Your Local Museum.

[mongers]

In the week I paid a visit to the local museum, the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum; I'd forgotten what a great attraction it is.

I spent about and 1 3/4 hours there and hadn't seen all the exhibits, by the time it closed, I shall have to go back.

So what is you local museum like and what other ones would you recommend ?


Details of the Salisbury museum here:
http://www.salisburymuseum.org.uk/about-us/about-the-museum/

I have to say it's a magical place, housed in a 13th century grade I listed building within the close opposite Salisbury Cathedral, the day I visited there weren't too many other visitors, so you often had the particular room to yourself, just the sound of the creaking floorboards as you walked about and birdsong filtering through the open windows.

The building itself is a warren of rooms, which will get you lost, but every turn provides a new room of unexpected exhibits.

It's strengths are the archaeological, Stonehenge, Saxon and medieval collections, but I was surprised to find one gallery containing some Turners:











Definitely worth a visit, especially if you're going to Stonehenge, as much of the museums content provides to context within which to place one understanding of the rather touristified world heritage site.   

[Ed Anger]

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/

USA! USA! USA!

[alfred russel]

Mongers, visiting Stonehenge is on my to dos, and I haven't done it yet because I want to spend a couple days in the area. I understand that Stonehenge itself is a letdown and kind of tourist trap, but the museums and other sites in the area (including Salisbury) are first rate.

[CountDeMoney]

The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum
1601-03 East North Avenue
Baltimore, Maryland 21213

Across from the Courthouse.  Easy access to parking and Chick n' Trout Carry-Out.

[mongers]

Mongers, visiting Stonehenge is on my to dos, and I haven't done it yet because I want to spend a couple days in the area. I understand that Stonehenge itself is a letdown and kind of tourist trap, but the museums and other sites in the area (including Salisbury) are first rate.

Yes, you've got it right. Lots to see and do; you can pretty much choose you period of historical interest and find some good examples in the area.

Personally I think one of the better way to see Stonehenge is to come upon it through the landscape it occupies, rather than just turning up in a car or coach and traipsing the 50 yards to the stones themselves.   

I usually visit the area, by cycling up the river valley from where I live and coming upon the stones from a secluded old drove way that for a couple of miles passes through the 'ritual' landscape within which it resides.

If you do make it to the area, I'd be more than happy to buy you a pint in one of the more historic boozers in Salisbury, or give you a 'guided' tour of part of the city.

edit:
Old Sarum, the original city of the city is worth a visit, a nice compact site with quite a bit to see and good views of the city.

[alfred russel]

If I get a chance to get to the area, I'll definitely look you up. 

[CountDeMoney]

If I get a chance to get to the area, I'll definitely look you up. 

He'll be over there, pissing on the tree.  No, the other one.

[mongers]

If I get a chance to get to the area, I'll definitely look you up. 

Oh I forgot to mention that the Cathedral has the best preserved of the four remaining 'original' Magna Cartas, in comparison the two in the British Library are a bit disappointing. 

[garbon]

What isn't my local museum?

Most frequent haunt would probably be the Met.

[mongers]

What isn't my local museum?

Most frequent haunt would probably be the Met.

Though if you live in one of the 'world capitals' I think it's a bit of a cheat to describe national museums as your local; when I lived in London my local ones would have included the British Museum, the V&A, The Tate etc.   

[garbon]

What isn't my local museum?

Most frequent haunt would probably be the Met.

Though if you live in one of the 'world capitals' I think it's a bit of a cheat to describe national museums as your local; when I lived in London my local ones would have included the British Museum, the V&A, The Tate etc.   

Well alright - the Brooklyn museum is nice too.

[mongers]

What isn't my local museum?

Most frequent haunt would probably be the Met.

Though if you live in one of the 'world capitals' I think it's a bit of a cheat to describe national museums as your local; when I lived in London my local ones would have included the British Museum, the V&A, The Tate etc.   

Well alright - the Brooklyn museum is nice too.

[Syt]

Take your pick:

Naturhistorisches Museum (Museum of Art History)


Albertina


MuMoK (Museum of modern art)


Leopold Musum


Schatzkammer/Treasure Chamber


Museum of the Teutonic Order


Belvedere


Heeresgeschichtliches Museum (Military History Museum


Museum für Völkerkunde (Ethnological Musum


Jewish Museum


Secession


Naturhistorisches Museum (Museum of natural history)


Wien Muesum (city historical museum)


National Library



And more. Vienna is a compact city, so I consider them all LOCAL.

[garbon]

That was cute, Syt.

[Syt]

I know. If we go for local history, then The Wien Museum at Karlsplatz and the Jewish Museum would probably qualify. Also, the districts themselves all have small museums, too, though I've never been to one.