History museums are educational institutions that strive to make the American past accessible, useful, and meaningful to the millions who view their exhibitions, read their catalogs, and participate in public programs.

Museum exhibitions often celebrate and commemorate the past and, in doing so, create a collective memory that helps provide Americans with a common understanding of that past. Equally important is a museum's obligation to explore all aspects of the American experience.

History museums interpret difficult, unpleasant, or controversial episodes, not out of any desire to embarrass, be unpatriotic, or cause pain, but out of a responsibility to convey a fuller, more inclusive history. By examining incidents ripe with complexities and ambiguities, museums hope to stimulate greater understanding of the historical forces and choices that shaped America.

Museums make the greatest contribution to public education when they provide audiences with tools to both celebrate and critically analyze American history. Ultimately, museums mount these kinds of exhibitions because they have confidence in the American public's tolerance for candor and its appreciation for important historical stories.

Spencer Crew, Director

Lonnie Bunch, Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs