Elizabeth Sulock

Manager of Public Outreach & Living History, NHS

Kirsten HammerstromDirector of Collections, RIHS

Risky Business:Living History Events in

Traditional Museums

Event Overviews

Stamp Act Riot

Recreates a specific event in Newport history in the place where it happened

What Cheer Day

Brings to life a typical day in the Brown family

SITE-SPECIFIC, TIME-SPECIFIC

Immersive Living History Performances

Stamp Act ProtestNewport, RI: August 23, 2014 Organized by the Newport Historical Society

Stamp Act Protest

Washington Square, Newport, RI: August 23, 2014 Organized by the Newport Historical Society

Stamp Act ProtestWashington Square, Newport, RI: August 23, 2014 Organized by the Newport Historical Society

What Cheer DayJohn Brown House Museum, Providence, RI: October 24, 2014Organized by the Rhode Island Historical Society

What Cheer Day 2013

• Used RIHS’ “Faith & Freedom” theme as a driver

• Also inspired by the Occupy Movement

• Alice Brown’s pre-marriage pregnancy and family opposition to her suitor, James Brown Mason

• Slavery and the slave trade

What Cheer DayJohn Brown House Museum, Providence, RI: October 24, 2014Organized by the Rhode Island Historical Society

Preparing • Provided materials to read • Training Session/ Orientation• Offered a schedule of the day’s events • Minimal script for people to memorize

What Cheer Day Background Information

What Cheer Day Schedule

Event Successes• Happy interpreters: reenergized interest in

programming focusing on civilian/daily life• Refocused staff on research and shifted long-

term interpretive goals• Both organizations are eager to offer more

new/innovative programming and take more risks

• Helped to initiate our latest partnership, History Space

Stamp Act Successes

• Social media buzz• Media coverage• Expanded organization’s

professional network• Attracted new audiences• Extended life on web through

social media photos & YouTube videos

What Cheer Day: Expanded Visitor Reach

An Occupied Room

What Cheer Day Successes

Non-linear , simultaneous action

Event Successes

Has inspired partner organizations to try this approach

Images courtesy Newport Restoration Foundation.

Common Concerns• African American history challenging to

represent• Some interpretation aspects are works-in-

progress• Covering event expenses: is it worth it?

Risks

Stamp Act • Public space: can

visitors & interpreters suspend disbelief?

• Uncertain about public reaction

• Staging a protest and hanging an effigy in the wake of Ferguson

What Cheer Day

• Messing up the house• No guided tours;

unclear docent role• Unscripted,

“eventless” day• Event w/o John Brown

Stamp Act Concerns

Stamp Act Protest: The modern location creates safety concerns.

Stamp Act Concerns

Stamp Act Protest: Attempting to interpret something that has not been done in our area. Sparked concern for how the public would react.

What Cheer Day Risks & Concerns

Interpretation or Instruction?

What Cheer Day

Risky “Living”

Common Risks Going Forward• How authentic can we safely be?

• Will interpreters be interested again?• Do interpreters work well together?• Is another day of occupation interesting?• Are staff beyond event organizers engaged?• For other organizations: how do you build

relationships with interpreters/re-enactors you can trust?

History Space Workshops

• “Professional development for public history practitioners.”

• Guides new and experienced interpreters in building appropriate period wardrobes• Secondary benefit: Interpreters

gain familiarity with each other and establish better interactions.

• Helps expand interpretive and improvisational skills

• Use our collections to build personas—both library resources and textiles

History Space Talks

• Free talks create a better audience-- authors, teachers, kids

• Material culture knowledge creates better consumers of history, museums and living history

• Expands our mission and reach

"An educated consumer is our best customer."

--Sy Syms

Take Risks

Recommended Museum Risks

• Be Specific–Use your locations as

inspiration for your interpretation and events

• Trust Your Interpreters– But you’ll need good ones

• Think Beyond Happy History– Interpret events not usually

represented

Recommended Interpreter Risks

• Be Plain, Dirty or Poor–History wasn’t all

pretty

• Be a Bad Guy!– They can be fun

• Try a Risky Character–Not everyone was

nice