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Lists of museums

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This is a list of museums, it is sorted by country, topic and by size.

Although a general concept of a museum may exist, official definitions vary.

The International Council of Museums' current definition of a museum (adopted in 2022): "A museum is a not-for-profit, permanent institution in the service of society that researches, collects, conserves, interprets and exhibits tangible and intangible heritage. Open to the public, accessible and inclusive, museums foster diversity and sustainability. They operate and communicate ethically, professionally and with the participation of communities, offering varied experiences for education, enjoyment, reflection and knowledge sharing."[1]

The Canadian Museums Association's definition: "A museum is a non-profit, permanent establishment, that does not exist primarily for the purpose of conducting temporary exhibitions and that is open to the public during regular hours and administered in the public interest for the purpose of conserving, preserving, studying, interpreting, assembling and exhibiting to the public for the instruction and enjoyment of the public, objects and specimens or educational and cultural value including artistic, scientific, historical and technological material."[2]

The United Kingdom's Museums Association's definition: "Museums enable people to explore collections for inspiration, learning and enjoyment. They are institutions that collect, safeguard and make accessible artifacts and specimens, which they hold in trust for society."

While the American Alliance of Museums does not have such a definition, their list of accreditation criteria to participate in their Accreditation Program states a museum must: "Be a legally organized nonprofit institution or part of a nonprofit organization or government entity; Be essentially educational in nature; Have a formally stated and approved mission; Use and interpret objects or a site for the public presentation of regularly scheduled programs and exhibits; Have a formal and appropriate program of documentation, care, and use of collections or objects; Carry out the above functions primarily at a physical facility or site; Have been open to the public for at least two years; Be open to the public at least 1,000 hours a year; Have accessioned 80 percent of its permanent collection; Have at least one paid professional staff with museum knowledge and experience; Have a full-time director to whom authority is delegated for day-to-day operations; Have the financial resources sufficient to operate effectively; Demonstrate that it meets the Core Standards for Museums; Successfully complete the Core Documents Verification Program".[3]

Additionally, there is a legal definition of museum in United States legislation authorizing the establishment of the Institute of Museum and Library Services: "Museum means a public, tribal, or private nonprofit institution which is organized on a permanent basis for essentially educational, cultural heritage, or aesthetic purposes and which, using a professional staff: Owns or uses tangible objects, either animate or inanimate; Cares for these objects; and Exhibits them to the general public on a regular basis" (Museum Services Act 1976).[4]

The total number of museums in the world is disputed. UNESCO claims that there are 95,000 museums today. [5]The International Council of Museums comprises of 57,208 members in 137 countries and territories, as of 2023.[6]

By country

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See also: List of national museums

This is a list of museums by country, defined by any country that is a UN observer or member state.

By topic

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This is a list of museums by the topic that concerns the museum. Museum types that have overlap in one or more categories are listed under the most relevant category.

Art

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Electronics

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Food

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Historical

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Science

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Sports

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Miscellaneous

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The following museums do not fall under any of the previous categories or can fall under any of them.

By size

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "ICOM approves a new museum definition". International Council of Museums. Archived from the original on 25 August 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-29.
  2. ^ "About Museums". Association of Manitoba Museums. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  3. ^ "Eligibility". American Alliance of Museums. 2018-01-25. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  4. ^ "2 CFR § 3187.3 – Definition of a museum". LII / Legal Information Institute. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  5. ^ "Museums". UNESCO. UNESCO. Retrieved 22 April 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ "ICOM Annual Report 2023" (PDF). International Council of Museums Committee for University Museums and Collections. International Council of Museums. Retrieved 22 April 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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