Examining the Role of Museums in Preserving Cultural Heritage and Promoting National Identity

Abstract

Museums occupy a central position in the preservation of cultural heritage and the construction of national identity, functioning as spaces where collective memory, historical interpretation, and public engagement intersect. This study examines the role of museums in safeguarding cultural heritage while actively shaping national identity, using a convergent mixed-methods research design. Quantitative data were collected through structured visitor surveys, while qualitative insights were obtained from interviews with curators, educators, and visitors, alongside exhibition content analysis and observational methods. The findings reveal that museums significantly influence visitors’ understanding of national history, cultural authenticity, and collective belonging through curated narratives, storytelling techniques, and inclusive exhibition practices. Results further demonstrate that emotional engagement, perceived authenticity, and memorability of museum experiences strongly contribute to visitor satisfaction, revisit intentions, and positive word-of-mouth. The integration of digital and AI-based technologies emerges as an increasingly important factor in enhancing engagement and accessibility, although institutional strategies and curatorial perspectives remain decisive in shaping national narratives. Overall, the study highlights museums as active agents in nation-building rather than neutral repositories, emphasizing their capacity to balance heritage preservation with evolving social, political, and technological contexts. The research contributes empirical evidence to museum studies and heritage scholarship by clarifying how museums mediate between cultural preservation, public experience, and national identity formation.