The history of museums is a long one. It was founded in 1832 and has since seen many major changes, including the emergence of national museums in many countries. The American Museum was the first to have a museum in Washington, D.C. In 1970, it was renamed to the National Museum of American History. The National Museum of American History was founded in 1964. Its name was changed in 1980 to reflect its current mission.
The history of museums began with private collections of institutions and wealthy individuals. Many of these collections featured objects and collections of curiosity and wonder. Access to these private art collections was often at the whim of the owners. In 1753, the British Museum opened its doors to the public. In Italy, the Uffizi Gallery opened its doors to the public in 1765. Both the New York and the London museums are examples of early museums. Earlier, these collections were private and were accessible only to those who had money.
The history of museums is more complex than it may seem. Historically, museums have served as wonder rooms and archives for many people, but they are now closer to public history. Throughout the centuries, museum history has evolved as an specialized field. The field of museum studies is constantly growing, with many historians involved in the planning and development of new museums, temporary exhibitions, and more. In the United States, the history of museums has become a highly specialized field.
Earlier, museums were private collections that were open only to a small group of people. These museums were used to display rare objects and served as wonder rooms. The oldest museum known is Ennigaldi-Nanna’s in the state of Ur. It contained Mesopotamian antiquities and had three languages on the clay labels. In the 18th century, the history of museums was gaining importance and has become a niche area of study.
Many museums now display paintings in order to share images of actual people. The concept of a portrait gallery dates back to the 1620s in France, when a collection of French kings and statesmen was first displayed. Later, the concept grew into a national portrait gallery. Today, both types of history museums have an element of paintings of people. It is important to remember that the history of museums can be very different from public history.
A history of museums has been a niche for centuries. It has a long and storied history. It relates to public history and museums. It is not a part of history. It is a specialty. It is a fascinating branch of the humanities. Its study also reflects the development of cities. This has led to a rebirth of museum history as a specialist area. It also helps to make public understanding of the past and make museums a priority in the field of museum culture.
