# Museum - Source: Simple English Wikipedia (simple.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, Simple English Wikipedia contributors - Reading level: Grades 6 to 8 - Subjects: Arts and Culture, History - Topics: museum, museums, history, exhibition, heritage, works - Length: 349 words, about 2 min - Published: 2005-08-24 - Original: - Page: - Open in Sprouts: ![](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/simple-wikipedia-museum-281ef32b82.jpg) The Japanese *Shōsō-in* in Nara is the oldest museum building in Japan. A **museum** is a building which is open to the public. It is also the institution where things are collected and then shown to people. ## History The word, **museum**, originates from Musa which is the goddesses of literature, art, and science who appears in Greek mythology. According to the International Council of Museums (ICOM), the definition of museums has changed over time. The oldest museum structure in the world is the *Shōsō-in* in Nara, Japan. Today's museums are non-profit, permanent institutions in the service of society and its development. ## Function A museum acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits the tangible heritage and the intangible heritage of humanity and the environment. Museums exist for the purposes of education, study and enjoyment. Some museums have things that visitors can do. For example, ecomuseums exist. Museums can be about different things such as art, national history, natural history, or science. People go to museums sometimes to learn, or to simply have fun. Museums with live animals are called zoos. ### Exhibitions - Temporary or changing exhibits Exhibition which selects works along with some themes, e.g., a writer, a time, an area, etc. Exhibition which selects works along with some themes, e.g., a writer, a time, an area, etc. - Permanent exhibits Exhibition which displays the works which the museum possesses. Exhibition which displays the works which the museum possesses. ## Gallery ### Art museums ![The Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/simple-wikipedia-museum-d49c3c88dc.jpg) The Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia ![Morohashi Museum of Modern Art in Fukushima](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/simple-wikipedia-museum-8bd1bc6c41.jpg) Morohashi Museum of Modern Art in Fukushima ### History museums ![The Tōhoku History Museum in Miyagi](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/simple-wikipedia-museum-41cf7a121e.jpg) The Tōhoku History Museum in Miyagi ### Literature museums ![Koriyama Museum of Literature in Fukushima is the former home of Masao Kume](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/simple-wikipedia-museum-fc4d1af14a.jpg) Koriyama Museum of Literature in Fukushima is the former home of Masao Kume ### Natural history museums ![The American Museum of Natural History in New York](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/simple-wikipedia-museum-221356f914.jpg) The American Museum of Natural History in New York ### Open air museums ![New Lanark is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in South Lanarkshire, Scotland](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/simple-wikipedia-museum-d74304b481.jpg) New Lanark is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in South Lanarkshire, Scotland ![Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine is a World Heritage Site in Shimane Prefecture, Japan](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/simple-wikipedia-museum-f63bbcff6b.jpg) Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine is a World Heritage Site in Shimane Prefecture, Japan ### Science museums ![Mushitec in Fukushima is about insects](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/simple-wikipedia-museum-74c457d150.jpg) Mushitec in Fukushima is about insects ### Museum ships ![Cutty Sark in London, England](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/simple-wikipedia-museum-5c93f1807b.jpg) *Cutty Sark* in London, England ![Nippon Maru in Yokohama harbor](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/simple-wikipedia-museum-3a64191085.jpg) *Nippon Maru* in Yokohama harbor ![National Museum, Szczecin, Poland](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/simple-wikipedia-museum-7bae2c81e3.jpg) National Museum, Szczecin, Poland ## Picture credits - CC BY-SA 3.0 () - Siegfried Nugent ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0 () - Qwert1234, Public domain () - Mutimaro, CC BY-SA 3.0 () - At by At, CC BY-SA 3.0 () - Javier Carbajal, CC BY-SA 2.5 () - mrpbps, CC BY 2.0 () - Naokijp, CC BY-SA 4.0 () - ムシテックワールド, CC BY 3.0 () - Sandpiper, Public domain () - TYORON2, CC BY-SA 3.0 () - Żeglarz, Public domain ()