Within These Walls

The objective of this project was to “enliven” the largest artifact at NMAH, a partially-reconstructed two-and-a-half story house, rebuilt inside the museum. The house and the exhibition that surrounds the home tell the stories of five families who lived there over 200 years and experienced history firsthand, from the 1800's debates over ending slavery to homefront efforts to win World War II. Through a new program of projected "shadow" figures, images and quotes, the exhibition now brings life and movement to bring to life some of the important ways ordinary people have been part of the great changes and events in American history.