Whether you're a fine art aficionado or you prefer arts and crafts, these museums are sure to take your breath away.

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Museum of Black Civilizations in Dakar, Senegal

Inaugurated in 2018, the Museum of Black Civilizations acts as a creative hub for Senegal—and the entire African continent—to celebrate their culture while detailing the struggle that Africans faced throughout history. The museum was the vision of the country’s first president Léopold Sédar Senghor, who vowed to build an institution honoring African art and identity. While Senghor unfortunately passed before the museum opened, his legacy lives on in the curated art selections and striking displays filling the galleries.

The opening of the cultural landmark also spurred a debate amongst the art world, with many scholars calling for museums throughout Europe to return thousands of artifacts looted from Africa during the colonial period.

Museum of the Royal Tombs of Sipán in Chiclayo, Peru

In 1987, Peruvian archaeologist Walter Alva was called upon by police to investigate the Moche archaeological site at Sipán, where grave robbers had been looting artifacts. When he began excavating the site, Alva soon found he was not unearthing a few pieces of jewelry and gold, but rather, the tombs of the Lord of Sipán and 14 other members of the Moche civilization.

The Museum of the Royal Tombs of Sipán was built to honor and display what has been considered one of the most important archaeological discoveries in South America. Guests can ogle lavish jewels, regal vessels, and other stunning artifacts of Peru’s ancient community.

Bangkok National Museum

The first national museum in Thailand, this Bangkok cultural splendor houses the country’s most extensive collection of Thai artifacts and artwork. The museum’s structures can be traced back to 1782, when they served as the palace of Rama I's viceroy, Prince Wang Na.

Nearly 100 years later, the grounds were transformed into a museum with three differently themed galleries: a Thai History Gallery, an Archaeological and Art History collection, and a Decorative Arts and Ethnological Collection. In addition to the main collections, guests can discover one of the most revered images of Buddha, Phra Phuttha Sihing, in the Bhuddhaisawan Chapel.

The National Art Center in Tokyo

You never quite know what awe-striking sculpture or Japanese masterpiece you’ll find at this impressive institution. The National Art Center prides itself in being an “empty museum,” constantly ushering new exhibitions and collections spread across it’s concrete-and-glass structure designed by Kisho Kurokawa.

Established in 2007, the quirky museum quickly grew in popularity and became a must-see attraction in Tokyo, boasting roughly 2 million visitors each year. Past exhibitions cover a wide range of topics from the Impressionist works of Claude Monet and the impact of anime on Japanese culture to the history of Cartier.

National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.

The only national museum devoted to the documentation of the African American experience, this Smithsonian institution was inaugurated in 2016. However, the idea of the museum was first proposed more than a hundred years before in 1915 by Black veterans of the Civil War. The initial proposal called for a monument to be erected in the honor of Black soldiers and sailors in the nation’s capital, but debates over funding and site locations kept pushing the project back.

It wasn't until 2003 when an Act of Congress established the institution and construction plans began. Today, the National Museum of African American History and Culture houses more than 40,000 objects dedicated to African American life, history, and culture.

Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town

With the help of design firm Heatherwick Studio, the once-magnolia-yellow, century-old grain silo complex in the heart of Cape Town transformed into a 100-gallery museum of 21st-century art from Africa and its diaspora. Zeitz MOCAA hosts international events and exhibitions to provide an intercultural look into the world of African art. Works from revolutionary artists such as Kudzanai Chiurai of Zimbabwe and Wangechi Mutu of Kenya decorate the nine floors of the museum.

National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa

When the National Gallery of Canada was established in 1880, the first exhibition primarily consisted of 19th-century works at the historic Clarendon Hotel in Ottawa. Over 140 years later, a 30-foot bronze spider called the Maman greets visitors at the gallery’s new home designed by architect Moshe Safdie.

The national art museum now houses 75,000 works of art ranging from Canadian and Indigenous pieces to the neoclassicist painting The Death of General Wolfe by Benjamin West.

Tate Modern in London

The birth of Tate Modern began in 1889 when Henry Tate, a British industrialist, donated his collection of British 19th-century art and provided funding for the first Tate Gallery. A century later, the Tate Trustees announced the development of an international modern and contemporary art gallery.

Located within the former Bankside Power Station, the gallery showcases groundbreaking works including Marilyn Diptych by Andy Warhol and Nude Woman with Necklace by Pablo Picasso.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City

The beginnings of the Metropolitan Museum of Art date back as far as 1866 in Paris, France, where a group of Americans discussed the need to bring art education to the public. On April 13, 1870, the Met opened within the historic Dodworth Building before moving to its permanent location on Fifth Avenue and 82nd Street in 1880.

The museum presents over 5,000 years of artwork, including Islamic art dating back to the seventh century and the well-known Edgar Degas’ painting The Dance Class.

 

Source: https://www.veranda.com/travel/g1436/best-museums-in-the-world/?slide=1