If there were ever a pastime that anyone and everyone could appreciate it is a museum. Museums have been around for thousands of years and people have been appreciating its contents for just as long. If you have never been to a museum, of any type, you are missing out on a wonderful hobby or pastime.

There is nothing quite as awe inspiring as to stroll through a museum and witness someone else's hard work and dedication to continuing a collection. It may be a museum of cereal boxes or one entirely devoted to Renaissance painters. It does not matter what the museum hosts as its collection, there is someone out there that wants to see it. This article will cover the essentials of what a museum is and how museums play such a fundamental role in today's society.

What are museums?

Museums are a gathering of certain items that forms a collection. That collection can be absolutely anything. Museums are open to the public and can be a variety of different types ranging from maritime museums on to cereal box museums. The emphasis of a museum is that it is a collection that is open to the public. There are collections that are privately held to which the public is not allowed to view. There might be a private showing but these forms of collections are not designated as a museum but instead are classified as a private collector. Museums have a long history are can be found throughout the world housing some of the world's largest collections of artworks and other pieces of interest.

What is the history of museums?

The history of the museum dates back to when ancient Greeks would gather together objects for study and the arts. It is most definitely an ancient practice as people would come together to look at certain pieces or books. The Alexandrian Library is one example of a famous collection of books that were housed in a museum to protect and allow citizens to come together to view these wonderful scrolls and parchments. Unfortunately the library was lost and scattered throughout the world but there continued to be more exhibits created to help preserve history's arts, entertainment and various pieces for future people to enjoy.

Why types of museums are there?

There are several types of museums. You have the open air museum, the art museum and even a maritime museum. Museums are anything that has been assembled for the public viewing pleasure. It may be art work, a collection of musical instruments or famous ships that have sailed the high seas. Museums are everywhere from big cities to small towns that showcase their historical past. Chances are very good that at some time in your life you have been in a museum to view a collection of some sort.

Can anything be displayed in a museum?

Absolutely anything can be displayed in a museum. There are museums entirely dedicated to pop culture items. There is a museum that is strictly cereal boxes. The contents of the museum are up to the person gathering the collection together. There is probably a museum for absolutely everything. The only limit is the imagination and the drive to gather together the pieces to be displayed in the museum.

What are some famous museums?

There are many famous museums scattered throughout the world. The Louvre in Paris, the Smithsonian museums in Washington D.C., and even The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio are all examples of famous museums. There are literally thousands and thousands of different types of museums all across the world. Virtually every city and town has some form of museum on display for the public to access.

Can I make my own museum?

The first step in creating your own museum is to take a look at how other museums operate. It has to be operated like a business. You need to have a collection in which you want to show pieces. After you have assembled your collection you will need to determine if you are going to charge admission to people in order for them to see your collection. There are some questions you need to ask yourself. Will people want to see what you have collected? How are you going to house the museum? Will it be in a small room in your home that is open to the public or will it be in a building that you buy or lease? These are all important questions that you need to be able to answer if you are going to own a museum.

How many museums make up the Smithsonian?

There are over twenty museums that make up the Smithsonian Institute. These museums range from air and space museums to art museums that display American artwork over the past years. A visit to Washington D.C. is not complete without visiting at least one of these historic sites. You can view everything from pieces from American History to that of African American artwork. Be forewarned though: most of the larger Smithsonian museums take more than a day to fully walk through and appreciate the art work and collections that are on display.

Is an art gallery a type of museum?

Yes, an art gallery is a type of museum. It displays a collection of art from a single artist on to certain groups of artists. The Louvre is a famous example of an art museum located in Paris, France. It is home to thousands of pieces of artwork over the past centuries. You could spend days looking at all of the pieces that have been collected over the years.

Are there museum pieces that travel the world on display?

Museums and collectors often loan pieces of their own collection to other museums as a traveling show. One recent example is King Tut's collection which housed his remains. For weeks and weeks it was on display in a Chicago museum. The Medici collection is another popular traveling collection that has made its way into civic centers, museums and other popular venues for exhibition. In 2004 it was on display at the Memphis Pyramid before traveling to other venues. So it goes to show that museum pieces can be shown in more than just museums.

How much do museums charge to gain admittance?

Some museums are absolutely free to the public. Others charge a small admission fee to help cover the expenses of the museum. Occasionally these museums will have a day or week in which admittance is free to the public. Museums are not in it for the money. Any monetary gain they receive is immediately invested back into the museum for additional pieces of art, collections, books, and a variety of other objects.

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