National Geographic recently released a list of Top 10 Museums and Galleries here.
- Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
- Le Louvre, Paris, France
- The Acropolis Museum, Athens, Greece
- State Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia
- The British Museum, London, England
- The Prado, Madrid, Spain
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
- The Vatican Museum, Vatican City, Italy
- The Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy
- Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Entrance to the Louvre at night. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.
Over the years I have had the opportunity to visit each of these museums at least once. While I enjoy the art, I am usually looking for artifacts that provide some background for the Bible. That would make a good list.
If I should be asked to suggest number 11, it would be the Pergamon Museum, Berlin, Germany.
I am surprised that all of these are in Europe or on the East coast of the US.
Thanks, Ferrell – outstanding list! I’m 8 of 11 on your list — always trying to catch up to you (Mission Impossible, I know!) Of course, I’d add the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Oriental Institute — though OI is small compared to the behemoths on the list. For artifacts as opposed to art, it’s often quality rather than quantity one wishes for as you know!
Ephesos Museum in Vienna probably belongs on an artifacts list, as well.