A museum ( mew-ZEE-əm) is an institution that displays and preserves objects of significance. Many museums have exhibitions of these objects in public display, and some have private collections that are used by researchers and specialists. Compared to a library, a museum hosts a much wider ranges of objects and usually focus around a specific theme such as the arts, science, natural history, local history, etc. Public museums that host exhibitions and interactive demonstrations are often considered to be a tourist attraction.
Since ancient history, museums have been associated with academia and the preservation of rare items. Museums originated as private collections of interesting items, and only much later did the emphasis on educating the public take root.
