ABSTRACT
Prison museums are sites of dark tourism associated with death and suffering. Many are housed within historic prison buildings and offer historical interpretations that are simultaneously entertaining and serious. Whilst such museums have a responsibility to present issues relating to historical and contemporary capital punishment to the public truthfully, problematic interpretations often go unchallenged in attempts to increase visitor accessibility. Museum displays relating to historical executions are often entertainment-focused and lack nuance yet may be simultaneously presented in a serious manner. A simplified narrative of ‘penal progressivism’ can be identified within these displays, with the topic of capital punishment used to highlight an idea of positive change over time within the criminal justice system. This may lead to executions that take place around the world today being understood through an interpretive lens that focuses on various historical events that led to the UK abolition of capital punishment in 1965. Through site observation and staff and visitor interviews, this chapter explores the effect of presenting this emotional and politically charged topic to the public by focusing on one case study site, the National Justice Museum in Nottingham.
