Mainly Museums

I’ve always been drawn to the immediacy of live performance and the strange bargain it makes with time. A play, a concert, a dance, even a bad poetry reading in a room with folding chairs: all of them exist most completely, and in some ways only, while they are happening. You can record them, describe them, return to the same venue, sit in the same seat, and try to convince yourself you’re having the same experience again. You aren’t.

Ryan T. Pozzi Ryan T. Pozzi is a nonfiction author based in Council Bluffs, Iowa, whose work explores creativity, failure, myth, and reputation. He spent much of his creative career building arts and literary communities in Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska. His forthcoming book, The Mess That Made Them: How History’s Greatest Artists Failed, Floundered, and Made Something Brilliant Anyway, will be published by Bloomsbury on September 3, 2026. Learn more and preorder at ryantpozzi.com.

No visit to Prague Castle is complete without a stop at the Lobkowicz Museum, which traces the prestigious history of the Lobkowicz family and shows how the clan influenced Czech history. Located in Baroque Lobkowicz Palace, the museum displays a wide range of artifacts from paintings and ceiling frescoes to musical instruments and weaponry. Ceiling fresco PHOTOGRAPH BY Tracy Burns Lobkowicz Palace was built in the 16th century by Jaroslav from Pernstyn.

From the outside, Strangers’ Hall looked like any other old house tucked into the streets of Norwich, in the east of England, and I felt a flicker of disappointment as I stood before it. It was not to last. The Wicket Gate PHOTOGRAPH BY Chris Harris The first thing that caught my eye was the large, slightly decorative wicket door standing open as we stepped inside. My excitement rose at once.

Nicky Hall Walking Through Centuries at Strangers’ Hall Mainly Museums Follow Us Terms of Use Privacy Policy FAQ Mainly Museums is a crowd sourced blog, run by passionate volunteers enamoured with museums big and small. We strive to deliver a personal take on museums around the world. Copyright Mainly Museums 2019

The Art Institute is easily recognized by the pair of life-size bronze lions guarding the entry, which were a gift from Mrs. Henry Field when the building was rebuilt after the Great Chicago Fire. I find the Textile Gallery closed (there’s always something closed!). The Decorative Arts gallery has a piece of office furniture designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Every Sunday, my wife and I settle in with a giant bowl of popcorn for an evening of PBS. This is not merely because we are middle aged—we’ve always been this way. Lately, as our favorite mysteries and historic dramas started, we noticed a new sponsor among the pre-show acknowledgements: The Yerkes Observatory. This functioning, historic observatory in the unlikely location of Lake Geneva, WI was now open to visitors. We were understandably intrigued—our nerdiness knows no bounds.

Joshua Parkes Joshua Parkes is a former actor from Milwaukee, WI. Years ago, he taught science to kids through theatrical performances at Discovery World Museum. He is the author of the REPROBATE series, available on Amazon. His short works have been featured in Punk Noir Magazine and Pegasus Literary. Joshua is the author of a dozen Purim Spiels that have been produced all over the United States. His novel, THE DUST BEHIND THE DOOR will be available spring of 2027 from Koehler Books.

When my husband and I set out to follow the historic Gunsmoke Trail across Kansas, I expected to discover Old West towns, fascinating history, and maybe a few hidden gems along the way. What I didn't expect was to spend time completely captivated by rattlesnakes. That may sound strange coming from someone who doesn't even like snakes. Our stop at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History in Hays turned out to be one of the biggest surprises of our road trip.

Above: View towards on the funereal cairns at Gjermundnes taken from the footpath. Photo: Thomas Alexander Husøy Museums and heritage sites are crucial institutions meant to preserve history, educate, and function as community centres. In this post, I shall focus on a small museum in rural Norway and a cultural heritage site with several burial cairns.