Course Description
An examination of the history and practices of public history in the nation’s capital. Students will study the history of major cultural institutions in Washington, D.C., and interact with public history professionals to review contemporary issues in the field. Course meets in Washington, D.C., as part of a summer program.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
In addition to completing the readings and assignments required
of undergraduates, graduate students will be asked to: (1) write
an additional book or exhibition review; (2) complete a 20-page
research paper on an issue in public history; and (3) lead one
site visit at a D.C. area exhibition, park, or monument.
Athena Title
Public History Washington D.C.
Prerequisite
Any 2000-level HIST course
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1) Students who complete this course will develop an understanding of how institutions have shaped public history. 2.) Students will learn about methods of presenting history to a broader public through direct contact with professionals in the field. 3.) Students will learn to critically examine the ways that history is presented in public.
Topical Outline
Week 1: The Development of Cultural Institutions in Washington, D.C.: The National Mall U.S. Capitol National Archives Library of Congress Week 2: The Role of the Public Museum and the Development of the Smithsonian Institution: The National Museum of American History Museum of the American Indian The National Portrait Gallery Museum of African American History Week 3: Historic Houses, Parks, and Monuments: Mount Vernon The National Trust Woodrow Wilson House Museum Gettysburg Battlefield Park The Lincoln, Vietnam, and World War II Memorials