Guide on how to do public history in urban spaces

This guide offers a method to develop more collaborative public projects on the history of cities, towns, neighborhoods, with local communities.

Based on concrete examples drawn from the C²DH’s activities in the city of Esch sur Alzette (Luxembourg) between 2020 and 2024, this guide offers a method to develop more collaborative public projects on the history of cities, towns, neighborhoods, with local communities. Public history is a way of producing a history that is more accessible to the general public, that relies on the participation from members of the public, and that engages with public debates about the past. The co-creation of history between researchers, institutions, associations, and local residents supports public and social inclusion, and provides participants with training and new understanding of their city, neighborhood, and community. Designed as a WikiHow, this guide proposes several how-to steps. 

The guide is available on the Historesch Gesinn platform.

Additional author(s)

• Joella van Donkersgoed