Abstract
Historic site museums need to take into account that heritage is not an attribute of places, but is a process that reinforces identities, values, and relationships in the present. As such, the practices of museums as well as visitors might be considered ‘heritage work’ which serves social purposes in the present. This article addresses the ways that the Museum of African American History in Nantucket, Massachusetts, negotiates between competing notions of heritage. An analysis of heritage work at this museum illustrates how some museum practices reinforce notions of objectified heritage and ‘authentic’ portrayals of the past while other practices encourage personal heritage experiences and meaningful relationships between community members and the Museum. The theories of heritage and museum experience developed by recent heritage studies researchers create a theoretical frame through which to interpret the practices of this museum.
Published Version
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