documents relating to the first e-mail message—add depth and context to the exhibition. And online evidence, such as important Web sites, allows the story of the Internet to be told.	1
Like others who have seen or heard about "The Once and Future Web," readers of this review probably wonder what an exhibit on communications technologies is doing at the NLM. The idea for the exhibit came when NLM director Donald Lindberg was inspired by Tom Standage's book The Victorian Internet (1998). He asked the museum staff to develop an exhibit to explore the parallel histories of these two technologies. But make no mistake—"The Once and Future Web" is not merely a book on the wall. While Standage focuses on the telegraph, only briefly recounting similarities to the Internet in his final chapter, the curators of this exhibit have used a variety of material evidence to explore both technologies. Befitting the exhibit's venue, they have included stories illustrating medical applications of the technologies and their use by the NLM as well.	2
The design is really two exhibits—the stories of two technologies presented in tandem. As visitors move through the circular exhibit, they can alternate between the story of the telegraph on the left and that of the Internet on the right. The computer stations, featuring touch screens attached to telegraph poles and communications towers, are a nice design element. The two sides are distinguished primarily by color, putty for the telegraph story and bright orange and red for the Internet. The bright colors are overpowering, making it hard to grasp the intended distinction between the parallel presentations. The display cases used on both sides are identical as well, adding to the confusion.	3
Since there are essentially two exhibits in one space, there is precious little room for detailed explanation. Seven touch screen stations featuring additional historical content address this challenge. These stations are very attractive and offer the visitor the opportunity to learn the more complex history of the two technologies. But as is the case with most museum exhibits, many visitors do not have the time or inclination to explore such material during their stay. Four additional interactive stations entice visitors to send a telegraph message, digitize images, participate in a virtual conversation, or explore virtual anatomy. These stations are more popular with visitors, especially children.	. . .