The field of public history has expanded and been revolutionized by the introduction of new and innovative technologies and methods. What used to be provided in a physical exhibit can now be created as a virtual presence that reaches far more of the population. These new technologies and methods significantly contribute to various digital public history projects created today.

The digital exhibit’s prevalence and use are among the most popular and explicit representations of the technology and method that have recently influenced public history work.  Using Omeka Classic or Omeka S, many physical sites and universities have utilized the Omeka platform to create a digital collection of their holdings. This allows physical sites to provide resources to a larger audience, and even digitizing items that may not necessarily be in Omeka allows many to utilize them in their work. The digitization of artifacts, papers, and other sources not only shares the importance of the items to the broader world but also allows others to create their own projects. That makes sites like Omeka and WordPress crucial because of their relatively easy format and usability, allowing historians and those interested in history to share their work with everyone. Omeka emphasizes and reinforces the importance of metadata, which includes various essential details about the artifacts. This metadata provides the user with origin information, the original creator or contributor, and the year the item was created. This is extremely important in maintaining the integrity of the research and allowing the user to explore the items further. WordPress acts as a form of self-expression for historian to speak about their work and engage with others. Similarly, public history projects can utilize mapping software such as Kepler.gl or data visualization software such as Voyant to share their research, but present it in a way that allows the user a far better understanding than just reading the information. It creates broader connections that further highlight the importance of the material.

Another key method that has influenced the work of public history recently is the use of crowdsourcing and the greater emphasis on collaboration.  Many of the world’s largest museums, particularly in the United States, such as the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian, utilize crowdfunding projects to allow the general public to interact with their work directly. Still, it also solves some of the burden experienced by these institutions. Beyond crowdsourcing, the connected nature of the internet and most modern social media platforms allows for even more connection than ever before. You can contact someone on LinkedIn, X, or Facebook to share common interests and collaborate on a new and essential project.

Finally, one of the most popular and influential methods of public history is podcasts. Popular shows such as BackStory, Throughline, and Ben Franklin’s World have revolutionized how many engage with history. They can learn about historical people, events, and places while doing everyday tasks. This is key to engaging with the broader audience and allows anyone to see historical scholarship’s importance through a favored medium. I listen to many podcasts while commuting to work and find it a very influential way to share information.

The changes in methodologies and technology throughout recent years have dramatically changed the face of public history. But it has done so in a way that has expanded and transformed how people engage in history and public history. The future is bright for digital public history as technology continues to advance to the fields advantage.