Museums preserve history in a variety of ways. They attract millions of tourists each year, advance science, and educate the masses, all while inspiring artists, enriching writers, and informing scholars. They are an invaluable part of humankind’s heritage and a key source of knowledge, and this article explores the rich and fascinating history of museums through their diverse collections and displays.
The idea of displaying artifacts in an open space to the public dates back to ancient Greece, when temples and palaces housed both sculpture and scholars. The practice was copied in the kingly treasure houses that followed, where spoils of war and other precious items were kept on display for the benefit and amusement of the public. The modern museum has grown from its roots as a cultural institution to include many different types of objects and spaces, including open-air museums, ecomuseums, and virtual museums. Museums are also an important part of the global network that connects us all through our shared cultural heritage.
Some of the first museums were private collections owned by wealthy individuals or groups. These collections were referred to as Cabinets of Curiosities, and they included items ranging from taxidermy to rock samples and Roman jewelry to an Aztec double-headed serpent. One of the earliest examples of this type of museum was the collection of Ole Worm, which had been published in 1734 as “Museum Wormianum”.
In the 19th century, museums became more popular in the United States, and many were built by individual townspeople. They were not governmental institutions and often charged an entrance fee to visitors. They were a way for the wealthy to show off their cultural and scientific collections, while at the same time showing their social status to the public.
The onset of the industrial revolution saw museums become more publicly accessible and affordable to the general public. In addition, the expansion of travel broadened the scope of collectors who could add to their collections from a greater number of places. This led to a proliferation of museums around the world, some with vast and diverse collections and others with a more narrow focus.
A museum’s ability to serve as a cultural bridge has never been more important than it is today. The escalating tensions between nations, political parties, and different cultural groups create a greater need for museums to present common ground and the shared values that unite people.
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, for example, has been one of the most recognizable and influential museums in the world since its opening in 1929. When it opened, MoMA was conceived as an innovative model of a multi-departmental structure that showcased the connections and influences between different forms of visual art in a single place. This approach was influenced by the innovative work of MoMA’s first director, Alfred Barr. He had proposed a systematized organization that would eventually lead to the creation of departments such as architecture and design, drawings and prints, painting and sculpture, film, media and performance, and photography.
