Jordan Hunter Jackson, Wikimedia Commons Local and regional history have long been solidly in Backstory’s wheelhouse. Starting fall 2025, Backstory is bringing the story of an Alabama town to life. That town is Leeds, Alabama, known to many for what’s on the town’s outskirts — Buc-ees and Bass Pro Shop, two retail powerhouses that even the most committed localvore has been known to visit. The town’s outlet mall, the quaintly named Shops of Grand River, also attracts customers

Jean Leon Gerome Ferris, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons I have much to be grateful for: my family, my friends, my faith.  And I'm thankful for you, my collaborators, past and present.  This year, Backstory has been at work on two projects. One is a traveling exhibit on the topic of Alabama and the Holocaust. The other is a multi-site permanent exhibit on a civil rights topic. Both will serve the people of my home state of Alabama and beyond.  Telling stories is what I’v

Birmingham Jewish leader Ike Abelson lead the Zionist movement in his city. Sometimes the outline needs adjusting. When Dan Puckett and I outlined the Alabama and the Holocaust exhibit, sponsored by the State of Alabama, we were sure that there would be 20 different panels. But what’s the saying about the best-laid plans? There were other elements in our boilerplate. We wanted each panel to be about 350 words and each contain copious imagery. (It’s the same with stationary e

I’ve been away from this platform for a while. (I’ll tell you more about recovering from a stroke one of these days). But that doesn’t...

My home state has funded Backstory’s latest project, a brilliant new traveling exhibit, on Alabama’s support of persecuted Jews during...

A younger colleague recently contacted me about issues he was having as part of a museum team. His job: to process a rather hefty...

The Bryce Hospital Museum project has been a longtime coming. Working under the Kelton Design banner, I began the script in 2020. The...

In 2020, exhibit designer par excellence John Kelton of Kelton Design approached me to help him plan an exhibit. The topic: the original...

Starting a new museum? Reimagining or rebuilding an existing one? Either way, here are some of the most important considerations to help...

Installer Jeremy Gossett blocks panels for the new Southern Railway Depot exhibit in Leeds, Alabama. The designs files have shipped off...

Wikimedia Commons The exhibit isn't everything. Yes, it's the main thing, just as the food at your favorite restaurant is the main thing....

Dating back to 1844, Sha’arai Shomayim is the oldest Jewish congregation in Alabama and one of the oldest in the United States. Seen here...

Not everyone wants to walk into a museum. Traveling exhibits let you take your message to new audiences. It’s an opportunity Backstory is...

Making an exhibit on Terminal Station a part of one at Leeds Depot has been a challenge. Functionally, they’re apples and oranges. Large...

Subject matter experts are of all types. Backstory has worked with Greek food enthusiasts and pharmacists, radio buffs and immigrant...

Authenticity is a buzzword in exhibit design and the museum world writ large. The concept encompasses text, artifacts, and exhibit...

With its shiplap walls and hardwood floors, the Leeds Depot is a gorgeous space. It’s also decidedly not a gallery space. Yet filling two...

Through an informal poll, Backstory recently asked educators about their field trip plans for next school year. The question was a simple...

I’ve reached out to colleagues on both sides of the field trip aisle. On the provider side, there were museum administrators. They have...

Creating an exhibit is about people: the knowledge they hold and wish to share and the people who will ultimately benefit. But it is also...