Historical Site Evaluation

Paper: Your Evaluation should be seven to ten double-spaced pages in length. Your evaluations should analyze the "history" that is presented at the site.  I do not want you to write a descriptive walk through of the museum. Instead I want you to evaluate the museum's presentation of history.  Did the site present history effectively?  Did it place the topic and sub-topics in their historical context?  What historical interpretations did the site present?  Did that interpretation seem to be informed by the work of academic historians? What audience was the site trying to reach?  How well do you think the exhibit was geared toward that audience?  What parts of the presentation did you find effective?  What was ineffective or needed improvement?  What would you do to improve the exhibit? 

Your paper should be guided by a thesis--a single argument about the site that the rest of the paper works to develop. Your observations from the site serve as the proof for your argument. 

If you feel unsure about how academic historians interpret a particular topic, you might try searching the library database America, History, and Life for recent book reviews that include the topic presented at the site, and/or consult a recent American history textbook on the subject.
I've also posted a review of Hampton National Historic Site submitted by a former HIST 705 student, Kevin Allor (with his permission), that you can use as a model: Hampton Review

Presentation: Each student will give a brief (10 minute) introduction to their historical site that covers the highlights of their paper. 

List of Possible Sites:
You do not have to confine your choice to this list, but please get my approval for any sites not listed below.  In addition, I welcome suggestions that we might add to the list.  Remember to evaluate the site website for the historical site if one is available.

Babe Ruth Museum (Baltimore)

Baltimore Civil War Museum (Baltimore)

Baltimore Maritime Museum  (Baltimore)

Baltimore Museum of Industry (Baltimore)

Baltimore Museum of Public Works (Baltimore)

Baltimore Public Works Museum (Baltimore)

Baltimore Streetcar Museum, Inc. (Baltimore)

Benjamin Banneker Museum (Oella)

B & O Museum (Baltimore)

Flag House & Star-Spangled Banner Museum (Baltimore)

Fort McHenry National Monument and Historical Shrine (Baltimore)

Frederick Douglass Museum (Washington, D.C.)

Holocaust Memorial Museum (Washington D.C.)

Homewood House Museum (Baltimore)

Irish Shrine and Railroad Workers Museum (Baltimore)

Jewish Museum of Maryland (Baltimore)

Maryland Historical Society Museum (Baltimore)

Maryland Maritime Museum (St. Michaels)

Mount Clare Museum House (Baltimore)

National Cryptologic Museum (Fort Meade)

National Great Blacks in Wax Museum (Baltimore)

National Museum of Dentistry (Baltimore)

Smithsonian Museum of American History (Washington, D.C.)

U.S.S. Constellation (Baltimore)