Historic house museums are more than time capsules of architecture and décor: They are vibrant portals into human experience, holding visceral connections to the complexities of the past. Preservationist and public historian Ken Turino examines how these historic houses serve as unique repositories of personal narrative but also cultural and social history—lives lived, decisions made, and cultural shifts textbooks can only describe.

With the traditional model of the historic house at a crossroads, Turino argues, ensuring these museums remain not just preserved but powerfully alive requires tapping their potential to transform people's thinking about history. Sharing examples from sites around the world, he explores efforts to reimagine these institutions for new generations, confront difficult histories, engage with contemporary social issues, and experiment with new forms of storytelling and community partnership.

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