A Love Letter to Time Spent in Museums

Have you ever wanted to travel to another world and immerse yourself in everything you see upon arrival … art, flowers, machines, cities? Or thought about falling into a picture book and walking amongst the illustrations? These thoughts often entered my imagination as a child after reading books like The Secret Garden or watching TV shows like Lost In Space. Yet the first time I felt like I walked with awe into an alternate world or happily tripped into the pages of a book was during a visit to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City as a young teen.  

It was 1975, and the museum was hosting a ground-breaking exhibition of artifacts from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as frosty relations between the West and the PRC began to thaw. The Exhibition of Archaeological Finds of the People's Republic of China featured 385 objects excavated between 1949-1972 and was hailed as a major event in Kansas City, one of only two American cities to serve as host. The exhibition attracted more than 280,000 visitors to the Nelson Gallery during its April 20-June 8, 1975, run and still lives in the memories of Kansas Citians and attendees 50 years later. While I don’t recall any specific objects from this visit, I do remember the crowds at the museum and excitement it brought to Kansas City. It was this particular visit that seeded my love for museums of almost any sort (but particularly art museums), a love that continues to bloom today. 

Why Are Museums Important? 

• They preserve 

• They show and tell 

• They celebrate, share, and remember history, both good and bad 

• They trip our sense triggers: fun, thoughtfulness, whimsy, sorrow 

• They offer a variety of social and educational programming that focuses on community bonding 

Why Spend Time at a Museum? 

• You’ll enter an illustrative and often demonstrative environment designed to teach about a particular subject or discipline. 

• A well-curated museum gives you a well-rounded physical, mental and emotional experience; you can get swept away by feelings, get your steps in, stretch your muscles, and fill your brain. 

• You can be around people yet also find quiet. It’s the best of both worlds! 

How to “Do” a Museum 

You might think, “Well, you just walk in!” And sure, you can do just that and have quite a nice experience. But a little advance planning will help you get more enjoyment and make the most of your time.

• Start by visiting the museum’s website. Most offer very helpful “Plan Your Visit”  and/or FAQ sections. You might think a museum is open every day (or most days), but the website will tell you if it is closed on specific days of the week, which, from experience, is especially helpful to know when slotting a museum visit while on vacation or on a quick trip. 

• Note admission prices. Some museums are free; many charge but will comp the admission with a membership purchase. Tip: If you hold museum memberships at home, check this list from the North American Reciprocal Museum Association to see if your home membership may be honored at a similar museum in a different city. 

• If your schedule allows, or if the museum is hosting a popular exhibition, I suggest buying advance tickets online. View a map of the museum online or at the admission desk so you can decide in advance where you want to focus your time if you don’t have all day (or even if you do). 

• Spend a day … or even just an hour! Many large museums have highlight cards at the admissions desk that offer detailed information and maps that will deliver you to the absolute “must-sees” if time is short. 

• Pack a snack and your favorite refillable bottle to stay fueled and hydrated. If your budget allows, most museums have restaurants, snack bars, or cafes where you can grab a bite and support the museum’s programming. 

• Stop by the gift shop! You’ll find fun gifts for yourself or for others. Remember your day with a beautiful book, magnet, coffee mug, or activity kit. Some of my favorite fashion and home accessories have been purchases or gifts from museum gift shops. 

Three Personal Favorite Museums 

Of all the museums I’ve visited, three stand out as exceptional experiences. The settings, the featured art, the curation and displays – all had special qualities that made for powerful memories.

Photo 1: I visited the Cooper Hewitt with my family on a very cold night in February 2019. The warmth of the Carnegie mansion and the exhibit’s focus on color were welcome distractions from the frigid weather. / Photo 2: The exhibit featured designs from various countries and eras. The common thread: vivid, arresting color. / Photo 3: The intimate setting of what was once a grand family home lent the wide-ranging exhibit the feeling of a beloved personal collection.

• Cooper Hewitt, New York City: Cooper Hewitt, a Smithsonian Design Museum, is the only U.S. museum exclusively focused on historical and contemporary design. It’s housed in Andrew Carnegie’s 64-room mansion; I felt very much like I was wandering through a beautiful home filled with art everywhere I looked. I enjoyed the 2019 exhibition Saturated: The Allure and Science of Color; by the end of the evening, I left feeling saturated in the best possible way. 

Photo 1: I visited the Neon Boneyard with my sister in November 2021. All of these iconic signs in piles or various stages of arrangement gave this experience a “Wow! Look what I found!” feeling. / Photo 2: What a treat to find my own neon monogram! / Photo 3: Do you remember any of these iconic signs? The love and desire to save them from the dump and show them to the public moved me.

• The Neon Museum, Las Vegas: Where did all the classic Las Vegas neon signs go? Many are now lounging throughout the 2.27 acres of The Neon Museum. Opened in 1996, a highlight is the Neon Boneyard, where many iconic neon signs no longer in use now live. Walking among these well-known graphic artifacts, many of which are big enough to dwarf us mere mortals, is a trippy and humbling experience. The museum also has very worthwhile interactive exhibits inside its main building. 

Photo 1: The sheer size and shape of the GEM reference the nearby Great Pyramids of Giza. / Photo 2: Egyptian rulers through the ages greet museum visitors in the Grand Atrium. It is difficult to describe just how vast this museum really is. / Photo 3:  A display of hand mirrors from the New Kingdom (1550 BC-1070 BC) made of bronze with handles fashioned from ivory. The mirrors’ shapes resemble plants and figures of regeneration, both important to ancient Egyptian concepts of beauty.

• Grand Egyptian Museum, Cairo. Technically, this museum doesn’t even open to the public until November 4 (and that is a projected date after many delays). A tremendously ambitious project, the GEM has taken nearly 20 years and $1 billion dollars to complete. But during a soft opening held in February 2025, I and my fellow Egypt travelers got to spend a day at the museum exploring everything on display. A marvel of construction, we ascended the Grand Staircase and wandered through expansive spaces taking us on explorations of ancient statuary, reliefs, jewelry, household items such as hand mirrors, and even business records on papyrus! All the eras of ancient Egypt truly come to life at this museum situated just a couple of miles away from the Great Pyramids of Giza. 

Oh, Yes! There’s a Museum for THAT! 

Visiting just one major museum can put you in touch with the spectrum of human experience and endeavor. However, one can also find plenty of offbeat museums that simply focus on one thing or topic. Enter the noun of your choice plus “museum” in Google and I’ll bet you’ll actually find what you’re looking for! 

My son and husband racing against time to fill up as many (pretend) SPAM cans as possible before the bell rings.

One of my favorites along these more specialized lines is the SPAM Museum in Austin, Minnesota, recommended by good friend Christine. How tall are you in SPAM cans? How many countries make and sell SPAM? Why was SPAM important to the American campaign in WWII? Answers to all these questions and more can be found at this museum dedicated to the iconic American pressed meat product. We enjoyed our afternoon here and took home a few special flavors of international SPAM from the gift shop. 

On the hunt for even more of the odd and strange? Here’s a guide: The weirdest museums in the U.S. Looking for road trip-worthy museums with a smaller footprint? Find some ideas for your next exploration: 30 Really Interesting American Small Museums 

Need More Reasons to Add a Day at the Museum to Your Calendar? 

• Why We Need Museums Now More Than Ever 

• Museum Facts and Data 

• The Importance of Museums 

• From the Friendsville Square archives: The Best Rx in 2024: Your Brain on Art by Mia Harris  

I would love to read about some of your favorite museums or museums you look forward to visiting. Please share in the comments!

Laurie White Bergman, a retired public relations professional and recent empty-nester, finds her latest act full of places to visit, activities to explore, skills to learn (or rediscover), and friends to make it all fun and worthwhile. She lives in St. Louis County, Missouri. Connect with her on Threads: @laurie_bergman 

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