The Science Museum’s new gallery, Making Modern Communications, will celebrate the vast number and range of people from the past and present whose lives have shaped, and been shaped by, information and communication technology. Our audience research shows that ‘visitors are seeking to understand the impact of objects on people’s lives at the time.’ Our ambition is to present these impacts through real stories, first person accounts and authentic voices. Our objects are host to many memories; but how do we extract these stories, and how can they be woven into the fabric of the gallery, in harmony with historical context, technical detail and scientific content? Creating a people-focused gallery which connects visitors to their heritage in unique and powerful ways has opened new avenues for content research and development. Alongside more conventional research methods, the project team has collected diverse people stories through oral histories, witness seminars and a broad range of participatory activities. These activities have informed our decision-making at all levels, from object selection to label writing. This paper provides an overview of the process of content development for Making Modern Communications, focusing particularly on the opportunities and challenges of embedding knowledge gained through working with a range of groups and participants. This introduction will be followed by a practical workshop session which explores the benefits and potential challenges of participatory content development. We hope to gain feedback from historians about the role of first person experience and tacit community knowledge within, and outside of, the museum setting.