International Museum Day

International Museum Day is celebrated every year on May 18 to make people realize how important museums are to spread cultural knowledge across communities and to develop a feeling of mutual understanding among people. 

Museum comes from the Greek word mouseion, which means “the seat of Muses”. Originally, museums were created as a place for people to sit and think. Over time, museums have become an institution which helps in protecting cultural and historical artifacts or materials for the future generations to see, understand and document. Some people indulge in the study of museums, which is called museology. It explores the history of museums, the role they play in society, how they impart knowledge and educate people about different civilizations, heritages and histories.  

International Museum Day was started in 1977 by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) to promote the social significance of museums all around the world. Every year they provide a theme for International Museum Day. This year’s theme is Museums, Sustainability and Well-being. To celebrate this day, many people visit nearby museums. As of now, there are around 104 thousand museums in the world, with the United States being the country with the highest number of museums.