The “Stuff” of Museums: Collections, Interactivity, and a Call to Action

People love stuff. It speaks to them; it reminds them of special moments or people in their lives. They collect it and they love to tell stories about it and show it off. Museums’ deepest roots are in the stuff of collections. But over the last 200 years, the value and importance of collections to effective science interpretation (including exhibits, education, and outreach) has waxed and waned. It is clear from recent studies that using collections in concert with media and interactivity in exhibits and programs yields an extremely effective visitor experience. The recent work of Reach Advisors, published in the May/June 2015 issue of Dimensions, illustrates the impact of collections on people’s emotional memories of museums, and underscores the value of combining objects with hands-on experiences (Wilkening, 2015).

Today, many natural history museums and science centers are melding collections-based and interactive approaches to interpretation, making collections and related research more accessible and engaging to the public. In a time of great global change, collections can be not only an important part of a memorable museum experience but also a powerful tool for inspiring the public to act on critical issues.