Over the past fifty years, the presence of history museums has become increasingly prominent as museums have learnt to operate more efficiently. However, despite the apparent improvements, the effects of these changes have been questioned. In the article, “Fifty Years of Changes in America’s History Museums”, author Martin E. Sullivan (2007) discusses the changes in practices in history museums that have taken place over the last fifty years. He recognizes that the revision to educational systems, declining rates of museum attendance and stiff competition with other leisure attractions, have posed themselves as problematic areas for history museums. Sullivan (2007) theorizes that there are three possible explanations for the development of history museums despite such challenges. …show more content…
He acknowledges that federal involvement has had its advantages as well as disadvantages. Second, the increasing and evolving level of interpretation of American history in museums has affected the way museums function. Lastly, the prevalence of technology has had its effects on visitors as well as on tools that serve to complement museum instruction. The purpose of this article was to focus attention on the changes that are happening in the museum industry, in order to point out the greater impact that they will have on the museum institution in the long run. Sullivan (2007) concludes the article by asserting that museums face a bleak future. They will have to overcome major issues such as declining visitations from students due to academic reforms that have resulted in the trivialization of the role and importance of history in America as well as the increased number of museums, which has caused a form of overcrowding. The changes that history museums have experienced in the past fifty years, continues to have an impact till