United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Then and Now

Checking out websites on the Wayback Machine was an interesting and sometimes funny task to see how the Internet and websites have grown over the years.  One site I visited from 1997, discoveryplace.org, gave me a good giggle because of its simple graphics and "retro" feel.  The site I decided to browse more thoroughly is the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (http://www.ushmm.org/).  The first snapshot of this site is from April 3, 1997 and it definitely shows it. (http://web.archive.org/web/19971210170005/http://www.ushmm.org/)

The simple layout against a white backdrop does little to attract one's interest, however, at this time the site already housed archives of photos, reports, and an online exhibition of the "Nazi Olympics, Berlin 1936".  At this time, the abilities of this site are above par compared to most, but still behind larger sites such as the Library of Congress site in the same year.  In 1998, after five years of USHMM's opening, its website adds more archives and online exhibitions for its visitors, but accessing the museum records is still a hassle because of the query system it had in place which does not allow simple browsing of the records.  In 1999-2000, the site begins to look more like a modern site.  The USHMM site added an attractive background and many more options to explore its site such as a registry of Jewish Holocaust survivors, a center for advanced Holocaust studies, and a library including research help, allowing for easy browsing.  Through the 2000's USHMM's site is changed on a regular basis to reflect the news and different events.  Different front page photos appear regularly, and information on the Museum's attractions is updated constantly unlike before.  The layout during this time is more user friendly and one could spent hours going through all the information the site provides.
Today, http://www.ushmm.org/ is a different animal completely from its beginnings in 1997.  The front page and every other page of the site is visually pleasing and easy to navigate. The site can be translated into at least 13 different languages, the contents are detailed and numerous, and the front page offers stories that people visiting the site may be interested in.  Also, the site today does more than just focus on the Holocaust, it also gives information and stories of genocide in other places, stories on religious tolerance, and articles about human rights violations.  Another useful tool is a wealth of information for teachers to educate their students on the subject as well as guidance and information on anyone doing research. 

From looking at this site from over the years it is easy to see the benefits of digital history and how it has enriched history.  The ability to access all USHMM has to offer over the Internet and how it can educate people on the atrocities of the Holocaust and genocide is one example of how digital history can make a profound impact.

History Today

Trying to define digital history is not as simple as one might think.  There is no one basic definition, and to me, digital history brings many questions about the direction of teaching and learning history.  Unlike some, the digital age has not been easy or natural.  My love of holding a book in my hands and perusing a museum far outweighs looking at a computer screen.  With that said, history and our understanding of it is changing with new technology constantly.  It is important to move with the times and embrace it, instead of fighting against it.  History on the web will never replace those books and museums, but it does give the opportunity for history to reach a larger audience and for that audience to experience things and places they may never get to otherwise.
The vast amount of information a person can pull up on a subject just through Google is astounding.  This can be a positive and a negative.  It is great to see the how easy someone can do research on a subject, however, how reliable is the information?  Anyone can post on the web and put information out there for others to view.  This has brought about a new group of amateur historians (some accurate, some not so much).  What good is the information if it is not reliable and how can reliable sources be found amongst the unreliable?  To solve this issue one must sort through the quagmire of sites and papers to find the more accurate scholarly sites and journals.
One astounding achievement the web and computers have given historians and history buffs is the digitization of archives ranging from journals, records, magazines, to pictures, documents, and countless other items.  What would normally take a trip to some town hall or library can easily be accessed via the web in seconds.  The Library of Congress has digitized much of its collection granting access to anyone who may be interested instead of only to those with the proper authority to enter its halls.  For me, this is the crowning achievement of digital history because the information and knowledge that once had a limited audience can now reach anyone who may be curious about a particular subject.
Although there are many pros and cons to the digitization of history, we and future generations can choose the track on how to manage the information for the better.  Computers and the web will never replace those original documents, texts, photos, and so forth, but if used properly digital history is and will become more of a vital tool for those curious about the past.