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Heather Bloom (MA ‘21) is the Collections Manager at the Bastrop County Museum in Texas. She drew on her many experiences working with collections in Bowling Green and Toledo to design something innovative – a museum exhibit highlighting the stories behind Bastrop County residents’ tattoos.
This unique exhibit featured photos of Bastrop County residents’ tattoos and the stories behind them. When Bloom issued a call for submissions, dozens of locals responded with narratives explaining what their tattoos meant to them.
“It just means that the community is interested in this, and that involvement is really exciting for me,” Bloom says. “That’s what we should be doing here in museums is including our community.”

Bloom is interested in finding creative ways to engage the public with history. In this case, the exhibit showcased the personal, local, and group histories around tattoos. These designs commemorate military service, grief, identity, and more.
“Tattoos are more than just skin deep; they carry stories, memories, and cultural significance,” Bloom said. “We want to showcase the diverse and meaningful tattoos of our community and share the stories behind them,” says Bloom.
