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Victoria and Albert Museum

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The museum that I felt was most worthwhile to visit was the V&A. Our first walking tour encouraged me to take the time to go and see how Prince Albert's dream had developed. Exhibitions at the V&A are missionally defined as showcases of creativity, art, performance, and design. Every room I walked into was gorgeous. There were so many beautiful things on exhibit that I enjoyed simply standing in rooms and absorbing my surroundings. Exhibit halls are curated based on geography, time period, or subject matter. My favorite areas featured sculpture and funerary art. There were also interactive elements like when I had the chance to try on a hoop skirt!   While wandering through the museum, my travel buddies and I reflected on our class visits and discussed how best to visit a museum. We each agreed that it is often difficult to retain the information that we have read or seen in a museum after our visit. This is indicative of the different types of users that visit museums...
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Visiting the Royal Observatory

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The Royal Observatory is situated at the top of a small hill and showcases a beautiful view of London's skyline. The observatory was commissioned by King Charles II in an effort to enhance nautical ventures with astronomical information. This included studies that would improve navigation and map making. Astronomers, their households, and other staff lived on the observatory property to conduct their studies. Today, visitors to the Royal Observatory have the chance to explore the living and working spaces of historic astronomers, view the tools they used, and stand on the Prime Meridian. The observatory is conveniently located next to a planetarium.  In reflecting on my time at the observatory, I remember that navigating the site was easy. An audio tour was available and exhibit signs were direct and informative. I felt comfortable exploring the site at my own pace and taking in the view. My favorite experience at the observatory was the camera obscura where I could watch a real ti...
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Exploring the World’s Largest Museum Dedicated to the History of Seafaring- National Maritime Museum

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  I was very excited to visit the National Maritime Museum as I used to intern at a maritime museum! That internship is what solidified my love for museum work and I credit the experience with placing me on my current career path. The museum I worked at focused on North Carolina's maritime history and coastal ecology. The National Maritime Museum shares the story of the UK's maritime history and global involvement. Topics of piracy, the slave trade, war, exploration, and current research were all addressed.  I arrived in the arctic exhibit section just in time to hear a presentation on Ernest Shackleton. The presenter was one of the most confident and engaging that I have ever witnessed. I was also very impressed with the level of interactivity and technology within the exhibits. Some displays had projections of ghostly figures wandering around model ships, others had maps that combined audio with visuals depicting sea voyages, and a kids' zone had an area to experiment wit...
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