What Is a Museum?What Is a Museum?
The word museum is used for collections of art and artifacts stored, interpreted, and displayed for the benefit of the public. Generally, museums are considered cultural institutions that promote understanding and appreciation of the past, and also serve to inspire the future through research and education. Museums often combine history, art, science, and culture to provide a unique experience for visitors from around the world.
Museums are usually owned by government agencies, universities, or private individuals, and may be nonprofit or for-profit. Nonprofit museums are classified as charitable organizations that do not pay taxes and rely on donations for revenue. For-profit museums make money by charging admission and selling merchandise or services.
Originally, museums were simply private collections that were exhibited for the public. Later, they were established as part of universities or governments. Some were created to preserve historical buildings, while others specialized in certain kinds of objects. Museums have since become one of the most important and diverse educational institutions in the world.
A museum’s collection includes art and artifacts, documents, works of art, archives, architectural artifacts, historic sites, natural history, science, technology, and other subjects. The collection is usually stored in a building that is specifically designed for that purpose. Most museums are staffed by trained professionals who take care of the collections and interpret them for the public.
Most museums are located in urban areas and are open to the public. Many also offer educational programs to teachers and students. Museums have a variety of ways to educate the public, including audio tours, virtual exhibitions, and interactive displays. Some have special exhibits for children and families, which include hands-on activities.
The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum in the United States dedicated to preserving the culture of Black Americans. The museum opened in 2016 and is a part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. It features more than 40,000 objects related to African American life, art, history, and culture. The museum also houses the 350-seat Oprah Winfrey Theater for performances and screenings.
While art museums are the most well-known type of museum, there are also science museums, natural history museums, historical museums, and other types. Some of these museums are very large and have numerous exhibits, while others focus on particular topics or geographic regions.
Some museums have few or no artifacts, but are still called museums because of their interesting stories and the way they are presented. Examples include the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles and the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
There are a number of different museum definitions, but all major professional organizations agree that museums must be devoted to the care and interpretation of their collections. They should be educational, culturally and scientifically significant, and accessible to the public. Many museums have websites where they post information about their collections and exhibits. Some museums also have social media pages where they share updates and news about the museum.