Museums all over the world offer a wealth of knowledge and history for people to explore, learn about, and enjoy. Some museums are focused on one artwork or place (hello Acropolis, Museum of Terracotta Warriors), others bring together masterpieces from across the globe (hiya Louvre, Uffizi, and MOMA). What every museum has in common is that they all have the power to make you say “wow” when you walk through their doors.
While there are many different types of museum, some of the most popular are art galleries, natural history museums, and historical museums. Art museums are spaces for exhibiting visual art pieces like paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints. They can also include video, audio, and multimedia exhibits. Natural history museums are places that display objects from nature such as stuffed animals, plants, and rocks. They educate visitors about natural history, zoology, oceanography, anthropology, and evolution. Historical museums are dedicated to preserving and displaying objects from the past. They often have informational displays as well as replicas of buildings and objects that are important in the area’s history.
The State Hermitage Museum is an enormous museum complex in St. Petersburg, Russia. This world-class museum has the most paintings of any in existence, including works by Caravaggio, Claude Monet, and Vincent Van Gogh. The Hermitage is also home to an impressive collection of Russian icons and gold jewelry from ancient tribes.
Located in the city of Madrid, Spain is the famous Prado Museum. This top-rated museum focuses on European art, with works from masters like Diego Velazquez and Francisco de Goya.
The British Museum in London, England is another top-rated museum. It was founded in 1759 and is the oldest and third most visited museum worldwide. It has a massive collection of 8 million artifacts and is divided into 9 departments and many more rooms. The Rosetta Stone and mummies are two of the most popular items on display at this museum.
If you are an art lover, the Musee d’Orsay is a must-see. The museum hosts a wide range of impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces, including works by Van Gogh and Claude Monet. The museum has a beautiful location near the Seine River and is free on Sundays.