Historic house museum

A historic house museum is a house of historic significance that is preserved as a museum. These special homes show us how people lived long ago by displaying furniture and objects just as they were used in the past. Historic house museums follow strict rules to make sure they stay true to history, often meeting standards set by groups like the International Council of Museums.

These museums can be the homes of famous writers, turned into special places called writer's home museums so visitors can learn about their lives. Sometimes, they are called "memory museums" because they hold memories of the people who once lived there, filled with their own belongings and objects. This helps keep things feeling real and authentic.

Some museums focus on the person who lived there or the important role the house played in history. Others might be rebuilt to show stories about a certain time, place, or group of people. The story of the people who lived in the house guides how these museums are set up. Some even bring in modern artists to add new ideas and perspectives to the old houses. Through all these different ways, visitors can learn about social history and imagine life in the past.

Philosophical and ideological influences

The idea of a historic house museum comes from a part of history called social history. Social history focuses on the lives and ways of living of people. It became very popular in the middle of the twentieth century among people who wanted to learn about everyday life in the past, rather than just about leaders and big events.

Because of this interest, the idea of "open-air museums" became well-known. These museums have people dressed up to show how communities lived in earlier times. They often use large wooden buildings or outdoor spaces that look just like they did back then, making the experience feel real.

Collective memory

Collective memory is sometimes used in historic house museums. The idea of collective memory started with a philosopher and sociologist named Maurice Halbwachs in his book "On Collective Memory" from 1950. He studied how people and places help us remember things together, not just by ourselves. He also looked at how our memories are shaped by groups and society.

One example is the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Japan. It was restored to help people remember important events, even though it also includes happy festivals. Collective memory isn’t just in houses or buildings; it can also be in outdoor spaces, especially after big events like wars.

When creating collective memory in historic house museums, it’s important to include everyone’s story. For example, in the Southern United States, some museums are old plantations where enslaved people lived. If these museums only tell the story of the people who owned the plantation and ignore the enslaved people, it can create a misleading memory. Some museums have started to change their stories to include everyone, which is important for understanding history correctly.

Authenticity

When we restore a historic house to turn it into a museum, we need to think about how true it is to the original. The house should look and feel just like it did long ago, as if time stopped.

To decide if a historic house is really authentic, there are three important steps. First, we need proof that tells us about the house, and this proof must come from someone we can trust. Next, we compare what we see in the house to what we already know about it. Finally, we use documents and other evidence to make sure everything matches up. These steps help us choose which parts of the house’s history to show visitors.

Historic houses in the United States

The idea of preserving historic homes began in the 1850s, led by people who wanted to protect American history, especially stories about the first U.S. president, General George Washington. Since 1850, when America's first historic site was established in New York, many have worked to save important buildings. The popularity of these historic house museums grew in the 1970s and 1980s, especially around the time of the Revolutionary War’s bicentennial, which made people more aware of their history.

These museums often have small teams and limited money. Many are run by volunteers and don’t always meet the strict standards of big museums. A study in 1990 showed that most historic house museums didn’t have full-time staff, and many operated with less than $50,000 each year. Some famous sites like Mount Vernon and Colonial Williamsburg attract over a million visitors a year, while many smaller museums see fewer than 5,000 visitors.

These museums are special because the buildings themselves are part of the museum’s collection. Some have many original furnishings, while others use pieces from the same time period or even replicas based on old records. Because these homes have changed over time, museum staff must decide which history to share. Some museums show different time periods in different rooms, while others focus on one important era and restore the home to look like it did back then.

Organizations

Many groups around the world work to protect, fix up, or share the stories of important historic homes. Some of these groups include:

• Historic House Trust, New York City
• Historic Houses Association, UK
• Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales, Sydney
• Historic Hudson Valley, Tarrytown, NY
• Historic New England, Boston, MA
• National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, Washington, D.C.
• National Trust for Historic Preservation, Washington, D.C.
• National Trusts of Australia, Canberra
• Save Our Heritage Organisation, San Diego, CA
• Treasure Houses of England, UK