Are Immersive Experiences Rewriting What a Museum Exhibit Is?

Chris Weisbart, Associate Vice President of Exhibitions at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, examines how commercial immersive experiences are redefining the format and impact of traditional museum exhibitions. In a market saturated with experiential entertainment, he asks whether authenticity, significance, and community engagement are helped or hindered by museum-adjacent attractions, weighing visitor expectations, ethics, and educational integrity.