Museums are an important factor of preserving essential historical artifacts and are visited by schools and millions of people a year. Museums offer an unique and interactive experience of approaching antique objects in which we don't often see in our day to day lives and are all developments in the world of history. Lets take the Mona Lisa for example; the reason why seeing it in a museum is the fact that it is authentic and provides you with a feeling of appreciation as opposed to something you get from a second-hand source which is a replica.
In terms of the significance of museums, let's first start off with the education in which it provides. Attending museums is simply a more "practical" approach as opposed to the theory which is taught at school. For example, if a school was learning about the Ancient Spartans and their armoury/weaponry, children can now go to an exhibition which displays such material of that date. Not only is it worthwhile in terms of gathering information, it is much more interesting for children, making them want to learn more about it.
In an article written by Joan Wages(president & CEO, National Women's History Museum), she mentions Thomas Campbell and his views on the significance of museums. As Campbell states in his Ted talk presentation, "Weaving Narratives in Museum Galleries ," "Nothing replaces the authenticity of the object presented with passionate scholarship. Bringing people face-to-face with our objects is a way of bringing them face-to-face with people across time, across space, whose lives may have been different from our own but who, like us, have hopes and dreams, frustrations and achievements in their lives." Campbell believes how museums bring in a factor of realism and how the objects from the past come in touch with those who inspect it. To an extent, Campbell indicates how when people interact with artefacts from the museum, it is like a face to face engagement and story telling of their past history.
From an economical point of view, tourists tend to visit cultural museums which is also a significant factor in answering the question of "Are museums really that significant?". In relation to statistics, government figures suggested that in 2004, 85% of tourists have decided to visit the country simply due to the museums and galleries the country provides.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joan-wages/why-museums-are-important_b_6355710.html?ir=Australia
Le Louvre
The Louvre in Paris , France was the palace of the kings of France and a medieval fortress prior to becoming a museum two-hundred years ago. The museum provides a wide range french culture and it is a connection to the history of European art. It's main attractions include “Venus de Milo,” “Winged Victory of Samothrace,” and the illustrious “Mona Lisa.”
Smithsonian Museum
The Smithsonian Museum National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institute is my favourite museum to visit. This is due to my passion for aeronautical engineering alongside history in which this museum provides. Opened in 1976 to the general public, The National Air and Space Museum contains the largest collection of aircraft and spacecraft on Earth. Capsules of Apollo 11 are of great importance as they are the achievements of human pioneering which allowed humanity to travel to the Moon as well as flight capability. However, the best part of it all is the fact that visitors of the museum are able to come in contact with these artifacts as well as accessing it over the web.
In terms of the significance of museums, let's first start off with the education in which it provides. Attending museums is simply a more "practical" approach as opposed to the theory which is taught at school. For example, if a school was learning about the Ancient Spartans and their armoury/weaponry, children can now go to an exhibition which displays such material of that date. Not only is it worthwhile in terms of gathering information, it is much more interesting for children, making them want to learn more about it.
In an article written by Joan Wages(president & CEO, National Women's History Museum), she mentions Thomas Campbell and his views on the significance of museums. As Campbell states in his Ted talk presentation, "Weaving Narratives in Museum Galleries ," "Nothing replaces the authenticity of the object presented with passionate scholarship. Bringing people face-to-face with our objects is a way of bringing them face-to-face with people across time, across space, whose lives may have been different from our own but who, like us, have hopes and dreams, frustrations and achievements in their lives." Campbell believes how museums bring in a factor of realism and how the objects from the past come in touch with those who inspect it. To an extent, Campbell indicates how when people interact with artefacts from the museum, it is like a face to face engagement and story telling of their past history.
From an economical point of view, tourists tend to visit cultural museums which is also a significant factor in answering the question of "Are museums really that significant?". In relation to statistics, government figures suggested that in 2004, 85% of tourists have decided to visit the country simply due to the museums and galleries the country provides.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joan-wages/why-museums-are-important_b_6355710.html?ir=Australia
Le Louvre
The Louvre in Paris , France was the palace of the kings of France and a medieval fortress prior to becoming a museum two-hundred years ago. The museum provides a wide range french culture and it is a connection to the history of European art. It's main attractions include “Venus de Milo,” “Winged Victory of Samothrace,” and the illustrious “Mona Lisa.”
Smithsonian Museum
The Smithsonian Museum National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institute is my favourite museum to visit. This is due to my passion for aeronautical engineering alongside history in which this museum provides. Opened in 1976 to the general public, The National Air and Space Museum contains the largest collection of aircraft and spacecraft on Earth. Capsules of Apollo 11 are of great importance as they are the achievements of human pioneering which allowed humanity to travel to the Moon as well as flight capability. However, the best part of it all is the fact that visitors of the museum are able to come in contact with these artifacts as well as accessing it over the web.