For Valentine’s Day last year, I created a list of museums I love. This year, I’m going to focus on the museums I’d love to visit. My list is long…very long. I have painstakingly selected six that I want to share. Six may sound like a random number because it is a random number. I originally planned on narrowing my selection down to five, but, that proved an impossible task. Here is my shortlist arranged in no particular order!
- Mütter Museum – Philadelphia
The Mütter Museum showcases an array of anatomical specimens, models, and medical instruments. It is essentially one huge curiosity cabinet. Ever since I became interested in medical history this museum has been at the top of my must-visit list. I have researched the museum for countless essays and have spent literally hours trawling through its website, online exhibitions, and Youtube channel.
Click here for a great little online exhibition of radiation in the United States. As you can see, quite a few of the exhibitions are very specific to my interests. I hope to visit this museum as soon as possible.
- Museum of Broken Relationships – Los Angeles & Croatia
A chain of museums that examine how we experience love and loss. I am fascinated by the types of objects that this museum contains and its acquisition policies. It would be very interesting to see what objects they refuse!
It is an unusual museum that actually tackles a pretty difficult subject matter. I see it as emotional heritage in a museum space. It is taking something incredibly personal and sharing it with a wide audience. For somem this could be very cathartic. For others, it would probably be their worst nightmare.
- Te Papa Tongarewa – Wellington
The National Museum of New Zealand consists of six floors that explore the history and development of the country. I have heard very positive reviews of the museum especially regarding its integration of Indigenous and non-Indigenous content.
They have such a large percentage of their collection searchable online. Browsing through their object list has made me very excited to visit.
- Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum – Washington D.C.
When we visited Washington D.C. in 2013 there was so much to do in so little time. The Air and Space Museum was not at the top of my list. After visiting the Kennedy Space Centre and working in the Powerhouse Museum, however, I have developed a new appreciation for these types of objects and stories.
Needless to say, I am very keen to return to Washington D.C. and visit this museum!
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum – Washington D.C.
Another museum we did not have time to see in Washington was the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Having studied genocide memorials and museums this year, I am hoping to visit and see how they interpret this history.
I am, therefore, interested in visiting to see their exhibition design and how they have decided to display their objects. I am also interested to see how they have integrated other genocides into their narrative.
- The Henry Ford Museum
There are so many objects I want to see in this museum. Mainly because of the stories they can tell whilst adding an authentic element. For example, the Lincoln Continental from President Kennedy’s Assassination and the bus Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on are just two of the fascinating objects on display.
Basically, it is a museum of large objects each of which can shed light on a significant event in the history of the United States.
I cannot wait to hopefully see some of these museums in the next few years. It will be interesting to reflect on this list next year and see how much it has changed. Better yet, it would be amazing to actually visit a couple of the museums between now and then. Tick them off the list! We will see what 2017 has in store.
Curate Your Own Adventure 