The poppies exhibit: Producing and consuming commemoration of World War I in Britain

In this chapter, the authors discuss the significance of the focal site of the poppies exhibit – the iconic Tower of London. They explain the significance of the poppy as an icon of commemorative culture, particularly as it relates to World War one. The authors analyze the aftermath of the poppies exhibit in terms of how Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) managed its unanticipated success and successfully emplaced it into Britain's cultural repositories for commemorative display. Indeed, the 2014 "Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red" art installation at the Tower of London, informally known as "the poppies," was the most successful event ever staged by HRP, the charity responsible for preserving and promoting the heritage site. By 1850, the Tower complex had completed its transition into a government-run tourist attraction after Queen Victoria had mandated this status in 1838. As early as 1210, the Tower became a home for wild animals given to the monarchs.