Museums have unique, different looks. The definition of a museum is “a building(s) in which objects of historical, scientific, artistic, or cultural interest are stored and exhibited.” A museum can be one built specifically for the purpose or an older building repurposed for such objects. However, as seen in the video below, they may be the “historical, scientific, artistic or cultural exhibition” of one’s own household!
PSS presents the Wallace Collection Museum and Sir John Soane’s Museum in London, England. These influential families bequeathed their museum collections to the government of London in the 19th century. They are exhibited today as they might have when the families lived in the houses, which are called: (1.) Hertford House in Manchester Square, inherited and remodeled by Sir Richard Wallace; and (2.) Sir John Soane’s house and museum, which is kept exactly the same as it was at the time of his death in 1837.
Are these museums as grand or well-known as the Louvre or the British Museum? Of course not. Are they for everybody’s taste? I couldn’t say. Yet they charm with somebody’s passion for a subject (Wallace’s French 18th century decorative art collection,) and a field of study (architectural displays of Soane, a famous and accomplished architect himself.) The unique way these museums set forth their displays, (some with hand-written or typed descriptions by the owners,) in their own houses is different from what most people think a museum provides. Luckily for today’s viewer, we see snapshots of a time, a place, and many museum-quality objects to learn about and hopefully enjoy.
These two lesser-known museums are usually not crowded and well worth a visit during your time in London. No admission fee is charged. The Wallace Collection museum has a very nice atrium restaurant too.