International Museum Day—A Celebration of Museums of all Shapes, Sizes and Collections

Most people may not know this, but Wednesday was International Museum Day. Since 1977, the International Council of Museums has designated May 18th as a day to celebrate museums worldwide.  According to the ICM’s website Museum Day is “an occasion to raise awareness on how important museums are in the development of society”.

A holiday of sorts for museums? Well, that is a holiday I can get on board with! As a museum employee and fan of museums in general I can understand and appreciate the importance and necessity of museums of all shapes, sizes and collections.

When you think of museums what do you think of? Places like the Art Institute, The Field Museum, The Getty, The Smithsonian Institute, The Louvre? I could go on and on naming world renowned institutions like these. And while I would agree that these are generally what people think of when museums are mentioned, these are far from the only types of museums!

As I said before, I am a fan of museums in general and so when I go on vacation I like to try to find some museum to visit. This was not always the case. Looking back on vacations from my childhood I use to think going to a museum on vacation was some sort of punishment or torture that my parents found funny. Now I see it as a way of finding what makes these places I go so unique.

Many of my “vacations” these days are actually trips to museum conferences around the Midwest. As part of the conferences, trips to local museums are expected. In the last several years I have had to opportunity to visit museums like The John Deere Pavilion in Moline, The Toy & Miniature Museum and The Steamboat Arabia Museum in Kansas City, The Museum of Russian Art in Minneapolis, Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island, and last year The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

The Rock (as the locals call it) was probably the best of all the museum visits; they arranged a private concert for the conference attendees by Hall of Fame inductee Patti Smith!

When I am not at conferences I still like to check out local museums, and from time to time I am even able to drag my fellow vacationers along with me. Some of the most interesting museums and historic sites I have visited include The Laura Plantation - a Creole Plantation outside New Orleans, The Hungarian Heritage Museum and The Christmas Story House Museum both in Cleveland, The Sherlock Holmes Museum in London, The Conspiracy Museum in Dallas, and The Liberace Museum in Las Vegas!

While my friends and family may roll their eyes and protest about going to a museum, they usually end up enjoying themselves and in the end are happy they came along. I like to try to find some of the odder or unique museums to visit because these are the ones that can break the stereotype of the boring museum full of old dead things, and they are usually the ones that are the most fun.

In honor of International Museum Day I have been posting links to some of the most unique museums from around the world on the St. Charles Heritage Center’s Facebook site. Check it out and see what other people find to be museum worthy collections. http://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Charles-Heritage-Center/65494807392 

So while an art museum like MOMA may not be your cup of tea, don’t write off all museums as stuffy, boring, dull, or a cruel form of punishment. Next time you travel check out the visitors’ information booths for brochures, you never know you could find your way to The Museum of Salt and Pepper Shakers in Gatlinburg, TN or The Spam Museum in Austin, MN.