A museum is "a building in which objects of historical, scientific, artistic, or cultural interest are preserved and displayed." (dizionario.com). This is the literal definition of museums as well as my view of them as I entered my first semester of college. I thought they were boring, old-fashioned places where historical objects were displayed. Throughout the semester, my professor helped me gain a new perspective on these amazing museums; one of respect and awe. Museums are intended to aid in learning and preserving things that should never be forgotten. Of the many great places I visited this semester that adjusted my feelings about museums, the ones that had the greatest impact were the National Museum of Natural History, the Newseum, the National Gallery of Art, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. These places are there to remind the general public of things that should never be forgotten; they preserve the history and beauty of the world. One of my first museums I visited in Washington, DC was the National Museum of Natural History. I arrived with no expectations other than the thought of how am I going to spend 3 hours here? As I walked through the doors I was amazed to see the huge elephant standing there as if guarding the entrance to the museum. I continued through the exhibits looking at the incredible skeletons of extinct creatures that once roamed this land, perhaps where I stood. As I continued through the museum, I came to the Butterfly Pavilion. It was a room you could enter to observe real, live, enormous butterflies. The exhibits there blew my mind like never before. In my mind the purpose of the National Museum of Natural History...... middle of paper ......ad. They change opinions and perspectives and make people think in ways they normally wouldn't just because of the sheer power of the exhibits around them. They are a necessity in society because they improve and culturalize the population, making the world as a whole bigger. I'm grateful that museums are taking the initiative to modernize, adding 21st century touches to exhibits and creating virtual tours. While they don't compare to being there in person, it's a step in the right direction. We need museums more than many know, they should do everything to ensure they don't become a thing of the past. I'm happy I was able to experience this course this semester, it changed my distorted views on museums and made me appreciate them more. I am grateful to have learned more about myself through these amazing museums.