3 ms·

I'm always charmed by museums that feel like this sort of "weird collection". The trend seems to be firmly away from it, however. During the time I lived in Lon

by eszed 2y ago

I'm always charmed by museums that feel like this sort of "weird collection". The trend seems to be firmly away from it, however. During the time I lived in London, the Horniman museum reorganized itself and became "respectible" in the process. While I was living in Exeter the RAMM did the same thing. If you have a similar taste, I strongly recommend visiting the Pitt-Rivers museum in Oxford: it's a truly bizarre collection of absolutely amazing objects - or it was the last time I was there; if it's since been re-curated along modern lines, then you'll have missed a uniquely odd experience.

teamonkey 2y ago
I was going to mention the Pitt-Rivers. It truly feels like a museum from a more imperial age, a mish-mash of curiosities in teak and glass cabinets. I think it’s still mostly curated as it was (although I believe the shrunken tribal heads are no longer on display).
- HansardExpert 2y ago
  Yes that is correct > https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-54121151 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-54121151 The museum is still pretty much curated as it was, I have been going on and off for the last 40 years. The glass roof refurb made a huge difference and they seem to rotate their large animal skeletons more than they did, which my friend's children are always thrilled with. But it is the subtle bits of the museum I enjoy, the aforementioned roof and things like the fact that on the first floor every 'marble' pillar is actually a made of a different stone (i.e not all marble at all). It's a joyous way to spend an afternoon.
Suppafly 2y ago
>I'm always charmed by museums that feel like this sort of "weird collection". The more interested I am in a subject, the less I like them, because usually they aren't rigorous about data accuracy regarding what the item is and where it was found and how it was used. If it's something I don't particularly care about, I can still feel a little wonderment, but once I'm interested at all, the nagging feeling that it's impossible to actually know anything about the item starts creeping in.
- m463 2y ago
  There used to be a tank museum in the bay area. How could you criticize that weird collection? :)
m463 2y ago
I've been to a few ripley's believe it or not museums. A little touristy, but it seems like a pro/commercial-level mismash. Things I remember: - a picture of Bill Clinton painted in hamburger grease. - a "roller toilet seat" to prevent people from standing on the seat. - an image of steve jobs made entirely of black and white keyboard keys (pc keyboards lol)

by eszed 2y ago

teamonkey 2y ago

I was going to mention the Pitt-Rivers. It truly feels like a museum from a more imperial age, a mish-mash of curiosities in teak and glass cabinets. I think it’s still mostly curated as it was (although I believe the shrunken tribal heads are no longer on display).

HansardExpert 2y ago
Yes that is correct > https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-54121151 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-54121151 The museum is still pretty much curated as it was, I have been going on and off for the last 40 years. The glass roof refurb made a huge difference and they seem to rotate their large animal skeletons more than they did, which my friend's children are always thrilled with. But it is the subtle bits of the museum I enjoy, the aforementioned roof and things like the fact that on the first floor every 'marble' pillar is actually a made of a different stone (i.e not all marble at all). It's a joyous way to spend an afternoon.

Suppafly 2y ago

>I'm always charmed by museums that feel like this sort of "weird collection". The more interested I am in a subject, the less I like them, because usually they aren't rigorous about data accuracy regarding what the item is and where it was found and how it was used. If it's something I don't particularly care about, I can still feel a little wonderment, but once I'm interested at all, the nagging feeling that it's impossible to actually know anything about the item starts creeping in.

m463 2y ago
There used to be a tank museum in the bay area. How could you criticize that weird collection? :)

m463 2y ago

I've been to a few ripley's believe it or not museums. A little touristy, but it seems like a pro/commercial-level mismash. Things I remember: - a picture of Bill Clinton painted in hamburger grease. - a "roller toilet seat" to prevent people from standing on the seat. - an image of steve jobs made entirely of black and white keyboard keys (pc keyboards lol)