Behind the exhibit

"As part of the Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press Artefacts Book Series, Behind the Exhibit: Displaying Science and Technology at World's Fairs and Museums in the Twentieth Century brings together museum curators and historians who tackle the problem of how to display science, technology, and history to the public in ways that engage as well as educate. The case studies within show how, during the course of nearly a century, world's fairs and museums became public spaces for the representation of scientific discovery and technological innovation in relation to national rhetoric, use of history, and the challenging idea of modernity. The essays cover how science and technology have been presented at world's fairs, exhibitions and museums in the United States, Europe, Russia and Japan from the end of the nineteenth century to 1970. What emerges is a study of the tension between basic science and technological applications, the multi-layered role of history, the appearance and disappearance of artifacts, and the search for a balance between entertainment and education."--Provided by publisher.