ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the clarification of the distinction between authentic objects versus authentic experiences, debates around this distinction and their implication for museums. It examines a particular element of authentic learning environments that of the authenticity of place and voice. According to K. F. Latham, the contribution of the study is the 'model of the numinous encounter' it developed, which 'reveals a dynamic, transactive experience that is holistic and lived through every part of a person's senses and intellect'. It also sheds light on the salience of museum objects and the power they have to create a deeply meaningful museum experience. The study identified four essential elements of this type of experience which included: unity of the moment, object link, being transported and connections bigger than self. The unity of the moment element was seen as the overarching one. The chapter examines places and practices beyond the museum building and/or its collections.
