By Museums offer us a wealth of opportunities to relive the past and learn about not only the history of our own species but also the world as a whole. Learning about history allows us to gain a better grounding in how we understand the world. Allowing you to start to understand why the world is what we see it as today.
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum complex and research institute with a total of 19 museums and galleries, along with the National Zoological Park. Within there are more than 137 million objects detailing America’s history. Exhibitions on offer range from the things that make America, well America! Including baseball, military history and the history of the great American landscape. There are so many exhibits that if you spent one minute each day looking at each object for 10 years you would have only seen 1% of the objects on offer.
Le Louvre, Paris, France
The Louvre was a medieval fortress in the times of kings and countries in France. However, it is worth noting that in 1792 France abolished their monarchy leading to grand buildings such as Le Louvre becoming vacant. However, in 1793 Le Louvre Museum opened, and today it hosts more than 35,000 works spanning from the 6th century B.C. to the 19th century A.D. Within the museum there is a rich collection of Egyptian antiquities.
The British Museum, London, England
The British Museum is Britain’s Largest museum, highlights include a large collection of Egyptian mummies, Parthenon Sculptures and the Rosetta Stone. The oldest object in the British Museum is a stone-chopping tool that is thought to be over 2 million years old!
Whilst most exhibitions are free, special exhibitions usually require a fee.
The Natural History Museum, London, England
When you ask most people to name the first museum that comes to mind, chances are they are going to say The Natural History Museum. Part of the reason this is the case is that the Natural History Museum is featured in an impressive 15 films, including Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), Marvel Eternals (2021) and Basic Instinct 2 (2006).
National Museum Of China
If you fancy learning about the history of Chinese culture, look no further! Visitors can visit a total of 48 visitation halls, which house more than 1.4 million pieces or sets of objects which span from the ancient Qing Empire to the modern day. Westerners visiting this museum are likely to walk away with a more in-depth understanding of why Chinese culture is so different to Western countries such as America and The United Kingdom.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
The Metropolitan Museum of Art claims to be the largest art museum in the Western Hemisphere. Having opened in 1870, today they have a permanent collection of over 2 million. With collections including: The Egyptian Collection, Arms and Armor, Islamic Art and Artifacts, Near Eastern Art, European Paintings, and Asian Art. Just these examples alone are bound to appeal to a wide range of audiences. So don’t worry about not finding something that matches your interests, chances are you will.
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Pay homage to the late Queen Elizabeth II by visiting the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Here you can learn more about the rich history of the royal family, including their impact upon their subjects throughout history. You can also find out more about the history of Britain as a whole, the Victoria and Albert Museum tends to focus on art so you will learn more about the history of British art during your visit.
State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg
The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg is one of the most popular museums in the world, accommodating just under 1 million visitors in 2020. Reasons to visit include The Gala Staircase which is a very luxurious and intricate red velvet staircase, which is complemented by huge mirrors and lashings of gold and marble to complement the arua of the interior.
Conclusion
We feel that learning about history not only gives you enlightenment but also allows you to gain a better idea of what could happen in the future. Gather your friends, dress in your comfiest heavyweight tracksuit and go visit the best museums in the world. You will also sound interesting at dinner parties, what’s not to love?
