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Exhibition Reviews
"History Is All Around Us." Old State House, Hartford, Conn. http://www.ctosh.org/.
Permanent exhibition, opened Sept. 16, 2006. 6,800 sq. ft. Exhibition created by the Connecticut Historical Society Museum; Kate Steinway, project director; Andrea Rapacz, project manager; Rebecca Furer, project educator; Kevin Hughes, architecture and construction supervisor; Amaze Design, exhibit designer; Du Bose Associates, architects; Malone Design/Fabrication, exhibit fabrication; Whirlwind Creative, interactive map; Northern Light Productions, audio/video production; Motion Inc., video production; act Associates, audio/video engineers; ADTECH, audio/video installation; Available Light, lighting; ParaMounts, artifact mounting; Turner Construction, gallery construction.
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| This well-conceived and executed exhibition tells Hartford's story with solid research and a compelling presentation that will appeal to a variety of publics. Its developers make judicious use of the Connecticut Historical Society's rich documentary and artifact collections, and their own research into previously underexamined aspects of Hartford's urban experience. They have achieved a comprehensive but concise interpretation that is an excellent model for other cities. Located in the center of Hartford, in Connecticut's Old State House, a stone's throw from the interstate, the exhibition both serves local residents and offers an orientation for visitors. Funders of the $3.5 million exhibition included the state of Connecticut, the Connecticut Humanities Council, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and several corporations, foundations, and individuals. |
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In addition to its qualities as an urban history exhibition, "History Is All Around Us" makes important points about history. The exhibit emphatically tells the visitor that history, while multilayered and complex, is also accessible and comprehensible, influencing what we are today. It makes the point that past actions have continued impact, that actions today influence future generations, and that today's citizens contribute through their own lives and civic roles. The exhibition invites them to participate in civic life and help "make history" themselves. |
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The research that went into this exhibition included both the work of a broad-based scholarly team and extensive use of staff-directed focus groups and interviews with knowledgeable members of the community. The academic specialties of those who worked on the exhibit include the African American diaspora, Native American history, New England regional culture, and the study of the Hartford area and Connecticut. Some three dozen interviews of local residents support an introductory section on what history means to members of the Hartford community. Quotes taken from those interviews frame the introduction to the exhibition, welcoming visitors to learn about Hartford and participate in history. |
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The exhibition is in a gallery beneath the main floor of Connecticut's restored historic Old State House, which was built in 1796 on the site where colonists in 1639 adopted what some claim to be the world's "oldest written constitution." Designers overcame the challenge of proceeding downstairs into the gallery area by providing a bright, well-lit, clearly titled opening section: "Past Is Present." Here the exhibition explains the origin of terms, such as "Constitution State," and symbols, such as the "Charter Oak" on the state's quarter, used today that stem from Connecticut's colonial establishment. It then provides examples of how historical references are carried forward in items and settings familiar to visitors: names, money, family photographs, scrapbooks and heirlooms, music and songs, and street and place names. Interactive activities include listening to conversations, examining scrapbooks, and exploring how photographs are staged for emphasis. The objects, graphics, and texts are informative and crisp. There is room in this central area for people to sit and use the interactive components, separately and with others. Both adults and children were doing just that during the reviewer's visit. |
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