The Legacy of Historic Sites: Interpreting African American History

The history of slavery and its legacy of racism are difficult parts of the national historic narrative. Historic sites have an opportunity to play a role in the current discussion of race in America, by offering historical context and by engaging visitors in a fuller portrayal of the topic. Over the past 30 years, scholars have compiled a loose corpus of guidance on how to interpret the legacy and history of slavery at historic sites. Yet these recommendations do not appear to have had a measurable impact on how the topic is addressed. Pulling together and distilling the various recommendations allows them to be organized into an applicable checklist, which focuses on interpretation, programming, and community engagement. These guidelines are analyzed and tested against four historic house museums, which demonstrate a range of ownership, experiences, and resources. The result is aimed at assisting sites in developing and/or refining their interpretive programs.