What Is a Museum?

museum

A museum is a place where you can go to learn more about a particular subject. These institutions collect and care for collections of objects and artifacts, and they display them for public viewing. They may be permanent, or they may be temporary. Depending on the museum, the objects and artifacts displayed may be of historical or cultural significance.

The concept of a museum can be traced back to the ancient world, when humans gathered objects that were of value to them. There is evidence of such collections in Paleolithic burials. These were often collections of works of art and natural curiosities. They were also a way for people to communicate findings and learn more about their environment.

The new definition of the museum has been approved unanimously by the International Council of Museums (ICOM). More than 500 museum representatives from around the world voted in Prague to adopt the new definition. In addition to preserving the cultural heritage of a place, the new definition includes the idea of sustainability and ethics. This demonstrates how important museums are to a community.

A music museum may celebrate the life of a composer and include live music recitals. Handel House Museum is an example of such a museum. In addition to museums with physical counterparts, some museums offer virtual experiences that do not require physical travel. Some virtual museums also offer a curatorial platform for online visitors.