North America
Archaeology, history, art, popular culture… Museums abound in the fifty states of the USA – as well as in Washington DC, the US capital and home to the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex. The Smithsonian deserves its own blog but, in the meantime, we present just a few of the US museum highlights.
American Museum of Natural History, New York
Adjacent to New York‘s iconic Central Park, the American Museum of Natural History is one of the largest and most renowned natural history museums in the world. Founded in 1869, the Museum features 45 permanent exhibition halls, an enormous library and the state-of-the-art Hayden Planetarium. The Museum’s collections include plant and animal fossils, asteroids, rocks and crystals, and human remains, as well as astrophysical data. On average, about five million people visit the Museum each year.
Museum of Modern Art, New York
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) was founded in 1929 by a group of wealthy art patrons who sought to establish a museum dedicated to modern art. Today MoMa is one of the most important museums in North America with a collection of more than 200,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, media and performance art works, architectural models and drawings, design objects, and films, as well as a comprehensive library and archive. Its galleries feature artworks from the 1880s to the present – including some of the world’s most celebrated paintings such as Van Gogh’s Starry Night, Pablo Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon and Salvador Dali’s The Persistence of Memory.
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
As one of New York City’s world-class museums, and one of North America’s most important museums, the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met) is probably one of the best-known museums worldwide, both for its collection and its prominent events. It was opened in 1870 and relocated to its current site, adjacent to Central Park, in 1880. Extending over 180,000 square metres, the galleries of The Met Fifth Avenue highlight ancient and modern works from all over the world, including art, sculpture, fashion, jewellery, and artefacts. The Met Cloisters, in Fort Tryon Park, spotlights the art, architecture and gardens of mediaeval Europe.
Hollywood Museum, USA
Located in the Max Factor Building in Los Angeles – the heart of the American film industry –the Hollywood Museum features the posters, costumes, scripts and cars from many iconic blockbuster movies. The most popular exhibits here are Marilyn Monroe’s famous white dress and the Star Trek uniforms!
Royal Ontario Museum, Canada
Located in Toronto, Canada’s most populous city, the Royal Ontario Museum is one of the largest museums in North America. Hosting millions of visitors every year, it may be one of the most visited museums in North America. The Museum is located north of Queen’s Park around the University of Toronto.
The Royal Ontario Museum was founded in 1914 and is considered the largest field research institution in Canada. The Museum features 40 galleries and a wealth of collections that include dinosaur fossils, minerals, meteorites, East Asian Art, Near East and African Art, and objects from Canadian history. The Royal Ontario Museum is also home to the largest collection of fossils, with over 150,000 items!
Ontario Art Gallery, Canada
Also in Toronto is the Ontario Art Gallery, one of the most popular art museums in North America. With a collection comprising more than 68,000 works ranging from the first century to the present, the Ontario Art Gallery attracts attention with its deep-rooted history – as well as its innovative virtual showcase, Collection X, in which visitors can create and present their own exhibits.
Museum of Mayan Culture, Mexico
In Chetumal, the Museum of Mayan Culture presents Mexico’s most comprehensive collection related to the ancient Mayan civilization. Opened in 1994, the Museum features eight galleries with exhibits on Mayan culture, its origins and daily life, as well as agriculture, commerce, science and technology.
The National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico
Located in Mexico City, Mexico’s capital, the Mexican National Museum of Anthropology (MNA) contains the world’s largest collection of ancient Mexican art, along with ethnographic exhibits. Formally opened in 1866, the MNA, one of the most interesting museums in North America, covers an 80,000 square-foot area, features 23 permanent exhibition halls, and includes archaeological exhibits and even paintings by 20th-century artists.
Museum of the Revolution, Cuba
Set in the former Presidential Palace, the Museum of the Revolution is in Havana, the capital of Cuba. The Museum’s collection includes photographs, flags, documents, weapons, and other objects related to the history of Cuba from pre-Columbian culture to the present. In addition there are exhibits on the revolutionary fighting against Batista, the 1953 assault of Moncada and the life of Che Guevara.
South America
In addition to incredible history and stunning archaeological sites, the continent of South America is home to extraordinary museums focusing on art, culture, and history! So, let’s look at two of South America’s most important and most visited museums.
Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires
The Museum of Latin American Art (MALBA), in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is one of the city’s cultural landmarks. Opened in 2001, the Museum’s collections focus on twentieth century Latin American art, with works from Mexico, the Caribbean and central America as well as South America, including paintings, photographs, and drawings, along with sculptures, collages, installations, and other pieces. MALBA, one of the most important museums in South America, also hosts workshops, conferences, contemporary film screenings and various other events.
Museum of Tomorrow, Brazil
The futuristic Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro is also Brazil’s most visited museum and one of the most interesting museums in South America. Extending across 15,000 square metres, the Museum features interactive exhibits focusing on scientific and environmental issues, including climate change, biodiversity, and population growth. Its five main galleries are themed under Cosmos, Earth, Anthropocene, Tomorrow, and Us.
To further expand your museum discovery boundaries, check out History and art through the ages: Europe’s most significant museums!
