Interpreting Energy at Museums and Historic Sites

Human beings can mitigate climate change by changing how we use energy for heat, light, movement, and production. Stewards of heritage sites and collections can engage the public to raise awareness about the cultural and socioeconomic reasons for past choices that have contributed to climate change. Historic places can inspire different ways of thinking about transitioning to different energy sources and question the doctrine that high energy use is necessary for progress. Public interpretation can expose the vast energy infrastructure and the impact of energy extraction, production, and use on place. This book synthesizes science with the humanities to identify different kinds of energy resources in many historic collections or sites and supplements current calls for economic and policy changes to prepare for shared stewardship of our future.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 26 February 2023
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Experts unanimously concur that human actions can significantly mitigate climate change by altering our energy consumption patterns for heating, lighting, mobility, and production. Stewards of heritage sites and collections can effectively engage the public at the grassroots level to raise awareness about the cultural and socioeconomic factors that have contributed to climate change.

This book aims to assist cultural institutions in identifying strategies to interpret new stories through historic places and resources, particularly when staff members have committed to "going green." Without a place-based context, discussions about energy often revolve solely around scientific considerations, neglecting the human experience. By reminding us of our past practices and values related to energy production and consumption, historic places can inspire alternative ways of thinking about transitioning to different energy sources and challenge the notion that high energy use is essential for progress.

Public interpretation can unveil the vast energy infrastructure and its impact on the surrounding environment. Historic sites provide localized contexts for visitors to engage with and critically analyze the processes and consequences of energy development, such as in a maritime village. This book synthesizes scientific knowledge with the humanities beyond mainstream media and politicized spaces to identify diverse energy resources in various historic collections or sites. It complements ongoing calls for economic and policy changes, as stewards of historic places, we must actively contribute to preparing for shared stewardship of our future during this critical "all hands-on deck" moment.

Weight: 399g
Dimension: 256 x 177 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538150542