Apr-Jun 2026 | Why Are Museums So Boring? Exhibiting History at the Broomfield Depot Museum

BY DAVID ALLISON
History and Museum Supervisor, City and County of Broomfield

I have a confession to make. I do not like most history museums. This confession comes with no small measure of guilt, because I happen to work at a history museum, am a historian, and love to teach people about the past. 

Unfortunately, far too many history museums fall in love with their own content and consequently into the trap of assuming that their audience will be as enthralled with it as they are. Many history museums make the mistake of merely explaining what an item is or providing a “books on the walls”-style of exhibit text panels to try to tell the story of whatever is being presented in an exhibit. 

These sorts of displays do not engage audiences, and are a sure fire way to lose people’s interest.

On the other hand, most science (and children’s) museums have great signage. A few years back I visited COSI, a science museum in Columbus, Ohio. I took a photo of the sign below because I was so impressed with it. 

This sign has an eye-catching header and transitions to an interesting and short explication. Better yet, this sign has some textured components so that guests can use more of their senses and are thus able to more firmly entrench the concepts presented into their minds because of the unique experience. In addition, the English text is paired with Spanish to be more inclusive.

Why have science museums become places of innovation in the museum world? Part of the answer is in the subject matter itself. Science is flashy and experiential, so it lends itself more easily to demonstrations and images that capture audiences’ attention. Also, science museums are generally more willing than history museums to use evaluation to find out what their audiences want.

History can be just as interesting as science, but the bottom line is that the subjects need to be presented in interesting, engaging ways so people can experience information in ways that bring to life the stories of real people through fun and entertaining techniques.

Some history museums have taken a cue from their counterparts—science museums, amusement parks and other customer service venues. In doing so, they have made themselves more marketable to a wider audience. Research from Reach Advisors, a museum evaluation company based in California, has shown that people “hire” museums for fun, social experiences with their families and friends. Learning is a happy side-effect. History museums should certainly try to teach people something, but if they can’t even keep their attention, their exhibits risk becoming as dead as the people whose stories they tell.

At the Broomfield Depot Museum, we (myself and our Curator Nikki Walsh) try to create engaging, historically-rich exhibits that tell important stories for the Broomfield community. Until July, we have the “Creatures of Fame” exhibit on display. In Broomfield’s history, a few furry and hooved friends—Shep the Turnpike Dog and Champagne the Percheron, most notably—have captured hearts and stolen the spotlight. “Creatures of Fame” celebrates these unforgettable animals whose stories remind us of the joy, laughter and love our four-legged and hooved friends bring.

Then, starting Saturday, July 11, you can catch the “Moments that Made US” exhibit, which commemorates key moments in Colorado’s history for the Sesquisemiquincentennial (the 250th anniversary of the United States and the 150th anniversary of the state). We have added content specific to Broomfield (the 65th anniversary of the City, and the 25th anniversary of the City and County) to this exhibit from History Colorado. 

Through both of these exhibits, we aim to both engage and inspire you, and we hope that you make some time on a Saturday to visit the historic Depot at 2201 W. 10th Ave. The summer is a particularly lovely time to bring a picnic to Zang Spur Park and visit the museum while you’re here!