North America Museums and Culture

    New York Transit Museum, United States

  Corner of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street - Brooklyn, NY            
Do you love trains? Did you ever wonder about how the subway system was developed? Do you love seeing a part of New York that has influenced the world? If you answered yes to any of these questions then the New York Transit Museum is for you. This Cadman Plaza tourist attraction is home to one of the most uniquely vast transportation histories in the world. A visit to this museum gives you an opportunity to experience firsthand what this historic transit system is all about. Housed within ist walls are many different subway cars, engines and displays, all with their own story, and all showcasing the rich history of New York City transit. One can marvel in yesteryear with the ads from the early 1900s or discover the secrets of conduction, filtering and green energy through the interactive displays. The museum also offers full workshops and guided tours where patrons can further their knowledge and experience live the evolution of one of the most written about phenomenon in the world. This free Brooklyn Museum is open to the public and truly showcases how great Brooklyn has become in enriching its visitors and discovering the culture of New York City.
    Hands on Children's Museum, United States
  8580 Beach Blvd - Jacksonville, FL           
With bright colors and a building shaped like a castle, the Hands On Children's Museum opened it's doors in October 2000 , with generous community support. Funding is now provided by the Jacksonville community through admissions and sponsorships from individuals, small businesses and corporations.
By Summer 2008 the Hands On Children's Museum will have served over 275,000 visitors from all over. Including over 3500 school groups, with teachers from public and private schools in Duval, St. Johns, Nassau, Clay and surrounding counties enjoying all the interactive hands-on exhibits.
    International Center of Photography, United States
  1133 Ave. of the Americas at 43rd - New York, NY            
Manhattan has the distinction of being home to some of the most wonderful museum experiences in the world. One of these stands out from the rest, as it grasps the simple idea of presenting a solitary moment for its visitors. The International Center of Photography gives its patrons an opportunity to gaze at frozen moments in time and bring public attention to outstanding achievements in photography. Inside the enormous glass windows that make up the entrance lies some of the most dynamic exhibitions ever presented in the New York Museum scene. Current exhibits include works by Weegee, dealing with New York crime and news events and the first American presentation of Christer Stromholm’s “Les Amies de Place Blanche.” On top of the already vast selection of pictures and exhibits, Spring and Summer 2012 will have the museum partnered up with several instructors to provide hands-on classes for the aspiring photographers of tomorrow. This museum also houses the only library dedicated to photography, which presents even more opportunities for visitors to engulf themselves in this culture. In the simplest terms, the International Center of Photography is a life changing experience that will leave its crowds speechless and give everyone a chance to experience New York like never before.
    Molly Brown House Museum, United States
  1340 Pennsylvania St - Denver, CO           
As more and more historic properties were demolished in the 1960s, a group of preservation-minded Denver citizens joined efforts in 1970 to rescue the home of Titanic survivor Margaret Tobin Brown. The group incorporated as Historic Denver, Inc. and began major restoration efforts in order to return the home’s interior and exterior to its early 20th century grandeur. Since opening the Museum, Historic Denver has worked to save countless other Denver landmarks and increase public awareness of Denver’s unique historic structures.
    Canada Aviation Museum, Canada
  11 Aviation Parkway - Ottawa  - Ontario, CA           
The Canada Aviation Museum has avoided the tendency to concentrate exclusively on the aviation accomplishments of a single nation, or on developments within one sector of the aviation industry. Instead, the Museum’s collection policy is to illustrate the development of the flying machine in both peace and war from the pioneer period to the present time. The collection gives particular, but not exclusive, reference to Canadian achievements. Consequently, aircraft from many nations are represented in the collection—a fact that has earned it a strong international following.
The Canada Aviation Museum is recognized as having the most extensive aviation collection in Canada and one which ranks among the best in the world. In 1988, the importance of the collection was acknowledged in the opening at Rockcliffe of the first phase of a multi-phase development program to serve as the new home of the collection.
    The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art, United States
  594 Broadway, Suite 401 - New York, NY             
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Are you a fan of cartoons? How about comic strips? If you love animated drawings from a variety of different genres and artists, you need to make a visit to the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art. This beautiful Manhattan museum emphasizes the very best in animation, ranging from political and editorial cartoons all the way up to state-of-the-art computer graphic design. Guests are given the opportunity to explore the artistic and cultural impact of these works in an environment that produces feelings of nostalgia and grandeur around every corner. Closed through the beginning of Summer 2012, the museum is set to feature some of the most unique comic art in their upcoming season. A featured attraction, scheduled with the upcoming movie, is a collection documenting the vast history of the Dark Knight. A history of Batman in Japan, a look at the different artists that contributed to the various comic books, and a selection of work that inspired Michael Uslan to produce the Batman film series are all available right here in New York City. Looking for a one-of-a-kind experience? Take the time to stop in and visit the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art.
    Museum of the City of New York, United States
  5th Avenue & 103rd Street - Manhattan - New York, NY           
Nothing says New York City more than a museum dedicated to what New York is all about. At the Museum of the City of New York, patrons are allowed to link the past, present and future of NYC through a variety of presentations and exhibits designed to show the timeline of what New York’s evolution. When stepping through its doors on Manhattan’s famous Museum Mile, you will notice that an extensive remodeling and expansion project is under way. Several floors of memorabilia ranging from photographs, prints, theater mementos, costumes, and more are displayed in such a way as to show the affluent history of New York and to instill a sense of grandeur the city represents. Through Summer2012, the museum is continuing to offer state-of-the-art exhibitions including demonstrations on the social and economic growth of NYC. Visitors are encouraged to look at the projects including “Capitol of Capitol” which deals directly with New York banks and their effect on the global economy and “From Farm to City” which showcases Staten Island and its change from rural farmland to an urban center. The Museum of the City of New York is a phenomenal experience and a treasured look at one of the most fascinating cities in the world.
    Cartoon Art Museum, United States
  655 Mission Street - San Francisco, CA             
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The Cartoon Art Museum is committed to fostering and promoting a greater appreciation of cartoon art. This it achieves through collecting, cataloging, preserving and displaying the finest representations of original cartoon art as well as providing innovative educational programs designed to enrich the cultural life of our community.
    Jacksonville Maritime Museum, United States
  1015 Museum Circle, Unit 2 - Jacksonville, FL           
A non-profit, educational association and collects books, documents, artifacts, and other historical objects significant to General Maritime History of Jacksonville and Florida's First Coast; preserves their historical value; and interprets their meaning to the public by means of museum displays, educational programs, lectures and publications.
The founders of the JMMS have declared preserving the history of Jacksonville has laid the groundwork for establishing a rich collection of artifacts and manuscripts that relate to Jacksonville’s past, present, and future. The strength of the JMMS collection lies in its connections between artifacts and the people who owned, used, and learned from them.
    Birmingham Museum of Art, United States
  2000 Eighth Avenue Nort - Birmingham, AL           
    The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, United States
  600 Main St. - Hartford, CT             
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"We’re more than just the first public art institution in the United States. We were the first museum in America to begin collecting contemporary American art – resulting in our world renowned Hudson River School collection. We staged the first retrospective of Pablo Picasso in America; we were the first museum to both exhibit and purchase works by Surrealist artists – today almost every exhibition about Surrealism includes works borrowed from our collection. We were the first art museum to also have a theater – and we were the first to show Gertrude Stein’s Four Saints & 3 Acts – which we also produced."
    Valdez Museum & Historical Archive, United States
  P.O. Box 8 - Valdez, AK           
The Valdez Museum & Historical Archive's mission is to safeguard our community's valuable heritage materials; foster broad public understanding and appreciation of our unique heritage; celebrate our community's past accomplishments and provide context for future plans and programs; enhance the sense of community pride; and enhance the quality of life by fostering and supporting cultural programs
    Ontario Archaeological Museum, Canada
  1444 Queen St. E., Suite 102 - Toronto, ON           
The Ontario Archaeological Society is a registered charitable organization that promotes the ethical practice of archaeology.
Ontario's historic and prehistoric resources are continually being destroyed by urban, commercial and industrial development.
    The Winnipeg Railway Museum, Canada
  123 Main Street - VIA Rail Station - Winnipeg, MB           
You are welcome to visit the only museum in Winnipeg dedicated to the preservation of Manitoba's rail heritage. See where it all began. View the first steam locomotive on the Canadian Prairies, The Countess of Dufferin. Continue on and view an early-generation diesel locomotive just like the ones still used today.
    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.
    The Komoka Railway Museum, Canada
  133 Queen Street - Komoka, ON           
The Museum is housed in the former Canadian National Railway station in Komoka, Ontario. When purchased as a museum in 1978, the building was moved to its present site north of the CNR tracks and adjacent to the Komoka Community Centre.
Many railroad items are available for close examination including telegraph keys, spike hammers, spike pullers, switch lanterns, steam gauges, a railroad safe, a baggage sleigh and a three-wheel velocipede.
    Victoria Children's Museum, Canada
  Box 8220 - Victoria, BC             
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The Victoria Children's Museum, a registered charity with a board of committed community members, has begun developing plans and started fund-raising for the first children's museum in BC. The Victoria Children's Museum's mission is to inspire children to explore and discover their world in a creative, safe, hands-on environment, where fun and play magically transform into learning.
    Currency Museum, Canada
  245 Sparks Street - Ottawa, ON           
The Bank of Canada's Currency Museum was opened in 1980. It is home to the National Currency Collection, the largest collection of Canadian bank notes, coins, and tokens in the world. The Museum is located within the first Bank of Canada building (built in 1934), just minutes from Parliament Hill.
    Campbell House Museum, Canada
  160 Queen Street West - Toronto, ON           
he Sir William Campbell Foundation is a non-profit organization charged with the preservation and interpretation of Campbell House and related histories. Campbell House, built in 1822, is the oldest remaining building from the original town of York. It is a classical example of Georgian architecture, a rare find in Toronto. The Foundation maintains the house and operates a museum within the building for the purposes of educating the local and tourist community, including thousands of school children annually. The museum endeavours to make history come alive through the use of innovative hands-on approaches to history while still preserving important artefacts from Toronto's early heritage.
    The Good Shepherd Museum, Canada
  14, rue Couillard - Québec, QC           
The Good Shepherd Museum tells the captivating story of the Good Shepherd Sisters of Quebec. The Museum also tells the story of marginalized women and abandoned children in 19th and 20th century Quebec.
    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.
    Musée des Maîtres et Artisans du Québec, Canada
  615, avenue Sainte-Croix - Montréal, QC             
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The mission of the Musée des maîtres et artisans du Québec is to promote Quebec's cultural heritage, including the traditional arts and crafts of yesterday, and those of today, among local, regional and national collectivities.
Its artistic objectives are to increase awareness of traditional craft and artisanal practices, as well as contemporary craft and contemporary art. Also, the Museum accords a large place to the artistic and artisanal expression of the different cultural communities that enrich its local population and reflect the image of Canada today.
    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...