Weapons and Change: Bridging the Gap between Populism and Historical Significance at the Frazier International History Museum

542 t, e Rk\. S 3= 3 39= &» r l. 332 ' I 69 n P 5 7. a S 8 k 4 e. S€3 S fif *' 11* 1 fu: 11 S % M{* g - The Battle of Balaclava,October 15, 1854. By David Hayes,2003. COURTESYOFTH E FRAZIERINTERNATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM. Weapons and Change Bridging the Gap between Populism and Historical Significance at tbe Frazier International History Museum Matthew E. Stanley ccording to historian Jeremy Black,military history is foremost ' a narrative of chanze." 1 Perhaps nowhere is this axiom truer than in the relationship between warfare,weapons,and society. Combining both popular presentation and academic interpretation, The Frazier International History Museum documents military history' s " narrative" by focusing on a key element of " change, the evolution of firearms. Located in the heart of Louisville' s old tobacco district and founded by arms collecting philanthropist Owsley Brown Frazier,the museum that bears his name boasts a wide range of historic arms and weaponry that spans a millennium and several continents and has become a fixture of the city's West Main Street preservation effort and downtown renaissance since its founding in spring 2004:From its collection of rare arms and artifacts to its currieulum based educational opportunities, The Frazier,which works in collaboration with Great Britain' s Royal Armouries, is appealing on interpretative, educational, and programming levels. The museum's true value, however, lies in its ability to sitliate guns successfully into a broader his- 199.*.. 1, »» torical context. 40 # 11* 29" M Ihe twenty thousand square ill!* foot Frazier serves one of its i stated purposes by proving beneficial to both educators and The Frazier International History Museum, 829 West Main Street, students. Eyepopping ,interacLouisville ,Kentucky. COURTESY OF THE FRAZIER INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM. tive exhibits are certain to appeal to both elementary and secondary teachers and students. Live presentations,multimedia activities, and educational programming advance handson learning in an effort to " bring history to life." Ihe school group friendly " Education Center," for instance,features historyrelated worksheets,dual eight by ten flat screens,and a host of multimedia projects and puzzles. At one StatiOn, students can personalize coat of WINTER 2007 57 WEAPONS AND CHANGE arms rubbings,or shoot guns at a virtual firing range. Moreover,The Frazier strains to appeal to elementary age students by featuring a " Milseum Kid: s Club." Concepts that include a collaborative fencing club and tin interactive dragon exhibit exemplify a peculiar mode of public outreach in a museum j CHIEF ( AERON 1 MC:£ APACI' lE. f : oa.. ChiefGeronimo, Apache 1899). By Elbridge Ayer Burbank ( 18581949 ). COURTESY OF THE F RAZIER INTERNATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM. that claims to be an academic attraction and cultural institution . With its many video games, big screen televisions, and costumed " interpreters," including Annie Oakley and Vlad the Impaler,the question becomes not whether educators will exploit The Frazier,but what students will actually learn. Still, The Frazier looks to incorporate serious historical scholarship in a number ofways. As ofMay 2006,The Frazier had been visited by more than twenty thousand students actively involved in curriculumbased field studies, as well as a number of academics. The Frazier is also sure to keep serious military history enthusiasts interested by featuring revolving exhibits, brought onloan to Louisville from its satellite museums in Britain. Owsley Brown Frizier's institution also aspires to be a forum for scholarly thought and debate. Despite its enthusiastic trappings , for example,the " Great Hall" has hosted a range of keynote speakers, including Victor Davis Hanson. By appealing to both buffs and more serious scholars, Ihe Frazier not only makes good on its promised commitment tc, a diverse range of cultural and historical topics, but also attracts visitors of various backgrounds and intents. Gun enthusiasts in particular will find much to admire, as The Frazier boasts a plethora of fairly rare firearms and other historic weaponry. Collecting fever struck Frazier at an carly age,as evidenced by the impressive nature of what began as his personal collection.3 Distinguished exhibits include a .44 caliber flintlock musket allegedly presented to President George Washington in 1791 and a model 1892 Winchester carbine rifle attributed to president and outspoken firearms advocate Teddy Roosevelt.4 Ihe fivefoot long Washington...