Why We Benefit From Building (and Visiting) More Museums

By Jason Cryan

I’ve long known that a career in museums was for me. As a scientist, I am drawn to explore the world’s hidden wonders — to contribute to global biodiversity research and to expand our collective understanding of insect diversity and evolution. I also hope to inspire others to feel the same sense of awe I felt while studying bugs in some remote jungle or rainforest, admiring the incredible diversity of insects — some never before documented by scientists.

I ask basic questions about the natural world — what, when, where, and why — and want to communicate that science to people of all ages and backgrounds. 

Which is why, 25 years ago, I started down a career path in museums and never looked back.  

Museums are gateways of curiosity. Whether visitors arrive with pre-existing knowledge about the museum content or discover the exhibited wonders for the first time, museums offer self-paced learning opportunities that inspire curiosity, wonder, and reflection on our past, present, and future. When I travel, you can be sure I’m always making time to explore local museums, eager to learn something new and fascinating. And on those rare occasions when a brand-new museum has a grand opening? I’m first in line. 

Exterior of the Museum of Utah Kevin Edwards, Utah CCE

This weekend, the new Museum of Utah opens its doors in Salt Lake City. We here at the Natural History Museum of Utah have proudly assisted our colleagues at the Museum of Utah as they’ve transformed their vision into reality in this new museum. I was so excited, therefore, to tour their galleries recently and discover what they’ve built. Their exhibitions offer a unique insight into the history and culture of the great state of Utah... different but complementary content to what we offer at NHMU. While our exhibitions focus on the natural history and Indigenous cultures of Utah across millions of years, the Museum of Utah is Utah’s first museum of state history, discussing the region’s people, the road to statehood, and the communities and industries that have made Utah the remarkable place that it is. Together, visitors to both museums can gain a greater appreciation for the rich histories and environments in Utah from four billion years ago to today. 

More Museums, More Benefits 

There are 35,000 museums across the United States, supporting 726,000 jobs and contributing over $50 billion to the U.S. economy each year. But the benefits of museums go far beyond economics and employment.

Museums are the stewards of natural and cultural resources. They document and preserve specimens, objects, and artifacts that tell stories of the natural and cultural world. Importantly, those collections are used both as research and educational resources, informing science and educating the public.  

The impact and societal value of museums go beyond that. In fact, museums may even positively impact the health of visitors! Studies show that even a singular museum visit can lower cortisol levels (stress hormones) in both children and adults, and that effect may be additive: frequent museum visits seem to result in even lower levels of stress and anxiety. While this may be due, in part, to the museum environment itself, part may relate to the bonding experience of exploring a museum with friends and family. For children, developing and strengthening these familial bonds and friendships is crucial to their lifelong wellbeing — and it may reduce their risk of developing anxiety or depression later in life. Additionally, museum visits contribute to a sense of purpose “by connecting people with their history and their environment, thus allowing them to gain an understanding of their own place in the world” (Packer, 2008). 

Another benefit of museums may be in how they present information. Unlike formal educational facilities, museums cater to a wide variety of learning styles and interests. There’s something for the visual learners, the tactile learners, the auditory learners, and more. Whether you learn by listening to an expert, reading object labels, or interacting with hands-on experiences, museums have a variety of effective tools to help visitors engage with their content. These non-traditional learning environments are powerful because they ensure that visitors can access information in the ways they learn best. Here at NHMU, guests can interact with hands-on activities, attend lectures or exhibition tours, or listen to our in-depth audio guides — available in eight languages, including Descriptive English for guests with visual impairments. 

Museums also have a profound impact on their local communities, contributing to a shared local pride and feeling of collective heritage. They encourage people of differing backgrounds to come together and connect over shared interests and experiences. Museums build social networks and encourage curiosity, promoting healthier relationships on a local level, as well as with the tourists who pass through town. 

The benefits of museums touch so many aspects of our lives. As far as I’m concerned, the impacts are so significant that we can never have enough museums — though, admittedly, I’m a bit biased. After all, the museum visits from my childhood set me on a path of scientific exploration, leading me to the rewarding and fulfilling career I have today. 

If you haven’t visited a museum lately, I encourage you to plan a visit. Bring your friends. Not only will you benefit from the stress relief and sense of community it provides, but you may also learn something new, see the world from a new perspective, and leave with a growing sense of wonder for the complex world we live in.  

References 

American Alliance of Museums – American Alliance of Museums. (n.d.). https://www.aam-us.org/ 

Cotter, K. N., & Pawelski, J. (2021, October 28). Art Museums as Institutions for Flourishing. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/kpq3m 

Packer, J. (2008), Beyond Learning: Exploring Visitors' Perceptions of the Value and Benefits of Museum Experiences. Curator: The Museum Journal, 51: 33-54. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2151-6952.2008.tb00293.x 

Scott, C. (2003), Museums and Impact. Curator: The Museum Journal, 46: 293-310. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2151-6952.2003.tb00096.x 

Šveb Dragija, M., & Jelinčić, D. A. (2022). Can Museums Help Visitors Thrive? Review of Studies on Psychological Wellbeing in Museums. Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 12(11), 458. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12110458