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When is International Museum Day?

May 18th is International Museum Day.

What is International Museum Day?

Time travel exists only in science fiction, for now. And until this sci fi dream becomes a reality, museums are the closest we can get to seeing into the past. International Museum Day celebrates these sites that offer a glimpse into humankind’s history.

Museums are amazing. Don’t believe it? Every child still in touch with his or her imagination can vouch for it. A museum is an opportunity to learn about long-dead creatures or ancient civilizations that stretched across vast, uncharted and vicious landscapes.

Natural history museums unveil planet Earth’s dynamic landscapes, along with the beasts, bugs, and bushes that have inhabited our world. Naval museums recount deadly battles at sea and feats of human engineering and navigation. And aviation museums, they show the stories of humanity’s journey into the sky and beyond.

Humans are storied race. A museum is a good place to learn those stories, and International Museum Day is a fitting day to visit a museum.

Fun facts about International Museum Day!

  • American museums see 850 million separate visits every year.
  • There are 55,000 museums in 202 countries around the world. The U.S. alone houses more than 35,000 of those museums.
  • Centuries ago, museums were only private collections. The first public museum was the Ashmolean Museum, which opened in Oxford, England in 1683.

How to celebrate International Museum Day:

  • Go to a museum. Anyone lucky enough to live in a city with a large museum has it made. For most people outside large cities, a museum is still only a short day trip away.
  • Worried the experience will be boring? Take your kids—or your friends who have kids. If you try to get a 6- or 8-year old interested in the artifacts of human history, you’ll be on the hunt for the most exciting sights and facts. You’ll be too busy having fun to be bored.

What’s the hashtag for International Museum Day?

Use #MuseumDay on social media to share your Museum Day agenda.