Just because we’re stuck indoors, doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy some of the best museums our planet has to offer. Much of the world is still on “lockdown” due to the Coronavirus, and so most museums remain closed. Fortunately, you can still enjoy many museums from the comfort of your home. You don’t even need to get out of your sweatpants! Get the kids together and gather around your computer or smart television and enjoy these can’t miss virtual museum tours from around the world.
Children’s Museum of Cleveland
As a trailblazer in imaginative and creative play, The Children’s Museum of Cleveland provides kids of all ages, a place to discover their own adventures through interactive exhibits, programs, and virtual museum tours. A child is naturally drawn to activities that most excite and engage him or her. That’s why the Children’s Museum of Cleveland provides an open-ended learning environment that helps children imagine, experiment, problem-solve, and communicate. The Children’s Museum is proudly sharing programs and story times online so that families can keep learning through play, even while quarantined.
National Museum of Natural History http://naturalhistory.si.edu/vt3/
The National Museum of Natural History is renowned in Washington DC, with several virtual tours available. You can even use virtual reality via a headset, and any virtual reality enabled browser. The tours include both past and present exhibitions with the main tour offering dozens of panoramic images easily navigated via an on-screen map and interactive arrows. One thing to note is that there is no supporting content, just photos, but the virtual tour certainly makes up for in scope and range, with dinosaurs, sea life, and much more!
The Louvre
The Louvre is another world-famous museum offering virtual reality tours utilizing their free VR app. The journey begins outside the museum and moves through ten areas inside the museum. Each area provides additional images, video clips, and comprehensive information about the exhibits. You don’t even need to go to Paris to enjoy them.
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
Ohio is home to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. From airplanes to missiles and more, its many galleries feature military aviation history with more than 360 aerospace vehicles and missiles on display. Many of the vehicles are one-of-a-kind, or extremely rare. There are also thousands of other historical items that help bring history to life. The museum invites and your family to sit back, relax, and enjoy a virtual glimpse of its galleries.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a dedicated VR tour project called Met 360? that takes the form of a series of 360 videos that walk you through the museum. The video clips are hosted on YouTube, and each is accompanied by a short description of the content. The series allows viewers to explore The Met through unique camera angles and the removal of protective covers on specific exhibits.
The Museum of Natural Sciences
The museum of Natural Sciences in Belgium utilizes Google Street View as its platform for virtual museum tours. It is one of the more professional tours available, released through Google’s Cultural Institute. It boasts a massive collection of panoramas. Each location is accompanied by a high-res image with some additional details. Allow yourself to reconnect with the wonders of the planet in a whole new way!
Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum
The Smithsonian American Art Museum Renwick Gallery provides interactive virtual tours. Nine world-renowned contemporary artists created site-specific, gallery-sized installations, so you can navigate through the halls of the museum. Multimedia tags help to bring up additional information and videos.
Museums are a great way to explore new interests, visit unknown history, and expand the mind. From art to history and beyond, museums are more than educational; they’re fun for the whole family! Enjoy these free can’t miss virtual museum tours from around the world and discover your favorite!
