Overview
This book is the first in 30 years to take transport museums seriously as vehicles for the making of public histories. Drawing upon many years' experience of visiting and working in transport museums around the world, the authors argue that the sector's historical roots are more complex than is usually thought. Written from a multidisciplinary perspective but firmly rooted in the practice of making public histories, this book brings the study of transport museums firmly into the mainstream of academic and professional debate.Synopsis
This book is the first for over thirty years to take transport museums seriously as vehicles for the making of public histories. Drawing upon many years' experience of visiting and working in transport museums around the world, the authors argue that the sector's historical roots are more complex than is usually thought. In recent years, efforts to attract new and wider audiences have concentrated on exhibiting social histories of transport and travel. While rarely perfect, these displays have the potential to encourage visitors to reflect critically on the opportunities and challenges presented by transport in the past, present and future. Written from a multidisciplinary perspective but firmly rooted in the practice of making public histories, this book brings the study of transport museums firmly into the mainstream of academic and professional debate.
Booknews
Associates of the National Railway Museum, Divall (Railway Studies Institute) and Scott (London Transport Museum) review the historical development and present standing of exhibitions about the past in transport museums around the world, and suggest some ideas about how displays might evolve. Among their perspectives are visitors and enthusiasts, collecting and displaying vehicles, exhibiting social histories of transport, the changing role of the object, heritage transportation as museums, and the future of transport museums. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)