I'm not sure what museums you are going to, but for me they taught me: 1) a boat load of science 2) natural history (evolution, human interaction etc) 3) how

I'm not sure what museums you are going to, but for me they taught me: 1) a boat load of science 2) natural history (evolution, human interaction etc) 3) how to farm 4) a boat load about the romans[1] 5) basic early middle east history > take to have an interesting take on China and its people without sounding utterly blind You're missing the fundamental point. Museums are generally a cheap way for people to see and understand the world. They serve as an elementary introduction to the world. If something takes a person's eye, they can talk to the curator and be connected to current academic thinking. This is something that normally only happens at university, which is expensive. It is about access, if museums go away history culture and understanding become the preserve of the rich. [1] The Romans are an interesting point. A lot of artefacts are loot from raids especially in the arse end of the empire. Because soldiers were promised land in exchange for service, not only was it colonialism, but they were paid for by the assets of the conquered.