The Truman Museum in Kansas City, MO, has recently completed a $22.5 million renovation designed to "transform the institution," according to the Kansas City Star. The Museum's directors, rightfully alarmed when they discovered that almost no one under the age of 50* was visiting the Museum, decided to upgrade it with "substance, design and technology" in order to "draw as much out of the audience" as possible.

Initial plans to add computer stations and keyboards were scrapped: "We didn't want the museum to become a plaything," said Clay Bauske, museum curator, according to the Star. Instead, the Museum built "decision theaters," one that puts participants in Truman's shoes, figuratively -- although standing in a big pair of shoes would have been a nice touch -- as the President must decide on the spot whether or not to recognize the new state of Israel and desegregate the armed forces; the second, attempting to simulate the intimidation of the McCarthy era, forces visitors to sit in uncomfortable chairs, under glaring lights, while disembodied voices demand their opinions on the First Amendment.

"I'll be very interested to see how the public reacts," said Larry Hackman, Truman library director, according to the Star.

Interestingly, no "decision theater" was contructed around Truman's command to drop two atomic bombs on Japanese cities during WWII, though there is an exhibit about it.

*For those who don't know, Harry S Truman was President of the U.S. from 1945-1953. [11/11/2001]

February 10, 2012