North America Museums and Culture

    Museum of the Moving Image, United States

  36-01 35th Avenue - Astoria, NY             
Do you love TV? Movies? Digital Media? The Museum of the Moving Image in Queens is the quintessential hub of information and instruction dedicated to all things revolving around the moving picture. This sprawling museum is home to an enormous collection of exhibits that give the visitor an opportunity to feel like they are a piece of the bigger picture. The museum’s offerings include firsthand looks at the making of TV and Movies, make-up work, digital presentations and lectures from some of the most revered artists, actors, producers and directors in the moving image community. On top of this, the museum offers special film screenings dedicated to the evolution of TV and film with sneak previews of upcoming attractions. Spring 2012 will bring even more into the museum as the featured attraction of “Aliens, Gadgets and Guns” will be displayed coinciding with the release of Men in Black 3. This exhibit is a tribute to master special effects and make-up artist Rick Baker, demonstrating the painstaking labor put into developing the gadgets, aliens and make-up required for a movie of this magnitude. The Museum of the Moving Image is a Queens’ charm with dedication to make people smile with awe at the vastness of the moving image community.
    Just For Laughs Museum, Canada
  2111 Saint-Laurent Boulevard - Montréal, QC           
In 1993, with the success of the Just For Laughs Festival, Gilbert Rozon created a place to recognize laughter and humour as cultural phenomena - the Just For Laughs Museum (JFLM). The Museum's history is marked by many challenging happenings - some sidesplitting, some discouraging, but none boring! Nonetheless, the Museum lives on!
The Just For Laughs Museum is a venue for thematic exhibitions, a multi-functional space for the presentation of public, private or professional events, and a media documentation centre for the promotion, research and distribution of information about laugher, humour and fantasy. It celebrates these aspects of the human condition using a fun approach that appeals to a diverse audience, including children and young people.
    Charles M. Schulz, United States
  2301 Hardies Lane - Santa Rosa, CA           
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on November 26, 1922, Charles M. Schulz was the only child of Dena and Carl Schulz. From birth, comics played an important role in Schulz’s life. At just two days old, an uncle nicknamed him “Sparky” after the horse Spark Plug from the Barney Google comic strip, and throughout his youth he and his father shared a Sunday morning ritual reading the funnies. Schulz always knew he wanted to be a cartoonist and was very proud when Ripley’s newspaper feature, Believe it or Not, published his drawing of the family dog in 1937.
    The Frick Collection, United States
  1 East 70th Street - New York, NY              
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One of Manhattan’s most breathtaking displays is located at the Frick Collection. Before you even step foot inside the museum, you are greeted by the house built by Henry Clay Frick reflecting a sense of excellence and exuberance unlike anything else. The real treasures of the Frick Collection lie inside as the museum plays host to some of the most wonderful pieces of artwork every collected from the Gilded Age. Visitors can set out by themselves or join a guided tour in order to experience fully the vast treasure of wealth in the collection. Summer 2012 sees artists such as Renoir and Antico predominantly featured throughout the exhibits, capturing a sense of awe from all who gaze upon the work. The Frick Collection is also privy to a great many guest lecturers who specialize in this artwork and are sure to enlighten and inform those lucky enough to be in the room. An added attraction to the Frick Collection is the frequent concerts that are played on the grounds featuring classical ensembles. Manhattan’s Frick Collection is a symbol of culture that transcends generations and offers an opportunity for all New Yorkers to experience the true meaning of the word class.
    Weatherspoon Art Museum, United States
  UNC Greensboro - Greensboro, NC           
The Weatherspoon Art Museum at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro has one of the foremost collections of modern and contemporary art in the Southeast. Through a dynamic annual calendar of exhibitions and educational programs, the Weatherspoon provides an opportunity for audiences to consider artistic, cultural, and social issues of the times, and enriches the life of the university and community.
    Smith's Castle, United States
  55 Richard Smith Drive - Wickford, RI           
Dating back several centuries, Smith's Castle remains today a Rhode Island and American treasure.
    Orlando Science Center, United States
   - Orlando, FL           
The Orlando Science Center fosters curiosity, innovation, discovery and intellectual achievement, drawing together all our varied Central Florida cultures, through participative, authentic experiences that create an appreciation for the importance of science and technology to our way of life.
    Vanderbilt Museum, United States
  1015 Hempstead Turnpike - Centerport, NY           
The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum - a unique combination of mansion, marine and natural history museum, planetarium and park - is dedicated to the education and enjoyment of the people of Long Island and beyond. This mission shall be achieved through the thoughtful preservation, interpretation and enhancement of the Eagle's Nest estate as an informal educational facility. Exhibition and program themes focus upon Long Island's Gold Coast Era and upon William K. Vanderbilt II's desire that his marine, natural history, and ethnographic collections promote appreciation and understanding of the marvelous diversity of life, other cultures, and scientific knowledge.
    Museum Village, United States
  1010 Route 17M - Monroe, NY           
Museum Village was the vision of Roscoe William Smith, an electrical engineer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and collector who contributed to his native Orange County in many ways during his 99 years. Roscoe made his fortune as founder of the Orange and Rockland electric company in 1905. The wealth he generated from his successful company and investments allowed him to give back to the community in many ways. Probably Mr. Smith's most cherished gift to the local community was Museum Village of Old Smith's Clove. Mr. Smith was passionate about American history and was an avid collector of Americana. His collection varied widely, from textiles and porcelain items to horse-drawn carriages. His main interest, was in craft tools and mechanical devices: their invention, adaptation and development which he realized were slowly disappearing.
    The Jewish Museum, United States
  1109 5th Avenue - New York, NY             
Manuscripts from the Bodleian Libraries. September 14, 2012 - February 3, 2013. Crossing Borders features a superb selection of over fifty Hebrew, Latin, and Arabic manuscripts from the University of Oxford’s Bodleian Libraries, one of the world’s richest collections of manuscripts and printed books related to medieval European Jewish culture. The manuscripts, many of them exquisitely illuminated, illustrate the fertile exchanges among Christians, Muslims, and Jews in the fields of religion, art, science, and literature. Included is one of the Bodleian's greatest treasures: the magnificent Kennicott Bible. Many of the works in the exhibition are on view in the United States for the first time.
For thousands of years, the Jewish heritage has helped shape the world’s societies and changed the landscape of art, literature and culture. The Jewish Museum located in Manhattan has been built exclusively to take visitors on a journey across the world and through time. Housed within the illustrious Warburg mansion on New York’s famous Museum Mile, the Jewish Museum comprises over 27,000 separate items all dedicated to the Jewish culture from hundreds of years old pressings and paintings to the most recent digital and video displays. Visitors can be drawn to these numerous exhibitions and have a variety of guides explaining the significance of the work and how it applies to today’s society. Also included at the museum, is a uniquely comprehensive body of radio and television programs related to the Jewish experience which allows visitors to fully grasp the conceptual application of Jewish culture. Spring 2012 offers a very special installation by Barbara Bloom; the first in a projected series featuring contemporary artists interacting with collection works. The entire Jewish Museum experience is one that is eye-opening, heartfelt and allows the world to understand how the Jewish people have continued to thrive and produce through perseverance, dedication and a will to better the world around them.
    Jacksonville Fire Museum, United States
  1406 Gator Bowl Blvd - Jacksonville, FL           
The Jacksonville Fire Museum serves as an educational Link between the past and the present. Through the years, thousands of school children have toured the museum, learning about fire safety and the rich history of the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department.
At the Jacksonville Fire Museum , you will see more than 500 items detailing the history of the fire service not only in Jacksonville, but the entire state of Florida. Some of the artifacts are on loan from private individuals while other artifacts are property of the Jacksonville Fire Museum .
    Queens County Farm Museum, United States
  73-50 Little Neck Parkway - Queens - Floral Park, NY           
A very intriguing throwback to the past is the Queens County Farm Museum. Located on the largest undisturbed tract of farmland, the museum is the only continuously worked farm site left in New York City. Visitors have an opportunity to forget the busy life of the city and instead enjoy the rural atmosphere through a variety of activities designed to give patrons an idea of how farm life used to be in New York. The museum itself is rich in activities, as visitors can do just about anything involving farm life. Interacting with livestock, a working greenhouse and guided exploration of the historic farm buildings are all part of the experience. The museum also plays host to many guest presentations, including representatives of the Native Americans originally in New York, the Queens County Fair and several antique car and motorcycle road shows. Starting in Spring 2012, the farm is offering hayrides which encompasses the entire compound and make you feel like one of the farmers back in the agricultural heyday. For a chance to experience New York’s past in one of the most beautiful parts of New York City, plan a visit to the Queens County Farm Museum.
    Musée d'art Contemporain de Montréal, Canada
  185, Sainte-Catherine Ouest - Montréal, QC           
A major Canadian institution dedicated exclusively to contemporary art, the Musée offers a varied program ranging from presentations of its Permanent Collection to exhibitions of works by Québec, Canadian and international artists. The Permanent Collection comprises some 7,000 works, including the largest collection of art by Paul-Émile Borduas. Through Education and Documentation Department, the museum presents a host of educational activities further to connect the general public with contemporary art. The Musée also stages numerous multimedia events, including performance, new dance, experimental theatre, contemporary music, video and film.
    The Weitzel Gallery, Canada
  904 Central Avenue - Saskatoon, SK            
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The Weitzel Gallery showcases canadian artist Al Nelson Weitzel's unique creations of wildlife, horse and western art.
    Bagotville Air Defence Museum, Canada
  P.O. Box 567 - Alouette, QC           
Opened in June 1997 and officially recognized as a military museum by the Canadian Armed Forces, the Bagotville Air Defence Museum is the only museum in the Province of Quebec dedicated to the history of military aviation.
The mission of the museum is threefold: to preserve, to explain and to disseminate the military aeronautical heritage of Canada. The museum is structured around one major theme, namely the air defence of Canada, and three minor themes; the historical development of Base Bagotville, the history of military and civil aviation in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region, and technological and aeronautical developments.
    Royal London Wax Museum, Canada
  470 Belleville Street - Victoria, BC           
A visit to the Royal London Wax Museum is a journey into the pages of time. The museum documents a myriad of events through some three hundred historical personages from early to contemporary times. Through its objects, artifacts, likenesses of pivotal personages, scenarios and multi-media exhibitions, all visitors will have a meaningful opportunity to see history come alive. This museum is an important educational resource.
    Art Gallery of Ontario, Canada
  317 Dundas Street West - Toronto, ON             
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Founded in 1900 by a group of private citizens as the Art Museum of Toronto, the Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the largest art museums in North America, with a physical facility of 486,000 square feet. Currently under construction, the AGO’s new facility will boast 583,000 square feet, and will re-open in 2008 with an innovative architectural design by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry.
The AGO currently has more than 68,000 works in its collection, spanning from 100 AD to the present.
    Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada, Canada
  Doncaster Street, Suite C116-123 - Winnipeg, MB           
The Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada is an incorporated non-profit multi-faceted organization involved in preserving, documenting, interpreting and sharing Jewish heritage.
Headquartered at the Asper Jewish Community Campus, the JHC includes a research library, an extensive archive collection, exhibitions of our history through artifacts and displays as well as visiting and seasonal exhibits, and a Holocaust resource and education centre.
    Roedde House Museum, Canada
  1415 Barclay Street - Vancouver, BC             
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Roedde House is a restored late [1893]-Victorian home, in the heart of Vancouver's "West End". Roedde House can be rented by the hour for weddings, receptions, meetings, films, photo shoots, etc. Its elegant interior lends turn-of-the-century charm to any event.
    Workers' Heritage Museum, Canada
  306 Cyr Avenue - Ottawa, ON           
Beneath its identity as the nation’s capital and a tourist destination, Ottawa is a working class town. From its early days as Bytown to the amalgamated City, Ottawa has always been home to working class people and their families – people who created our city as we know it today. Their stories – about ordinary people like stonemasons, teachers, nurses, carpenters, and government workers – are often those forgotten by history books and museums.
The Workers’ Heritage Centre (WHC) museum will fill that gap in Ottawa’s museum network. As a museum and interpretation centre it will recognize, honour, preserve and interpret the experiences and contributions of working people – their work, home life, and their cultural and political contributions to our city. These are the stories of majority of the city’s population at any given time, and for the first time they will be heard in a museum of their own.
    The Loyal Edmonton Regiment Museum, Canada
  10440-108 Avenue - Edmonton, AB           
The goal of the The Loyal Edmonton Regiment Museum is to help Canadians to learn about their nation's military history, to be aware of the larger influence that the military has had on Canadian national history; and to appreciate the importance of the military to present-day Canada.
    Costume Museum of Canada, Canada
  109 Pacific Ave. - Winnipeg, MB
          
Celebrating fashion, culture & history.
    Durham Mining Museum
   - Greenland, GL           
"Two different accounts of the history of coal mining in County Durham are presented.
The first comes from The Victoria History of the Counties of England - Durham, published in three volumes in 1907. It contains a large section on the history of coal mining in the county. This work focuses on the detailed history and does not cover the social or practical side of the industry. We have reproduced the text up to the start of the nineteenth century.
The second comes from The History, Topography, and Directory of the County Palatine of Durham by Francis Whellan, second edition, published in 1894. Once again there is a large section of the history of coal mining in the county, however, it concentrates on the nineteenth century, but the major part covers the practical and the social side of mining during the nineteenth century.
The two works complement each other, and together present an overall history of the coal industry in County Durham. The history is nor complete without coverage of the twentieth century and the eventual demise of the industry - this topic is too large and complex to cover here and is best left to the many books on the subject. We do however, provide some information for the twentieth century in the individual pages on each colliery."
    Greenland National Museum, Greenland
  Hans Egedevej 8 - 3900 Nuuk, GL           
Museet blev startet i midten af 1960`erne som det første museum i Grønland. Samlingerne er siden udvidet gennem indsamling, fra udgravninger og med tilbageført materiale fra Danmarks Nationalmuseum. Museet har landsdækkende arbejdsopgaver indenfor arkæologi, nyere tids historie, kunst og kunsthåndværk. Museet rummer de centrale registre om fredede bygninger og fortidsminder og varetager fredningslovens bestemmelser om fredning af fortidsminder og bygninger samt deltager i naturfredning og byplanlægning.
    Sisimiut Museum, Greenland
  Jukkorsuup aqq. 9 - Sisimiut, GL           
The old town quarter is characterized by its colonial age buildings. As most of the towns in Greenland, Sisimiut has been spared of large fires. Consequently, a great deal of the colony administration buildings has been preserved. The greater part of these buildings belongs to Sisimiut Museum...