The Exhibits of Science and Technology at the Smithsonian Institution

Summary

The expanded title of this Japanese-language article highlights Eiju Matsumoto's focus on the historical background and present activities of the National Museum of American History. An English abstract preceding the article briefly describes the composition of the Smithsonian, the types of exhibits that are presented, and the Smithsonian's policy of not avoiding controversial themes, citing the Enola Gay exhibit plan as one example. In addition, the abstract presents the author's primary focus on the evolution of exhibits at the National Museum of American History as shifting from chronological to social contextual ones since the museum's opening in 1964; the author names two 1990's exhibits, "Information Age" and "Science in American Life," as evidence of that trend. Matsumoto concludes his article by suggesting that Japan's science and technology exhibits should learn from the Smithsonian's exhibits.

Subject

• Smithson, James 1765-1829
• National Museum of American History (U.S.) (NMAH)
• Science in American Life (Exhibition) (1994: Washington, D.C.)
• Enola Gay (Exhibition) (1995: Washington, D.C.)
• Information Age: People, Information and Technology (Exhibition) (1990: Washington, D.C.)

Category

Smithsonian History Bibliography

Notes

• Eiju Matsumoto was a visiting fellow at the National Museum of American History from 1993 to 1994.
• Eight photographs and illustrations, including one of James Smithson, accompany the article.

Contained within

Journal of the Japanese Museology Society 20: 1-2 (Journal)

Contact information

Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu

Date

1995

Topic

• Curators
• Controversies
• Exhibitions
• Museums
• Museum techniques
• Museum exhibits

Physical description

Number of pages: 18; Page numbers: 40-57

Full Record

View Full Record