3 (1995), 1039.ġ4 Thelen, “History after the Enola Gay Controversy,” 1031.ġ5 Yakel, “Museums, Management, Media, and Memory,” 291.ġ6 Martin Harwit, An Exhibit Denied: Lobbying the History of the Enola Gay (New York: Copernicus, 1996), 27.ġ7 Kohn, “History and the Culture Wars,” 1039.ġ9 Yakel, “Museums, Management, Media, and Memory,” 291.Ģ0 Otto Mayr, “The Enola Gay Fiasco: History, Politics, and the Museum,” Technology and Culture 39, no. Kohn, “History and the Culture Wars: The Case of the Smithsonian Institution’s Enola Gay Exhibition,” The Journal of American History 82, no.
Moreover, the conflicting management styles by Smithsonian Secretaries Adams and Heyman and constant changing in support for the Enola Gay exhibition resulted in great difficulties in managing the NASM, resulting in Harwit’s resignation in May 1995, publicised in the New York Times.ġ Martin Harwit, An Exhibit Denied: Lobbying the History of the Enola Gay (New York: Copernicus, 1996) 199.Ģ David Thelen, “History after the Enola Gay Controversy: An Introduction,” The Journal of American History 82, no 3 (1995) 1031.ģ Philadelphia Inquirer, January 31 1995, A2, in David Thelen, “History after the Enola Gay Controversy,” 1029.Ĥ The Smithsonian Institution, “The Museums and Zoo,” The Smithsonian Institution,, (accessed April 1, 2013).ĥ Roger D Launius, “American Memory, Culture Wars, and the Challenge of Presenting Science and Technology in a National Museum,” The Public Historian 29, no 1 (2007) 22.Ħ Elizabeth Yakel, “Museums, Management, Media, and Memory: Lessons from the Enola Gay Exhibition,” Libraries & Culture 35, no 2 (2000) 280.Ĩ Launius, “American Memory, Culture Wars, and the Challenge of Presenting Science and Technology in a National Museum,” 23.ĩ National Air and Space Museum, 20 U.S.C., s 77(a) 1998.ġ0 Richard H. Recognising the Enola Gay’s pivotal role in twentieth-century warfare and world history, Harwit sought to exhibit the aircraft in an exhibition commemorating her mission “soberly and without histrionics or fanfare.” Nonetheless, it has been recognised that Harwit may have been too personally involved in the creation of the exhibit script and the exhibition planning process, leading to the exhibit’s ultimate demise. Harwit encouraged the extension of historical research, fostering scientific and historical study to widen the intellectual content of the museum. Chosen over a retired US Air Force General and historian, Harwit’s controversial appointment was made in order to address broader issues of community interest, moving aviation and spaceflight into the public domain. The NASM mission states: “The National Air and Space Museum shall memorialize the national development of aviation and space flight collect, preserve, and display aeronautical and space flight equipment of historical significance serve as a repository for scientific equipment and data pertaining to the development of aviation and space flight and provide educational material for the historical study of aviation and space flight.” The NASM website provides links to information about past and current exhibitions.Īn astrophysicist from Cornell University, Harwit was appointed by Smithsonian Secretary, Adams, in 1987 as Head of the National Air and Space Museum. Udvar-Hazy Center, which houses the Boeing B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay. Located in Washington D.C., the museum consists of two display facilities: The National Mall building and the Steven F. Officially opened in 1976, the modern museum houses the world’s largest collection of historic air and spacecraft, and is the most visitied museum in the world. The National Air and Space Museum (NASM) finds its origins in the National Air Museum, established by Congress in 1946 in response to extensive lobbying by World War II veteran groups.