Museums – the keepers of our long-lost civilizations. A museum isn’t any ordinary building. Its walls and windows peek through human achievements and atrocities alike. In short, it’s a recap of societies that once thrived.
Talking about museums, there’s one thing common in them. It doesn’t matter if you’re a history lover or not, visiting a museum can never be boring. With all the preserved artifacts around, a first-hand experience is always jaw-dropping.
Are you a museumgoer who loves exploring preserved artifacts? If yes, then you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to explore some top museums around the world in this article. Ones that are underrated and some that hold history’s deep secrets in them.
Also, don’t worry if you can’t travel to visit these museums. Practically, you don’t have to and still get the museum’s vibe.
How?
With VR or AR tech, complemented by a strong internet connection like Xfinity. Providing exceptional bandwidth and a high-speed internet connection, that too at minimal rates, be in awe while sitting in your rocking chair.
To avail their services, visit Xfinity’s website today. Moreover, Spanish customers can connect to Xfinity en español for Spanish customer support.
Without further ado, let’s get started.
- Apartheid Museum, Johannesburg, South Africa
- The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, USA
- The Louvre, Paris, France
- National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington DC, USA
- The Vatican Museums, Vatican City, Italy
- The Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, USA
- Bottom Line
Apartheid Museum, Johannesburg, South Africa:
Inaugurated back in 2008, the Apartheid Museum is a work of art. For decades, racism ate the South African society like a plague. In 1993, with the formulation of the new constitution, apartheid against the black community officially ended.
However, the Apartheid Museum perfectly preserved the atrocities. Every picture and painting hanging on the walls tells a thousand stories.
What’s more fascinating about this museum is its entrance. Upon arrival, visitors are welcomed by 7 pillars, a resemblance to the pillars of the constitution.
Coming to the best part, it’s the dedicated section to former South African president, Nelson Mandela. Not only did he end the apartheid after the years-long struggle, but he was successful in getting his nation out of slums.
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, USA:
Founded in 1929 as an educational institute, The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) pioneered in displaying modern art.
Home to more than 150,000 paintings, artifacts, sculptures, and more, the collections of renowned artists like Picasso and Vincent Van Gogh are on display.
Well, that’s not it. MoMA displays a huge collection of around 22,000 film stills, scripts, media works, and historical documents.
For anyone who is fascinated by how the media and art industry evolved, MoMA is the place to go.
The Louvre, Paris, France:
Not all paintings have value. Some wonders can’t be bought at any price. Moreover, they’re so beautiful that it would be an injustice if displayed to limited eyes only.
We’re talking about the Mona Lisa, throned as the best portrait ever made. However, The Louvre may be famous for the Mona Lisa, but that’s not everything it contains.
Captivating every visiting eye, Delacroix and Dürer’s collections are worth gazing at. Furthermore, a whole section of the museum is dedicated to ancient Egyptian society.
National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington DC, USA:
Beware, you’ll need a day or more to fully explore this museum. Simply because with so many things to see and read, one cannot simply absorb everything in hours.
Mostly, the museum contains the aftermath of the American Civil War. In addition, one can easily understand American racial history from this museum.
For some, it may be fascinating, and for some, it may leave them devastated. The brutalities, atrocities, and the journey to equity and equality can leave one in tears.
Nevertheless, this museum has perfected the art of storytelling, and there’s much to learn from this place.
The Vatican Museums, Vatican City, Italy:
While the Vatican City is the center for Roman Catholics and the Pope, the city has a lot to offer. You don’t want to miss the Roman history that shaped the centuries to come, for sure.
Open to people of all faiths, The Vatican Museums offer a wealth of cultural attractions. From the Renaissance to the modern-day relationship between the state and religion, these museums are vintage.
Moreover, these museums are home to important artifacts, sculptures, arts, and uncensored documents that you may not find anywhere else.
The Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, USA:
Encompassing an education and research center, a national zoo, and 19 museums, The Smithsonian Institution has many great things to offer. An Englishman, James Smithson, funded the institution in 1846.
With every museum in the institute offering distinctive artifacts and history seeping from their walls, one may need weeks to fully explore the institution.
Human’s first flight – the Wright Brother’s flyer is on display at one of the museums. Moreover, at the National Air and Space Museum, a part of the institution, you can find the command module of Apollo 11.
Bottom Line:
Museums can articulately tell and depict human history. In all their majesty, museums have been a source of vital lessons for mankind. It doesn’t matter if you’re into history or not, start with these museums. Explore them first, and we’ll get back to you with some others worth visiting.