10 Real reasons why people love to visit museums
There are many reasons why people visit museums. Some want to learn about the past, while others are curious about the country they are visiting or want to enjoy art and culture. Museums are great for meeting new people, learning how our ancestors lived and expanding our minds.
There are different types of museums out there. Each offers an opportunity to learn more about our past and the world. No matter how you feel about them, you might have wondered why go to museums anyway. Here are my reasons why museums are important.
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10 Top reasons why it’s important to visit museums
Early museums were not as accessible to everyone as they are today. They were reserved for the wealthy and educated elites. Once museums became accessible to everyone, they offered more people a chance to learn and see what’s inside.
People visit museums for different reasons. For some, they are wonderful places filled with wonder and mystery. To others, they are just boring storage places for old crap and are not worth a visit. Here are some of my reasons for exploring museums.
1. Museums teach us about the past
In a museum, we can learn how things were done, what life looked like and even what people wore and did in the past. Museums are living history that helps us understand ourselves from times gone by. Visiting a museum offers an immersive learning experience where you can see artifacts and material items up close, which brings history to life.
2. Museums make us smarter
When we visit museums, we gain new knowledge. Many museums even partner with schools to enhance education, while others host hands-on workshops for people of all ages. This promotes informal education and educational opportunities for everyone, from young children to adults.
3. Museums are great for research
Academics, researchers, and regular people often come to museums to study. Examining old artifacts is a great way to collect information. For example, old pottery does not just show us how others consumed food. The techniques and materials used to make it tell us more about how we progressed and evolved in addition to what people ate.
4. Museums inspire
They stimulate new ideas, recharge and provide new perspectives. When you visit museums, you can access the works of great masters, inventions and objects that changed our lives. This cultivation of conversation and critical thinking can spark creativity and innovation.
5. Museums are a testament to humanity’s perseverance
The first known museum opened in the 3rd century BC at the University of Alexandria in Egypt. Since then, museums have been documenting history and shown us that people have needed to collect and preserve things for a long time. That also includes cultural shifts and changing outlooks. Because of that, there are many different types of museums dedicated to humanity’s perseverance.
6. Museum collections are home to priceless collections of artifacts
Museums house historically significant items that have influenced our understanding of the past. Take the Rosetta Stone at the British Museum (London), the Mona Lisa at the Louvre (Paris), fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Museum of the Bible (Washington DC) or the world’s oldest soccer ball at the Smith Museum (Scotland). Each has a different story yet provides vast knowledge of how people did things in the past and how that has changed over time.
7. Museums teach about different cultures and lost civilizations
Another great benefit of visiting museums is finding things from places and cultures that no longer exist. Take the handmade prehistoric tools used by our predecessors, ancient texts that talk of items lost and forgotten, or the mosaics of civilizations that once thrived and then were lost over time.
8. Museums offer an insight into the natural world
Museums, especially natural history museums, provide a window into the natural world. They house collections of artifacts, fossils, and specimens that educate us about the earth’s history, ecosystems, and the various forms of life that have existed. These museums are vital educational institutions and cultural organizations, promoting civic engagement and helping us understand our place in the natural world.
Top picks:
- New York City: American Museum of Natural History
- London: Natural History Museum Tour
- Los Angeles: Griffith Observatory Tour and Planetarium
9. Museums are cultural centres
Museums act as cultural centers and social spaces where communities gather to learn, engage and share experiences. They host a variety of educational programs, workshops, and events that cater to different interests and age groups. By serving as active parts of the community, museums foster a sense of belonging and contribute to society’s cultural and social fabric. Some host night festivals while others host special fundraiser galas or events like murder mystery evenings.
10. Many museums are homes of historical figures
Many museums are housed in historic houses or former royal residences like the Versailles, adding another layer of historical significance to their collections. These buildings themselves are works of art and examples of informal learning environments, offering visitors a glimpse into the past and the daily lives of historical figures. They offer a glimpse into the past and how the rich and influential used to live.
Recommended reading:
Rundale Palace Museum In Latvia: A Day Trip From Riga
Best Must-Visit Museums In Athens For History Lovers
Discover The 15 Best Galleries & Museums In Munich
18 Best Lisbon Museums And Galleries To Visit In 2024
10 Best Museums In Rome That Aren’t The Vatican
The dark past of many museums
Many of the first museums out there came from private collections of wealthy donors. Quite often, they had the means to travel and collect objects. Sometimes they did so by questionable means or by simply claiming them. Unfortunately, the black market in antiquities has always been tempting for those with the means and desire. Tomb robbing has been as old as tombs themselves.
Today, many countries are staking claims to objects previously removed and now stored in foreign museums. The case of the status taken by Lord Eglin from the Parthenon, now held at the British Museum, is one of those examples. Who has the right to them? Should they be returned to their original home? It’s something worth thinking about and acknowledging as a moral issue.
Many museums operate as nonprofit organizations and have diverse offerings for every taste. As there are so many different kinds of museums, it’s challenging to slot them into neat categories. Some museums have a general theme, while others focus on a specific subject, location or theme. Museum offerings can also depend on who is funding them. Funding can come from state, municipal or private sources, meaning not all museums are funded equally. When you visit museums, you often contribute to their upkeep
Recommended museum tours and activities:
- Vatican Museums: Exclusive Opening of the Sistine Chapel Tour
- Versailles: Skip-the-Line Tour of Palace with Gardens Access
- Amsterdam: Van Gogh Museum
- Vienna: Kunsthistorisches Museum Day Admission Ticket
- Belfast: The Titanic Experience with SS Nomadic Visit
If aviation is your thing, here is a handy list of aviation museums around the world.
Why do people dislike visiting museums
There are also a variety of reasons why people dislike visiting museums. Let’s be honest. They are not for everyone. Museums are usually housed in huge buildings with many exhibits. It can be tiring and boring to shuffle from one exhibit to the next and not understand what you are looking at.
Without context, a vase is just a vase. It doesn’t matter why it’s there or how old it is. If you go in with the expectation that everything will come to life, you will be disappointed. Most museums offer audio tour guides explaining what you are looking at and why it’s there. They provide context for visitors and help to make the experience more enjoyable.
Tips for visiting museums
If you want to visit museums, here are some tips to make the experience more enjoyable.
- Choose a museum that aligns with your interests or specific subjects. For instance, if modern art isn’t your cup of tea, there’s no need to visit a museum of modern art. Your preference matters, and there are plenty of people who appreciate contemporary art museums. Let them enjoy that experience while you explore what truly fascinates you, like a space museum.
- In many countries, museums often offer free admission, especially on specific days like the last Sunday of the month. This is a great opportunity to explore without feeling the pressure of having paid for admission. You can even return on another day to see a different exhibit if you enjoyed your visit, making the most of your museum experience.
- Don’t spend hours aimlessly wandering around a museum. Get an audio guide and choose which exhibits you want to see. Once you feel tired, bored or restless, call it a day. There is no point in forcing the experience, and you’ll be glad you did.
- Set your expectations before deciding to visit museums, especially ones you’re unsure about. Many museums offer virtual tours that you can access on their site. Take advantage of that and check it out before you go. The virtual tour might be enough for you, and that’s perfectly fine. You’ve just saved yourself some time. Or, it will make you want to visit in person and learn more about the exhibits.
- Respect museum rules. There is a reason things are roped off or under a glass cover. Many items in museums are one of a kind and, once damaged, can’t be replaced. They can get damaged by heat and light or knocked over by accident. Locking them away helps preserve them and keeps them out of reach of people who don’t appreciate or respect what’s there.
Final thoughts on why people visit museums
Most people first visit museums as kids, usually as part of school groups on field trips or with parents. These experiences likely shape how they feel about museums later on. Even if you haven’t visited one as a child, you’re likely to visit a museum at some point in your life. You’ll either love it or hate it. One isn’t better than the other, so don’t feel bad if you don’t enjoy it. But if you are open-minded, the experience will be more enjoyable.
With such a variety of museums, there is likely something that will appeal to everyone. If you’re like me and love to visit museums, I don’t have to tell you why you should see one. You’ve probably been to many and have a list of your favourite ones. If you’re only starting to explore museums, remember that the primary role of museums is to teach and offer immersive learning experiences. You don’t have to be an expert going in. You just need some curiosity. The rest is up to you.
