A museum is an institution that collects, cares for, researches and interprets the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment. It is open to the public and is committed to the service of society and its development. Its primary objective is to communicate the heritage and make it available for education, study and enjoyment.
Museums are a great place to learn about the natural world, history of civilizations and culture, art, and science. They are sanctuaries of knowledge, where past and present culture is preserved and displayed in a way that allows you to slow down and examine carefully. Museums are also a great space to connect with people and have conversations about the things they learn in them.
In a museum, you can find anything from the bones of a dinosaur to the first airplane that the Wright brothers flew. Each museum has a different focus, but they are all places that allow you to get hands on with real artifacts and learn in a fun, interactive way. Museums are also a great place to bring the whole family for a fun day out or to have some educational discussions in a non-traditional classroom setting.
While museums have a number of purposes they are most commonly founded for: to serve as recreational facilities or scholarly venues; to promote civic pride or nationalism; to provide an economic stimulus in post-industrial cities; and, occasionally, to transmit overtly ideological concepts. Despite their diverse origins and mission, they all share some common core functions: the preservation and interpretation of cultural heritage.
As a result, they are a crucial part of our global society. As museums evolve they are beginning to take on more responsibilities and roles in their communities, beyond just caring for and interpreting objects. Museums are now being called upon to address the need for a more inclusive and equitable heritage, with the goal of creating community through the shared experience of learning about the world and its history.
Some museums are even being asked to play a role in the revitalization of their urban and rural communities. The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, in the Basque Country of Spain is one example. It was built in the heart of a struggling city and has since become a cultural destination. This type of museum is a model that other cities can follow to promote tourism and local job opportunities.
In recent years, many museums have stepped into the ring as economic drivers in their communities. The Natural History Museum in London, for example, is a top tourist attraction. It is most well known for its Hintze Hall, where Dippy the dinosaur and other previous residents resided from 1905 until 2018. Hope, an 82-foot blue whale currently calls this museum home. This is a new role for museums, but one that they are excelling at!