ABSTRACT
Introducing Peace Museums has described a series of museums and centers whose exhibits and narratives reflect complicated understandings of peace philosophy rooted in antiwar and antiviolence traditions. But these museums also envision peace as more than the end of a particular conflict or aspect of structural violence. Instead, peace is depicted as part of an ongoing, positive process—both for individuals in their daily life, taking up the theme that “peace begins with you,” and in the larger world. These are sites where items have been collected to record peace histories such as nonviolent actions for social justice and protests against specific wars or weapons, from atomic bombs to nuclear missiles to drones. The museums and centers also have created spaces for cultures of peace to thrive by producing traveling exhibits and books, sponsoring lectures and workshops, and encouraging exchange visits and other peace-related activities. Different visions, politics, and resources influence how visitors are invited to explore peace histories and cultures.
