The top Five Museums around the World

Shannon Henderson

The top 5 Museums around the World

• Le Louvre – Paris, France

This museum is found in the Louvre Palace and was originally built as a fortress in the late 12th century under Philip ll. It displays more than 380,000 objects and 35,000 works of art in eight curatorial departments and spans over 652,000 sq ft. Main pieces that can be found here include: Aphrodite or the “Venus de Milo” by Alexandros of Antioch, The Marly Horses by Nicolas Coustou, Louis XIV by Hyacinthe Rigaud, and The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. Personally upon researching this museum I found the layout very compelling. The pyramid structure in the front would definitely be a huge reason why I would walk into the museum in the first place.

(Le Louvre)

2. Smithsonian Institution – Washington, D.C

Located in Washington, D.C the Smithsonian Institution is known as the world’s largest research and museum complex. It holds 137 million items, and includes nine research centers, a zoo, and nineteen museums. Built in 1846 the institute was originally named the United States National Museum, and has been one of the most visited museums in the world. I have had many friends and family members visit this museum and have heard no negative reviews about it. Apparently the staff is very friendly, the facility is kept clean and organized, and the visit is worth-while.

(The Smithsonian Institute)

3. The British Museum – London, England

The British Museum is located in the Bloomsbury area of London and was open in 1759. This museum is known for its dedicated to human history and culture. Today it displays over 13 million objects in the British Museum section, 150 million in the British Library, and 70 million at the Natural History section. Main pieces found here include: Pieces of Eight – silver coins from 17th century Spain, The Rosetta Stone – Egyptian hieroglyphics, and The Meroë Head of Augustus. I found this museum interesting due to the fact that admission is free daily to visitors through a certain time. I think including the community and potential international visitors is huge for a museum, and this feature is very considerate and shows that the British Museum’s main goal is to maintain a stable support system and visitor rant, while entertaining and educating everyone who enters.

(The British Museum)

4. State Hermitage – St. Petersburg, Russia

The State Hermitage museum is located in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and is one of the oldest and largest museums in the world. Originally founded by Catherine the Great the museum opened to the public in 1852, and consists of six buildings, five of which stay open. Over 17 thousand paintings, 12 thousand sculptures, 600 graphic works, and one million archeological findings are displayed there. Out of those the most popular include: Spectators in the Arena at Arles, Memory of the Garden of Etten, Lilacs, and Portrait of Madame Trabuc all by Vincent van Gogh. I found it intriguing that many of the pieces portrayed here are works of Vincent van Gogh. Being a dancer I have also grown up around many aspects of art, and have been exposed to him often. Because of this, he has become one of my favorite artists, and this museum would be a perfect one to someday visit.

(State Hermitage)

5. The Acropolis Museum – Athens, Greece

The Acropolis Museum in Athens Greece is centered around the archaeological site of the Acropolis. It was founded in 2003 and was opened to the public in June of 2008. The design of the building alone is complex and is constructed based around three elements: light, movement, and a tectonic element. The museum is built over an extensive archaeological site, while the floor, outside and inside, is transparent by the use glass giving the visitor a chance to see the excavations below. The glass windows show the Parthenon standing to the West of the museum. Main objects here include: The Parthenon located outside, Prokne and Itys by Alkamenes, and Detail of the East Frieze by Pheidias Workshop. I find it interesting how the Acropolis Museum incorporates the Parthenon by focusing the architect of the building around being able to view it. The use of windows and open space would make for a nice visit.

(The Acropolis)
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