Virginia Holocaust Museum Analysis

Even without stepping into the museums themselves, an initial sense of what they are about can be felt. A waterwheel turns across Historic Tredegar, repurposed from Tredegar Iron Works that overlooks the James River. The Virginia Holocaust Museum provides a stark contrast as it blends in with other multi-story buildings in downtown Richmond, easy to overlook even with the parking lot that provides a sign for the museum. The museums both represent pivotal moments in history, whether specific to the United States or globally, provide a generally linear walkthrough throughout the events, and offer a variety of viewpoints. The Civil War museum at Historic Tredegar showcased the two sides that divided and united the United States—the Union and Confederacy, but another side historically neglected, the slaves, and to a lesser extent, women and children. This is shown in the polished and methodical approach the curator uses for the viewers.
Two timelines, each displayed on both sides of the path reinforced understanding of the War, with the one on the left opening up to mini cinemas while the one on the right was more open ended and interactive. The notes and floorplan maps illustrate this point further. The right side displayed miscellaneous items and possessions such as rifles, medic kits, test plates for cannons, and interactive maps with pull-out …show more content…
It appropriately sets a dark mood upon entering, with the cracked glass windows and the sloped walkway that shifts into a wood and brick setting. The use of materials such as iron, wire, stucco, tiling, wood, and brick makes the viewer feel uneasy, especially when stepping into the sparsely furnished cinema next to the entrance with two or three rows of plastic seats facing a small flat screen TV. Before getting to walk around, visitors watch a dated video of the accounts of the Holocaust survivors, including some that came to