The Role of Disaster Museums for Disaster Awareness

Abstract

Disaster museums are founded in the aftermath of a great disaster having occurred in its native region. As opposed to disaster prevention centres, disaster museums also function as a tool for collective memory besides its practical function as a museum. Museums are among the salient tools in life-long learning as well. In the study, disaster museums founded within the context of earthquake, tsunami and flood disasters have been examined. Within the context of natural disasters, the most recent disaster museum samples from all over the world have been evaluated in detail. In the analyzed museums features of located environment, exhibition main themes and exhibition methods have been investigated. A disaster museum constitutes a major component of disaster tourism for the region hit by disaster by virtue of its museum function that bears the traces of history and is also highly valued as a memoir. It can be said that exhibition design and contents within the scope of museum undertake a major function in terms of disaster awareness. © Peter Lang GmbH Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften Berlin 2021 All rights reserved.