Types of Museums – Classification of the museums The following notes classify the types of museums based on their administrative control, the nature of their collections (subject matter), and their scope or special institutional models, drawing on the definitions and examples provided in the sources:
I. Classification Based on Administrative Control (Governing Body)
Museums are categorized based on their ownership, funding, and the authority responsible for their administration and policy formulation:
| Type of Museum | Description and Scope | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| National Museums | Funded and administered by the central government, representing the artistic, cultural, and technological development of the nation. Their collections often include foreign objects for comparative study, giving them a universal character. They may be managed by a Board of Trustees under the government’s indirect governance. | National Museum, New Delhi; Indian Museum, Kolkata; Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad. |
| State Museums / Provincial / Regional | Administered and financed by the respective state governments, usually located in state capitals or major cities. They primarily collect the cultural and artistic heritage of the state and often assist smaller museums. | Orissa State Museum; Assam State Museum; Government Museum, Chennai. |
| District Museums | Focus on preserving and interpreting the history, art, culture, and natural history of a specific district. They are often managed by the District Administration or local trustee institutions. | Dhar District Museum; District museums in Tamil Nadu. |
| University, College, and School Museums | Established and maintained by educational institutions to aid teaching, provide practical knowledge, and support student research. | Bharat Kala Bhavan, BHU; Bharat Kala Bhavan, BHU. |
| Local Authority / Municipal Museums | Operated and financed by local government bodies such as municipalities or corporations. They showcase the cultural heritage and civic life of a limited area. | Allahabad Museum (formerly a Corporation Museum, now National); Municipal Museum, Visakhapatnam. |
| Private / Trustee Museums | Owned and managed by individuals, families, corporations, or registered private trusts. They often reflect the personal interests of the collector and may rely heavily on admission fees. | Raja Dinker Kelkar Museum, Pune; Birla Academy of Art. |
| Institutional / Business Museums | Operated by specific organizations (e.g., railway ministry, industrial safety boards, corporate houses). | Rail Transport Museum, New Delhi (Rail Ministry); Calico Museum, Ahmedabad (Calico Mill). |
II. Classification Based on Collection or Subject Matter
Museums are primarily classified based on the nature and scope of their main collections:
| Type of Museum | Primary Focus / Collection | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| General / Multi-subject Museums | Possess broad collections spanning multiple subjects (art, archaeology, science, natural history) and various periods. They have something for almost everyone. | Indian Museum, Kolkata; National Museum, New Delhi. |
| Art Museums | Dedicated to the display of visual arts, aesthetics, sculptures, and paintings. | National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi; Ashutosh Museum of Art. |
| Archaeological Museums | Collect and display objects (antiquities, sculptures, coins, pottery, inscriptions) discovered from excavations and historical sites. | Archaeological Museum at Red Fort, Delhi; Archaeological Museum, Nalanda; Archaeological Site Museum at Sarnath. |
| Natural History Museums | Focus on flora, fauna, geology, minerals, and fossils, documenting the development of the Earth and its inhabitants. | National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), New Delhi; Natural History Museum, Trivandrum. |
| Science and Technology Museums | Exhibit objects and models illustrating scientific principles, industrial achievements, and technological concepts, often through interactive displays. | Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum, Bangalore; Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai. |
| Ethnographic / Human Museums | Explore cultural diversity, social life, traditions, and artifacts related to tribal and folk communities. | Museum of Mankind, Bhopal; Ethnographic Museum of the Cultural Research Institute, Kolkata. |
| Crafts Museums | Showcase live crafts traditions of the country, providing craftsmen an opportunity to demonstrate skills and sell products. | National Crafts Museum, New Delhi; Shilpgram Museum. |
| Personalia Museums | Dedicated to the life, achievements, and personal belongings of famous individuals. | Gandhi Memorial Museum; Nehru Memorial Museum. |
| Defense Museums | Collect objects relating to national defense, arms, and weapons. | National Defense Academy Museum, Pune; Air Force Museum, Palam. |
| Specialized/Niche Museums | Focus on a very specific, narrow theme, such as Philatelic, Numismatic, or specific industrial products. | Rail Transport Museum, New Delhi; Calico Museum (Textiles). |
| Children’s Museums | Collections and programs tailored specifically to appeal to and educate children, often emphasizing interaction. | International Dolls Museum; Nehru Children’s Museum, Kolkata. |
III. Classification by Scope and Model
Beyond administrative structure and traditional subject matter, modern museology recognizes various models based on exhibition style, institutional philosophy, or geographic scope:
- Site Museums: These display artifacts gathered from the excavation or survey of that particular site, ensuring that visitors study the objects in their natural environment.
- Open-Air Museums / Living History Museums: Display reconstructed or original buildings in outdoor settings to simulate past lifestyles and provide immersive historical experiences, sometimes utilizing live actors for reenactments.
- Ecomuseums: These go beyond a physical building, encompassing an entire geographic area where the focus is on local ecology, heritage, and cultural continuity, with strong community involvement and aims toward sustainable development.
- Community Museums: Grassroots institutions established by and for specific local communities, concentrating on local narratives and participatory curation.
- Mobile / Travelling / Itinerant Museums: Designed to be movable or portable, often using specially adapted buses or vans/trains, to reach less accessible populations and promote the museum’s interests.
- Virtual Museums: Exist digitally, making collections available online via the internet for remote study and access.