New Western History Doesn't Have to Hurt: Revisionism at the Buffalo Bill Museum

In early exhibition planning, Buffalo Bill Museum curatorial staff hoped to center a reinstallation around William F. Cody while reflecting thinking influenced by study of New Western History. Gallery planning included consultation with historical experts including a Lakota historian and Wild West S...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Public historian Vol. 31; no. 4; pp. 77 - 79
Main Author Winchester, Juti A.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Santa Barbara University of California Press 01.11.2009
University of California Press Books Division
Subjects
American history
Curators
Historians
Historical revisionism
History instruction
Museum exhibits
Museums
Native Americans
Native North Americans
Sitting Bull
United States history
Westerns
Western states
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Summary:In early exhibition planning, Buffalo Bill Museum curatorial staff hoped to center a reinstallation around William F. Cody while reflecting thinking influenced by study of New Western History. Gallery planning included consultation with historical experts including a Lakota historian and Wild West Show Indian descendant. One section of the museum was set aside to feature a Lakota point of view concerning Indian participation in Buffalo Bill's Wild West. Visitor studies regarding the plan showed the museum's board and staff that taking a broader approach to Cody's life and including a Lakota voice would not engender public scandal but instead would pique visitor interest.
ISSN:0272-3433
1533-8576
DOI:10.1525/tph.2009.31.4.77