46

CHAPTER - III

CONCEPT OF OPEN AIR MUSEUM & ITS FUNCTIONS

The International Council of Museums (ICOM) defines a

museum as a "non-profit making, permanent institution in the service
of society & of its development and open to the public which acquires,
conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits for purposes of
study, education and enjoyment the tangible and intangible evidence
of people and their environment".

Today the museum is an institution that assembles, studies and

conserves objects representative of nature & man in order to set them
before the public for the sake of information, education and
enjoyment. By this definition, the term museum includes not only
these institutions known as such but also art galleries, picture
galleries, secular & ecclesiastical treasuries, certain historical
monuments, permanent open air exhibitions, botanical & zoological
gardens, aquaring & libraries and archives in so far as they are open
to the public.

It was at the end of the 18th century under the influence of the
French Philosophers and the Enlightenment and at the beginning of
the 19th Century that of scholars, that the classification of museums
into catagories, according to the terminology of the disciplines to
which their collections belong, was born. This first typology which
remains in force in a number of countries and is still reflected in the
names of the specialized committees of ICOM, and distinguished
between the museums of fine arts, applied arts, archaeology, history,
ethnography, natural science, science & technology, regional & local
museums & specialized museum.

There is the historical museum dedicated to a period in the

history of a country or region such as ethnographical museums better
named in Scandinavia as museums of cultural history whether they
are presented in traditional fashion in a building or in a open-air1.
These museums, for example, the Skansan of Stockholm, Colonial
Williansburg of Virginia, the Village museum of Bucharest, Romania,
and the English Rural Life of the University of Reading, Berkshire
retrace, pre industrial or proto industrial epoch. Attractive to the
public, especially in open air form, these museums contribute notably
to the understanding of and respect for the human environment and
fast vanshing cultural traditions.

The word Museum has classical origin. In Greek 'Mouseion', it

means "Seat of the Muses" and is designated as a philosophical
institution of a place of contemplation. Thus the great Museum at
Alexandria founded by Ptolemy-I Soter early in the 3rd century B.C.
 47

with its college of scholars and its library was more a portotype
university than an institution to preserve and interpret material
aspects of the heritage. The word museum was revived in 15th
century Europe to describe the collection of Lorenzo de'Medici in
Florence, but the term conveyed the concept of comprehensiveness
rather than denoting a building. By the 17th century museum was
being used in Europe to describe collections of curiousities2.

Use of the word museum during the 19th and most of 20th
century denoted a building housing cultural material to which the
public had access. Later, as museums continued to respond to the
societies that created them, the emphasis on the buildings itself
became less dominant. Open-air museums comprising a series of
buildings preserves objects and ecomuseums, involving the
interpretation of all aspects of an outdoor environment. In addition,
so called virtual museums exist in electronic from.

Most open air museums were established to preserve and

present a threatened aspect of regional or national culture and to help
to grow a sense of identity. Britain's open air museums have aroused
controversy among both museum professional and building
conservationists. They have been praised for spearheading innovative
and vivacious approaches towards heritage interpretation and saving
neglected buildings, while some have criticized them for inconsistent
standards of conservation especially for taking buildings out of their
original settings.

Museums have played an important role in preserving and

displaying heritage items. Started as an indoor activity, later
expanded to the idea of outdoor display areas commonly known as
open air museums. As a phenomenon of the world's repertoire of
heritage3 a majority of open air museums concentrate on the
collection and re-erection of old buildings on large outdoor sites,
usually in settings of re-created landscapes of the past. Even though
buildings are generally considered as 'too big and complex to acquire in
the same as objects'4, the range of building like objects that have been
included within the limit of museum collections, is enormous and the
strength of the collecting impulse is greater, despite cost and other
difficulties. In this sense, the collection, past and present, of buildings
into museums of buildings, is almost unavoidable. Most of these
concepts may therefore be justly described as building museums.
Open air museums have been known by various names according to
their specific focus: agricultural, folk, living history, heritage village (in
Australia), museum village, living farm, living or outdoor architectural
(in America) and eco-museum.

Open air museums in Europe originated in the 18th century as a

development of indoor type of museums. Precursors were the type of
'exotic' buildings found in its landscape parks. In 1799, Bonstetten in
 48

Denmark proposed the idea of creating such museum (Hurt 1978,

Pottler 1985). The reconstruction of folk buildings was located only in
1894 at Limborg, and later in 1896, a little Swiss village was erected.
This action also inspired King Oscar II to add upon his collection by
transferring several farm buildings into his estate near Oslo in Norway
in 1881 and later incorporated into the Norsk Folk museum.

The earliest open air museum appeared in Scandinavia in the

late 19th century and focused mainly on its folk life which highlighted
a change in interest to the everyday practicalities. Arthur Hazelius,
started to study old folk architecture with scientific documentation.
Dissatisifed with existing anthropological and ethnographic museum,
Hazelius started on collecting buildings as a part of the Nordiska
Museet in Stockholm since 1955. The growing awareness and
enthusiasm of folk life, many were convinced that industralisation was
destroyed the cultural heritage of the pre-industrial age. Later, the
first elaborate open air museum was established in 1891 at Skansen
Hill, a branch of the Nordiska Museet. Hazelius emphasized the
significance of preserving the rural tradition in the fact of an
increasingly other authentic interpretation of folk costumes, the
keeping of live animals, the revival of folk music and demonstration of
daily activity of peasant life and culture.

The Skansen formula was highly successful and was taken up

by other northern European countries anxious to reinforce their
cultural identity, the Danish Frilandsmuseet and the Netherlands
Open Air Museum at Arnhem. Europe has more than 450 open air
museums of various types. Though small, these museums have been
responsible for savings throusands of farm buildings from demolition5,
while stressing the peasant culture on the assumption that the
preservation of the rural life provides important information for
ethnological study. Skansen eventually became the prototype model
to the rest of the world.

In the United Kingdom, indoor museums have existed for more

than two centuries with increasing became not simply a modern
by-product of improved leisure time. Although not typical, some
museums such as the Castle Museum in York, have a re-erection of a
stone-built watermill, to complement their indoor display. In early
20th century several relocations of timber-framed buildings were
undertaken, e.g. in Cadbury's garden suburb, Bournville,
Birmingham, and in the Cotwold village of Stanton, Gloucestershire6.
The first in-situ open air museum was established on the Isle of Man
in 1938, based round a series of buildings set within an original
traditional village as a Cregneash Folk Museum. Later, the Welsh
Folk Museum established at St Fagans near the public as a part of a
National Museum of Wales7.
 49

Later, this concept was adapted by industrial archaeologists as

a means of saving and presenting artefacts and processes made
redundant by the closure of canals, railways and traditional print-
shops, foundries and blacksmiths. It has a nostalgic affection for the
rural, most of pioneers in industrial preservation had been too
independent of mind and obsessed with wanderlust to be limited by
the boundaries and pedantry of museums. Industrial museums were
later established with their charitable status, gave them a dynamic
image a world apart from the dusty exhibitions and corridors of most
contemporary national and local museums8.

There were many proposals for open air museums in England

following the European models before the war; the threat to heritage
that gave the final push. These buildings were abandoned or about to
be demolished, but had been rescued by a group of individuals who
had a strong belief that they were needed to be saved. The open air
museum became the last resort to save the buildings from demolition,
a graveyard of unwanted buildings, but then it gradually developed
into an attractive place for visitors to enjoy. In line with the
development of the Tourism Act in 1969 that enabled the English
Tourist Board to provide financial help to tourism ventures. Museums
in general, open air museums specifically became tourist attractions
as a part of heritage tourism especially in 1980s, when 'heritage was
its touristic equivalent' with the commercial world.

Concept of Open Air Museum associate with the concept with

the Eco-museum, or Living Museums. Looking back at history there
are strong resemblance between them - but also differences due to
different historic and cultural contexts. As with the more recent Eco-
museum ideology - the Open Air Museums were part of a
democratization process in the Scandinavian societies. Museums
used to belong culturally to the ruling classes, the educated and
powerful. Both with the selection of historic topics they choose to re-
present and the way they did it - it was for, by and about - the elites.
It is often forgotten that when the term and concept of Folk Museum
(uses the word in a historic explanation, make sense....) were minted,
it was within a context of extensive modernizing social processes in
the Nordic countries. It was created in a time of great cultural,
political and economic changes. Folk Museums were in their
beginning social actors in their communities with a more or less clear
political sting. The term and concept, often used synonymously with
the concept of open-air museum, is said to have been Scandinavia's
most important original contribution to the international museum
world.

Ecomuseum is a difficult concept to define - and rightly so as

the term is connected to place, identity and local empowerment. In
Scandinavia Ecomuseums does not have the same meaning and
position in society. Open Air Museum by contrast, often remove
 50

tangible heritage from the original context & keep it in a professional

museum - run by professionals and represent it to the public - the
local people in the light of museum professionals interpretation. In
old Open Air Museums there use to be large collections and many
buildings accumulated through a century or more

Whether we call ourselves Eco-museums, Folk Museums, open

air museums or community museums we face the same dilemma: the
focus on local monoculture, the connection to a defined territory or
space and the effort to create a common identity and price in a
common future that has been the implicit or explicit focus for OAM,
also make us vulnerable to being exclusive. Many OAMs have oped for
living history as a way to make themselves interesting to the audience
o the visitors are transporte "back in time" by good actors. While this
is an interesting and fun way to present the past, it must not become
the main focus for the museums.

In Mexico Ecomuseum were started as a rebellion against the

archaeologists and official cultural politics that unearthed the heritage
of the local people and removed artefacts from the territory it belonged
to national centres and cities. In both examples it is about
empowering the local people by preserving utilizing a common proud
past.

In Europe the most important open air museum are organized

in the AEOM (Association of European Open Air Museum). AEOM is
an affiliated organization of ICOM adhearing to the professional and
ethical declarations of the UNESCO. AOAM (Archaeological Open Air
Museum) however are not a part of their organization. In North
America most open air museums are together in ALHFAM (Association
for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museum).

Today there are thousands of Open Air Museums of different

kind & status. In AEOM as defined as 'Scientific collections in the
open air of various types of structures, which is constructional &
functional entities, illustrate settlement patterns dwellings, economy
and technology'9.

Open Air Museum are diverse. Each museum is different, being

a key to the way of life, the traditions, building culture and the history
of a specific region or country. Most open air museum frew up in
heritage buildings and structures, but some museum also include of
translocated buildings or structures.

Open Air Museum basically a Scandinavia invention with

Skansen in Stockhold as the world's first of the king. Today the open
air museums are found was in European countries, North America,
Japan, Australia, Asia & others countries. Skansen was open in
189110, during this period Norsk Folk Museum in Oslo, Maihaugan in
 51

Lillehammer, Kulturen in Lund etc. are established. In 1912

Nederlands Openluchtm Museum in Arnhem was opened as the first
open air museum outside in Nondie countries. And then several
museums was situated in Europe as well as in U.S.A.

An Open Air Museum is a special kind of a living Museum. In a

living museum, a visitor is using their senses. A living museum is a
type of museum, in which historical event showing the life in ancient
times are performed, especially in ethnographic or historical views or
processes for producing a commercial product in terms of
technological developments are shown, especially the craft. It is a
type of museum that recreates to the fullest extent conditions of a
culture, natural environment or historical period. Sometimes, a
drama performing group of historical reenactment of historical scenes
in historical buildings is considered as a living museum. The
objectives of this museum is total immersion, designig exhibits so that
visitors can experience the specific culture, environment or historical
period using all the physical senses sight small, sound, taste and
touch. In an Open Air Museum, the exhibits are known outside
buildings, especially collections of houses, buildings, machines, rails
etc. An Open Air Museum can be also a living museum but this not
necessarily the case.

Living history in a museum setting began with the formation of

open air museums, an approach to collecting, exhibiting and
interpreting that dates back to at least 1891 when Skansen opened air
Stockholm, Sweden. Living history means different things to different
people. The world of Living History Constitutes of those who interpret
how people lived, who used living history as a research tool to test
theories and explore material culture and those labelled as history
buffs who create cultures by blending different persons of different
cultures. The world of Living History, constitutes of those who
interpret how people lived, those who use living history as a research
toolto test theories & explore material culture, and those labelled
"history buffs" who create cultures by blending different persons o
different culture. There are many criticisims surrounding living
history because of its multiple dimensions. Critics argue that living
history is antiquarian, idyllic or downright misleading. Not all living
history farms and open air museum operate at the same level of
authenticity. Yet, a site that incorporates historic objects, accurate
environments and appropriate recreations can make the stories about
the people who use those objects in a more multi-dimensional and
effective way. Living historians use many different pieces of historic
evidence including the written word, material evidence, tangible things
such as building, landscapes, objects and plants and folk culture -
intangible heritage that can include recipes, rituals, stories & ways of
doing things.
 52

The definition of AOAM was used by EXARC during 2007-2008.

EXARC is the international ICOM affiliated organization of
archaeological open air museums and experimental archaeology. It is
the most up-to-date definition and embraces the diversity of these
museums in a comprehensive manner.

"An Archaeological Open Air Museum is a non profit permanent

instituion without door true to scale architectural reconstructions
primarily based on archaeological sources. It holds collections of
intangible heritage resources and provides an interpretation of how
people lived purposed of education, study and enjoyment of its
visitors".

The overall presentation of an archaeological open air museum

can be classified as a collection of intangible heritage resources which
provides an interpretation of how people lived & acted with reference
to a specific context of time and place A.O.A.M. are partly preserve our
heritage and partly educational establishments. Archaeology is their
most important source of information, the general public their main
target group. The key words for these museums are education,
presentation and archaeology, with their main objectives being the
interpretation and presentation of archaeological data11.

History of AOAM goes from Romanticism upto modern day

tourism12. 30 years post they do more than simply present
reconstructed outdoor sceneries based on archaeologys. They have
important role such as education facilities, compared to other
museum categories. AOAM bost a wide variety of manifestations.
AOAM deals with outdoor museums to scale reconstructed buildings.

In this type of museum can organized guided tours, educational

programmes, experimental archaeological research, demonstrate
ancient crafts & techniques, live interpretation and living history
activities.

Examples of archaeological open air museums are Biskupin

Lake Dwelling Museum Unteruthldingen, Saalburg, Colonial
Williamburg etc.

Concept of open air museum associate with the concept with

the Ecomuseum, or living museums. Looking back at history there
are strong resemblances between them but also differences due to
different historic and cultural contexts. As with the more recent
Ecomuseum ideology - the Open Air Museums were part of a
democratization process in the Scandinavian Societies. Museum used
to belong culturally to the ruling classes, the educated and powerful.
Along with the selection of historic topics they chose to represent in
their own way.
 53

It is often forgotten that the terms and concept with which Folk
Museums were minted, aimed extensively at modernizing social
processes. Folk Museums were in their beginning social actors in
their communities with a more or less clear political sting. The term
and concept, often used synonymously with the concept of open air
museum, is said to have been Scandinavians most important original
contribution to the international museum world.

An Open Air Museum and living history museums are category

of museum that exhibits collection of buildings and artifacts out of
doors. European Open Air Museums are variously known as
Skansen, Museums of buildings and folk museums. Most renouned
Open Air Museums are as follows -

Africa
Egypt :
● Luxor Upper Egypt
● Memphis ruins
● Karnak largest temple complex in the world

South Africa
● Worcester Museum (Klein plasie open air museum) Worcester
Western Cape

Asia
China :
● Lie Ching Uk Han Tomb Museum, Hong Kong
● Sam Tung Uk Museum, Hong Kong
● Xinye Village, Zhejiang

Indonesia
● Taman Mini Indonesia Indah

Isreal
● Katzrin Ancient Village

Japan
● Edo-Tokyo Open Air Achitectural Museum, Tokyo
● Hakone Open Air Museum, Hakone, Kanagawa
● Maiji Mura, Inuyama, Aichi
● Nihon Minka-en (Japan Open Air Folk House Museum),
Kawasaki, Kanagawa
● Open Air Museum of Old Japanese Farmhouses, Osaka
● Hida Minzoku Mura Folk Village, Takayama, Gifu
● Kyodo no mori, Fuchu, Tokyo
● Sankeien, Naka Ward, Yokohana
● Shikoky Mura, Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture
 54

Malayasia
● Calmar Tropicale, Bukit Tinggi, Pahang
● Japanese Village, Bukit Tinggi, Pahang
● Saraswak Cultural Village, Kuching, Sarawak
● Taman Mini Malayasia & Asean (Malasia and Asean Miniature
Park), Ayer Keroh, Malacca
● Taman Tamadun Islam (Islam Civilization Park), Kuala
Torengganu, Terengganu

Philippines
● Expo Pilipino
● Las Casas Filipinas de Aeuzar

South Korea
● Korean Folk Village, Yongin, Gyeonggi

Europe
● The wooden church in Drvengrad open-air museum, Serbia

Bulgaria
● Etar Architectural-Ethnographic Complex, Gabrove.

Czech Republic
● Old Bohemian House in Přerov and Labem, Czech Reputlic - the
first open-air museum in Central and Eastern Europe (1895)
founded by Archduke Ludwig Salvator
● Hanácky skanzen (Skanzen of Hanakia), Přikazy
● Museum lidových staveb (Fold Buildings Museum), Kouřim
● Polabské národopisné muzeum (Ethnographic Museum of the
region of Polabi), Přerov nad Labem - the oldest skansn in
Central and Eastern Europe.
● Valašské národopisné muzeum (Wallachian Ethnographic
Museum), Rožnov pod Radhštĕm
● Skanzen Vysokyý Chlumec
● Shakzen Veselý kopee - Soubor lidobých staveb Vysočina

Denmark
● Land of legends (Sagnlandet Lejre), Lejre
● The Middle Ages Centre in Sundby a suburn of Nykobing
Flaster
● The Old Village, Hjrel Hede, Vinderup
● The Old Town, Aarhus
● Open Air Museum (Kongens Lyngby)
● The Funen Village in he Fruens Boge district of Odense
● Glud Museum, near Horsens
● Maribo Open-Air Museum

Estonia
● Estonia Open Air Museum in Rocca at Mare, Tallinn
 55

● Viimsi Open Air Museum in Pringi, Viimsi Parish; near Tallinn

Finland
● Luosarinmäki, Turku
● Seurassari Open-air Museum, Helsinki
● Telkkämäki Heritage Farm, Kaavi

France
● Musée de plein air des maisons comtoises, Nancray, Doubs,
Franche-Comte
● Musée de plein ir, Villeneuve d' Ascq
● fr:Musée de plein air de Villeneuve-d' Ascq

Germany
● Roscheider, Hof, Germany
● Oerlinghausen Achaeological Open-Air Museum, Oerlinghausen,
North Rhine-Westphalia
● Black Forest Open Air Museum, Gutach, Baden-Württemberg
● Dat ole Huus, Wilsede, Lower Saxony
● Detmold Open-air Museum, Detmold, North Rhine-Westphalia.
Germany's biggest open-air museum
● Groβ Raden Archaeological Open Air Museum, nr Sternberg,
Mecklenburg-Vorpommen
● Hagen Open-air Museum, Hagen, North Rhine-Westphalia
● Hessenpark, Neu-Anspach, Hesse
● Hitzacker Archaelogical Centre, Hitzacker, Lower Saxony
● Hosseringen Museum Village, Hosseringen, Lower Saxony
● International Wind-and Watermill Museu, Gifhorn, Lower
Saxony
● Kommern Open-air Museum, Mechernich, North Rhine-
Westphalia
● Lindar Open-air Museum, Lindlar, North Rhine-Westphalia
● Modlareuth village, Bavaria and Thuringia
● Rischmannshof Heath Museum, Walsrode, Lower Saxony
● Rosheider Hlf, Konz, Rhineland-Palatinate
● Winsen Museum Farm, Winsen (Aller), Lower Saxony
● Ore Mountain Toy Museum, Seiffen, Saxpny
● Swabian Farm Museum, Illerbeuren, Bavaria

Georgia
● Open Air Museum of Ethnography, Tbilisi

Hungry
● Szentendrei Szabadtéri Néprajzi Muzeum, Szentendre (1)
● Szennai Szabadtéri Néprajzi Gyüjtemény, Szenna
● Gocseji Faluműzeum, Zalaegerszeg
● Őrségi Nepi Műemlékegyütters, Szalafö-(Pityerszer)
● Szabadtéri Néprajzi Mύzeum, Ópusztaszer
 56

● Sostoi Múzeumfalu, Nyíregyháza

● Vasi Muzeumfalu, Szombathely
● Hollókői Falumuzeum, Hollókő
● Szabadtéri Néprajzi Múzeum, Nagyvázsony
● Szabadtéri Néprajzi Múzeu, Tihany

Iceland
● Árbjærsafn

Ireland
● Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Country Clare
● Connemara Heritage & History Centre
● Kerry Bog Village

Latvia
● Latvian Ethnographic Open Air Museum

Lithuania
● Main article: Ethnographic villages in Lithuania

Macedonia
● Tumba Madžari

Netherlands
● Archeon
● Historisch Openlucht Museum Einghoven - HOME
● Hunebedcentrum, Border[2]
● Netherlands Open Air Museum, Arnhem
● Orvelte
● Zuiderzeemuseum, Enkhuizen

Norway
● Agatunete (see Norwegian language site Agatunet)
● Norsk Folkemuseum, Oslo
● Maihaugen, Lillehammer
● Trondelag folkemuseum, Sverresborg, Trondheim

Poland
● Biskupin Archaeological Museum
● Reconstruction of early medieval Slavic wooden stronghold in
Owidz [2)
● Ethnographic open-air museum in Sanok
● Folk Achitecture Museum in Olsztynek [3]
● Museum of the Slovinian Village in Kluki [4]
● Muzeum Etnograficzny w Zielonej Gorze z siedziba w Ochlii in
Ochla, Lubusz Viovodeship
● Muzeum Kultury Ludowej in Osiek nad Notecia
● Open-air Museum of the Łódź Wooden Architectue
 57

● Skansen Budownictwa Ludowego Zachodniej Wielkopolski in

Wolsztem [5]
● Skansen Etnograficzny w Russowie in Russów [6]
● Upper Silesian Ethnographic Park in Chorzów
● Wielkopolski Park Etnograficzny in Dziekanowice [7]
● Chabówka Rolling-Sock Heritage Park "Skansen" in Chabówka
● The Sądecki Ethnographic Park in Nowy Sącz

Romania
● ASTRA National Museum Complex

Russia
Architectural-ethnographic museum "Khokhlovka", Perm Krai
● Kizhi
● Kolomenskoye
● Achitectural-ethnographic museum "Khokhlovka"

Servia
● Drvengran (Mećavnik, Küstendorj), Mokra Gora (Zlatibor)
● Staro selo (Old Village open-air museum), Sirogojno (Slatibor)

Slovakia
Template:Main:Open-air museums in Slovakia
● Banská Štiavnica
● Bardejov
● Čičmany
● Humenné
● Martin
● Nitra
● Pribylina
● Stará L'ubovňa
● Svidník
● Vlkolínec
● Vychylovka
● Zuberec - Brestová

Slovenia
● Piran
● Rogatee

Spain
● Museo de Escultura al Aire Libre de Alclá de Henares
● Poble Espanyol de Barcelona
● Poble Espanyol de Palma de Mallorca

Sweden
● Jamtli, Östersund
● Kulturen, Lund
● Skansen, Stockholm
 58

Switzerland
● Ballengerg, Brienz

Turkey
● Ihlara
● Derinkuyu Underground City
● Laymakli Underground City
● Goreme
● Ürgüp

Ukraine
● Lviv Museum of Folk Architecture and Culture (see Kryvka
Church)
● Open air Museum of Architecture and Ethnography in Pyrohib,
near Kiev

United Kindgom
England
● Adoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings, Worcestershire
● Amberly Working Museum, Amberley, West Succex
● Beamish, North of England Open Air Museum, Beamish, County
Durham
● Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, West Midlands
● Blists Hill Victorian Town, Telford, Shropshire
● Chiltren Open Air Museum, Chalfont St. Giles,
Buckinghamshire
● Church Farm Museum, Agricultural museum and collection of
indigenous buildings, Skegness
● Cogges Manor Farm Museum, Witney, Oxfordshire
● Little Woodham, Gosport, Hampshire
● Manor Farm Country Park, Bursledon, Hampshire
● Murton Park / Yorkshire Museum of Farming in Murton, York
● Museum of East Anglian Life, Stowamarket, Suffolk
● Rural Life Centre, Tilford, Surrey
● Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, Sussex
● West Yorkshire Folk Museum, in grounds of Shibden Hall,
Halifax
● Wimpole Home Farm, Cambridgeshire

Scotland
● National Museum of Rural Life, East Kilbride, Lanarkshire
● The Scottish Crannog Centre near Aberfeldy, Scotland, Loch Tay
● Auchindrain - ner Inveraray, Argyll and Bute
● The Gearrannan Blackhouses, isle of Lewis
● The Skye Museum of Island Life, near Kilmuir, Skye, Isle of
Skye
● Highland Folk Museum Newtonmore
 59

● Industrial open air museum of New Lanark

Wales
● St Fagans National History Museum, St Fagans, Carfiff

Northern Ireland
● Ulster American Folk Park, Castleton, Country Tyrone
● Ulster Folk & Transport Museum, Cultra, County Down

America
Canada
Fortress Louisbourg, Nova Scotia
● Barkervile, British Columbia
● Ball's Falls Conservation Area, Jordan, Ontario
● Black Creek Pioneer Village, Toronto, Ontario
● Burnaby Village Museum, Burnaby, British Columbia
● Canada's Polish Kashub Heritage Museum & Skansen, Wilno,
Ontario
● Fort Henry, Ontario
● Fort Edmonton Park, Edmonton, Alberta
● Fort Langley National Historic Site, Fort Langley, British
Columbia
● Fortress of Louisbourn, Louisbourg, Nova Scotia
● Fort William Historical Park, Thunder Bay, Ontario
● Fort York, Toronto, Ontario
● Greater Sudbury Heritage Museums
● Halifax Citadel National Historic Site of Canada (Citadel Hill),
Halifax, Nova Scotia
● Heritage Park Historical Village, Calgary, Alberta
● Kalyna Country, an ecomuseum
● Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site, Selkirk, Manitoba
● Markham Museum, Markham, Ontario
● Mennonite Heritage Village, Steinbach, Manitoba
● Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, Midland, Ontario
● Sherbrooke Village, Sherbrooke, Nova Scotia
● Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, Alberta
● Upper Canada Village, Morrisburn, Ontario
● Village Historique Acadien, Caraquet, New Brunswick
● Village Québécois d' Antan, Drummondville, Quebec
● Westfield Heritage Village, Rockton, Ontario

United States
Brazil
● Museu ao ar livre de Orleans

Oceania
New Zealand
● Ferrymead, Christchurch a recreation of a 1900-1920
settlement in Canterbury.
 60

● Howick Colonia Village, Auckland

● Shantytown, Greymouth, a Historic them park
● Thames and Coromandel, this scenic region outside and near
Auckland features several working mine attractions, museums
and historic stores. Thames has several old mines, the Pump
Museum and School of Mines

Australia
● The Pioneer Settlement, Swan Hill, Victoria, Australia's First
Open Air
● Museum, opened 1966.
● Old Gippstown, Moe, Victoria opened 1973
● Port Arthur, Tasmania
● Sovereign Hill, Ballart, Victoria
● Millewa Pioneer Forest and Historical Village, Meringur, Victoria
● Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum, Warrnambool, Victoria
● Old Sydney Town, Somersby, New South Wales (now closed)
● Miles Historical Village and Museum, Miles, Queensland

Other open-air and living history museums

Arizona
● Pioneer Living History Village, Phoenix
● Sharlot Hall Museum, Prescott

Arkansas
● Ozark Folk Center, Mountain View

California
● Bodie State Historic Park, Bodie
● Calico Ghost Town, San Bernardino County
● Casa del Herrero, Montecito
● Columbia State Historic Park, Columbia
● Empire Mine State Historic Park, Grass Valley
● Fort Ross State Historic Park, Fort Ross
● Hearst Castle State Historic Park, San Simeon
● Heritage Square Museum, Montecito Heights, Los Angeles
● La Purisima Mission State Historic Park, Lompoc
● Leonis Adobe Museum, Calabasas
● Los Angeles Plaza Historic District, Los Angeles
● Los Encinos State Historic Park, Encino, Los Angeles
● Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, Placerville
● Monterey State Historic Park, Monterey
● Old Sacramento State Historic Park, Sacramento
● San Dieguito Heritage Museum, Encinitas
● San Juan Bautista State Historic Park, Chatsworth, Los Angeles
● Virginia Robinson Gardens, Beverly Hills
● Watts Towers, Watts, Los Angeles
● Will Rogers State Historic Park, Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles
 61

Colorado
● Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, Otero County
● Fort Uncompahagre Living History Museum, Delta
● Four Mile Historic Park, Denver
● Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site, at Garden of the Gods,
Colorado Springs
● South Park City, Fairplay

Connecticut
● Mystic Seaport, Mystic

Florida
● Bellevue Plantation, Tallahassee
● Castillo de San Marcos., St. Augustine
● Cracker Country, Tampa
● Fort Clinch State Park, Amelia Island
● Lake Kissimmee State Park, Lake Wales
● Mission San Luis de Apalachee, Tallahassee
● Silver River Museum, Marion County

Georgia
● Westville, Lumpkin

Hawaii
● Kona Coffee Living History Farm, Kona District
● Polyesian Cultural Center, Lā'ie

Illinois
● Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, Charleston
● Lincoln's New Salem, Menarad County
● Macktown Living History Education Center, Rockton
● Midway Village Museu, Rockford
● Naper Settlement, Naperville

Indiana
● Conner Prairie, Fishers
● Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, Lincoln City
● Spring Mill State Park, Mitchell

Iowa
● Living History Farms, Urbandale

Kansas
● Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita

Kentucky
● Adsmore, Princeton
● My Old Kentucky Home State Park, Bardstown
● Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Mercer County
 62

Louisiana
● LSU Rural Life Museum, Baton Rouge

Maine
● Fort Western, Augusta
● Maine Fores & Logging Museum living history site known as
Leonard's ● Mills, Bradley
● Washburn-Norlands Living History Center, Livermore
● Willowbrook Museum Village, Newfield

Maryland
● Button Farm Living History Center, Germantown
● Historic St. Mary's City, St. Mary's City
● Jerusalem Mill, Kingsville Massachusetts
● Hencock Shaker Village, Hancock
● Historic Deerfield, Deerfield
● Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge

Michigan
● Crossroad's Village & Huckleberry Railroad, Flint
● Greenfield Village, Dearborn
● Historic Mill Creek State Park, Mackinaw City

Minnesota
● Finn Creek Museum, New York Mills
● Forest History Centr, Grand Rapids
● The Landing, Shakopee
● North West Company Post, Pine City

Missouri
● Faust Park Historic Village, Chesterfield
● Shoal Creek Living History Museum, Kanas City

Montana
● Daniels County Museum & Pioneer Town, Scobey
● Nevada City Living History Museum, Virginia City

New Hampshire
● Fort at Number 4, Charlestown
● Strawbery Banke, Portsmouth

New Jersey
● Allaire Village, Wall Township
● Historic Cold Spring Village, Cape May

New York
● Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village, Amherst
● Erie Canal Village, Rome
 63

● Fort Klock homestead, St. Johnsville

● Genesee County Village and Museum, Mumford
● Hanford Mills Museum, East Meredith
● Historic Richmond Town, Richmondtown, Staten Isla
● Islip Grange, Sayville
● Museum Village at Old Smith's Clove, Monroe
● Old Bethpage Village Restoration, Old Bethpage
● Old Stone Fort, Schohrie
● Weeksville Heritage Center, Brooklyn

North Carolina
● Mountain Gateway Museum adn Heritage Center, Old Fort
● Old Salem, Winston-Salem
● Roanoke Island Festival Park, Manteo North Dakota
● For Union Trading Post National Historic Site, Yellowstone
Ohio
● Hale Farm & Village, Bath
● Heritage Village Museum, Sharonville
● Ohio Village, Columbus
● Roscoe Village, among the former Ohio and Erie Canal,
Coshocton

Pennsylvania
● Conrad Weiser Homestead, Womelsdorf
● Daniel Boone Homestead, Birdsboro
● Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, Elverson
● Landis Valley Museum, Lancaster
● Oliver Miller Homestead, South Park Township
● Somerset Historical Center, Somerset

Rhode Island
● South County Museum, Narragansett

Tennessee
● Historic Collinsville, Clarksville
● Rocky Mount Museum, Piney Flats

Texas
● George Ranch Historical Park, Fort Bend County
● Gonzales Pioneer Village Living History Center

Vermont
● Shelburne Museum, Shelburne

Virginia
● Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg
● Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia, Staunton
● Henricus Historical Park, Chesterfield County
● Jamestown Settlement, Jamestown
 64

● Mount Vernon, home of George Washington, including a

working farm, grist mill and distillery
● Pamplin Historical Park, Petersburg

Washington
● Camlann Medieval Village, Carnation
● Fort Walla Walla, museum and pioneer village, Walla Walla

West Virginia
● Prickett's Fort State Park, Marion County

Wisconsin
● Forts Folle Avoine Historical Park, Danbury
● Galloway House and Village, Fond du Lac
● Heritate Hill State Historical Park, Allouez
● Little Norway, Blue Mounds
● Old World Wisconsin, Eagle
● Ozaukee County Pioneer Village, Saukville
● Pinecrest Historical Village, Manitowoc
● Shumacher Farm County Park, Waunakee
● Waswagoning Re-Created Ojibwe Village

Wyoming
● Museum of the American West, Lander

Museums have a long history going back to the 3rd century B.C.,
when the first known museum was opened in the University of
Alexandria in Egypt. Over the years, however, the museum culture
has spread to nearly every part of the world and today it has become
uncommon to find any country that does not have a museum, no
matter how small it may be. This implies that the concept of the
museum has become a global concept that has survived the 20th
century13.

Open Air Museums play important role in the modern world.

Open Air Museums have huze responsibilities and functions. It is an
institution of social interaction, a centre fo social justice and even a
space for experimentation invention and innovation where visitors can
learn how to get involved with our cultural heritage. Though the
concept of open air museum is very modern, yet it can be said that the
Museums have a long history going back to the third century B.C.,
when the first known museum was established in Alexandria in Egypt.

In the Ramayana, the great epic of India, and many other

ancient literature, there are the evidences of chitrasala (picture
gallery), and also the records of royal antiquarians, in Indian context.
It was Firuz Shah Tughluq (1951-88 A.D.) who went to the extent of
bringing two colossal Askan Pillars from distant places to his capital,
Delhi. But there were no concept of museums like today, exist either
 65

in ancient or medieval India. In fact, the first museum in India was

established in Calcutta in 1784 A.D. by a brilliant scholar Sir William
Jones.

The traditional role of museums as well as open air museum is

to collect objects of material culture, religions and historical
importance, their preservation, research and present them to the
public for the purpose of study education and enjoyment. At the very
beginning the museums were the store house of objects and their
characteristics were mostly enlisted and only the educated people
were permitted to visit, whereas the general public were excluded.
But it was in the year 1793 when France declared open air palace of
the Louvre as the museum of the Republic, which thrilled the world.

Museums play a variety of roles in the presevation of

archaeological sites and monuments. Some museums undertake
heritage protection functions themselves, and manage the
archaeological heritage of a region or nation. Many museums give
advice on development proposals and undertake fieldwork. The most
common roles of the museum, however, are the preservation of sites
"by record" through the curation of the finds and records made in
advance of the destruction of sites through development, and the
dissemination of a conservation ethic through public education
programs14.

However, in course of time the museum culture have spread all

over the world. As the concept of museum has spread, the field of
museum also increased and it is classified into various types. In this
way, 20th century has given birth to a new kind of museum
movement, that is the open air museum.

The early museums began as the private collections of wealthy

individuals, families or institutions of art and rare or curious natural
objects and artifacts. These artifacts were often displayed in so-called
wonder room or cabinets of curiosties.

The museum as an institution tells the story of man the world

over and how humanity has survived in its environment over the
years. It houses things created by nature and by man and in our
modern society it houses the cultural soul of the nation.

In our modern society, it has become necessary and indeed

urgent for museums to redefine their missions, their goals, their
functions and their strategies to reflect the expectations of a changing
world. Today, museums must become agents of change and
development: they must mirror events in society and become
instruments of progress by calling attention to actions and events that
will encourage development in the society. They must become
institutions that can foster peace, they must be seen as promoting the
 66

ideals of democracy and transparency in governance in their

communities, and they must become part of the bigger communities
that they serve and reach out to every group in the society15.

For museums to retain their relevance and become positive

partners in the development of our societies, they should use their
unique resources and potentials to become more responsive to the
dynamics of modern society and urban change. As institutions
possessing critical resources in society, they can encourage, promote
and foster the best of the cultural and democractic ideals of the
nations. Without being political, they can give voice to the citizenry in
matters pertaining to how they are governed by creating avenues for
free discussions and dialogue; they can create a confluence where the
events of today can be exhibited and discussed for the collective good
of all. Through their programmes and activities, the museums can
sensitize target groups like teachers, adults, the youth, and women's
organizations through popular forum discussions on the goals of the
nation for the promotion and better understanding of its heritage and
its agenda for national growth, development and general
emancipation.

Education is critical for development. Education that is devoid

of the cultures of the people in the society is empty and incomplete.
One of the fundamental objectives of the museum is to educate, and it
is only the museum that has the capacity and the ability to impart
cultural education effectively as it houses the tools and materials for
doing so in its collections. In modern society, the museums enrich
the educational process by exposing children and indeed the public to
their history in a positive way; they assist our future generations to
understand and appreciate their history and culture and take pride in
the achievements of their forebearers.

Museums possess materials and information than can and

shouldbe used in enriching and improving the school curriculum in
various disciplines. The museum should develop educational
programes for the various tiers of the school system, namely, primary
schools, secondary schools, teacher training colleges, technical
colleges and universities, among others. A properly articulated
museum education programme will become an essential component in
the overall educational system of society. Educational visits to the
museums should be developed and encouraged to cater for all interest
groups, and as we approach the turn of the century, it has become
very necessary and important for our museums to ensure that they
become children-friendly16.

Our children should be given a voice in the museums; special

educational and cultural programmes should be developed for them
and they should be allowed to be involved in discussing programmes
that are made for them, as they do have ideas that will enhance such
 67

programmes if given a chance to contribute and speak out. For too

long we have taggec them along with the adults in most of the
activities. I speak for our children; I plead that our children be given a
chance to speak and I plead that we hear the voices of our children in
our museums.

For people to live in peace and happiness, there must be unity.

Museums do promote unity in the society by using their resources to
ensure understanding and appreciation for the various groupsand
cultures that exist in that society. Peace is essential for happiness
and joy in the family, in the community, in the society, in the nation
and in the world. Our world is troubled in many ways today and
peace is threatened so often because people do not understand their
neighbours.

Museums must show leadership in the promotion of the

heritage of the nation. As custodians of the cultural soul of the nation,
they must have the capacity to bring peace, unity and understanding
in times of conflict and disorder and they must speak out when there
is fear and danger in the land. In our society today, our museums
must promote exhibitions that are topical and challenging, they must
broaden their space and not restrict themselves solely to objects and
materials in their collections. In changing world, museums have
become very important institutions that are respected and valued.

In India we cannot find a big history of Open Air Museum.

IGRMS is the first open air museum in India. It is also ethnographic
museum. The idea of open air museum is also found in various forms
today. Like them park, cultural village or folk villlage, Raypur open
air museum its a kind of park where preserve cultural heritage of
Chhattisgarh. Naval museum also an open air museum because there
are permanent gallery for exhibition in the outdoor. Rock Garden
Chandigarh there found sculpture garden in a natural environment.
In Udaypar, Rajasthan there is a shlipigram museum - it is a
craftsmen's village also we can say it is a living ethnographic museum.
Open Air Museum, Badami, Karnataka is an another example of this
type of museum. It has four galleries. It has an open gallery in the
porch and an open air gallery in front. At present there are some
small museums we find in India which partially bear the
characteristics of Open Air Museum.

Indira Gandhi Rastriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS) - Bhopal

Indira Gandhi Rastriya Mahav Sangrahalaya is spearheading an

interactive Museum Movementin India, to celebrate the simultaneous
validity of various valuable cultural patterns evolved over thousands
of years. Indira Gandhi Rastriya Manav Sangrahalaya is the largest
open air anthropological museum in India. [Plate-48] It is established
in the year 1977. The museum is situated in the 200 (Two hundred)
 68

acres picturesque site at Shamla Hills overlooking upper lake of

Bhupal, Madhya Pradesh. The museum, IGRMS depicts the strong of
manking in time and space through its indoor and open air
exhibitions. The open air exhibitations comprised of Tribal Habitat,
Costal Village, Desert Village, Himalayan Village, Mythological Trial
and Traditional Technology. These are constructed by the concerning
ethnic groups. Moreover, the raw materials which are used to prepare
the exhibits, have been brought from the respective localities. These
exhibitions gives a good glimpse of richness and diversity of traditional
architectural heritage of India and knowledge system associated with
it. It has the unique distinction of having pre historic rock paintings
within its own premises which is developed as open air exhibition
providing informative labels by developing pathways17.

The indoor museum building consist of 13 galleries on different

topics related to the human biological and cultural evolution.
Moreover, the periodical exhibitions, performing art presentations,
educational programmes, artist workshops etc. are very much regular
feature of the the museum. IGRMS the museum alsl has a regional
centre situated at Heritage Building, Wellington House, Mysore,
Karnataka and a Cultural Interpretation Centre at Majuli, Assam.

IGRMS, Bhopal is such a place where any one can fulfill his/her
desires in all aspects from museological point of view. Where at a time
visitors see open air exhibition, pre historic, rock painting and indoor
galleries. With a little time spend in a tribal habitat one should visit
different tribal life of India with their material culture time to time
IGRMS organized different cultural or educational programme related
with tribal & different regions. It is always said to save the
indigenous, traditional practices.

Dakshina Chitra Ethnographic Open Air Museum - Tamil Nadu

The historic village comprises 17 heritage houses that given an

authentic insight into the life of people in South India 150 years back
in history. Art, crafts, folklore and the local lifestyle are presented in
this museum. This museum has been established by an American
born art historian and museum specialist.

Open Air Museum in Raipur

This museum is showing the art & culture of Chhatisgarh and

inaugurated by President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at November, 2006.
Raipur Open Air Museum covers an area of over two hundred acres.
The museum is situated at the Abhampur Block in the district of
Raipur at Chhattisgarh. This museum also known as Purkhouti
Muktangan. It has an important building that protects and maintains
the different items related to the art and culture of the state. Like any
other museum this museum conserves the heritage items for the
 69

tourist and the future generation. This museum has some exclusive
features like -

B Science Park
B Children Park
B Self term Activities
B Educational Sessions for kids
B Open air interactive sessions

Naval Aviation Museum- Vasco da Gama, Goa, India

This museum contains exhibits that shows the evolution of the

Indian Naval Air Arm over the decades. The Museum is divided into 2
parts, an outdoor exhibit and a two storied indoor gallery. This
museum was inaugurated in October, 1998. The outdoor exhibit is a
huge park that visitors can walk through and see decommissioned
aircraft that saw service with the Navy. Some of them date back to
before the 1940s, a small shed also displays various aircraft engines.
Total of 13 aircraft are on display.

Luxor, Egypt - World's Greatest OPen Air Museum -

It is located in the upper region of Egypt, Luxor is renowned is

the world's greatest Open Museum, also known worldwide for its
extremely stunning and beautiful tourist sights, the city is a delightful
location constructed around the ancient Thebes site. The Luxor
temple is a foremost sightseeing location that conveys with the spirit
of opulent cultural heritage of Egypt, located nearby the extremely
beautiful river Nile. Constructed by Pharaoh Ramasses II with 6
figurines of Great Kings at the entrance, the temples beautiful walls
and their various inscriptions suggested that the King took part in the
confrontation in opposition to the Hillites.

Mummification Museum - Ir is located in the Egyption city of

Luxor. The small Mumification Museum has well presented exhibits
explaining the art of mummification. On display are the well preservd
mummy of a 21st dynasty high.

Temple of Karnak - There is more than a temple Karnak is an

extraordinary complex sanctuaries kioshs, pylons and obelisks
dedicated to the Theban gods and the greater glory of pharohs. At the
west bank, there Valley of King - 63 magnificant royal tombs of the
New Kingdom and valley of the Queens - 75 tombs of queens of 19th &
20th dynasties, were situated.

Kleinplasie Living Open Air Museum - South Africa

It is located Worcester in the Breede River Valley. Museum

invites visitors to step into the past and experience a way of life that
 70

was centuries age by the early pioneer farmers of cape. Each building
in this picturesque represents an activity or industry relating to
agriculture and family life as experienced on western Cape farms
during the period between 1690 & 1900.

The Kliptown Open Air Museum in Soweto, South Africa

It is where delegates of a peoples perliament met in 1955 to

adopt the freedrom chartar, now the cornerstone of the Bill of Rights
and the South African constitution. This historical museum is Soweto
which is dedicated to Walter Sisulu, a stalwart of the freedom
struggle.

Hakone Open Air Museum - Japan

The Hakone Open Air Museum opened in 1969 which was the
first [Plate-49] Open Air Museum in Japan. It is a permanent home
for approximately 120 works by well known modern and contemporary
scultons. There are 5 exhibition halls inclding Picasso Pavillion, as
well as pieces where childen can play, a footbath fed by natural hot
spring, and a variety of other facilities where our visitors can relax and
enjoy the splender of art in nature. Over 100 pieces of mosten work
are displayed on our 70000 square meter exhibition grounds. This
museum has a collection of over 300 work by Picasso, which were all
on rotating display in Picasso Pavallion. This museum has one of the
world's largest collections of works by the English master sculptor
Henry Moore, who proclaimed tdhat 'sculpture is an art of the Open
Air'.

Nihon Minke - cn (Japan Open Air Folk House Museum)

Minka-en is a splended Open Air Folk Museum in Japan located

in Kawasaki City adjacent to Metropolitan Tokyo. It is known for the
remarkable collection of old Japanese folk house, such as farms and
mercat houses. In this museum visitor may find yourself standing in
the middle of old Japaness folk village of 17th to 19th centuries and will
get the insight into rich heritage of living and traditional culture of
Japan.

Edo Tokyo Open Air Museum - Japan

It is located western suburbs, of Tokyo, which exhibits a range

of historic buildings from Tokyo area. Mostof the buildings are from
the Meiji Period.

Old Japanese Farm Houses, Osaka, Japan

It is located one corner of Hattori Ryokuchi, Toyonaka City, with

an area of about 36000 meter, the musucm restored 11 typical old
 71

Japanese farm tower for display. Those houses were originally built in
17th to 19th centuries and were used as dwellings up until the 1960s.
From there people can learn the accummulated wisdom of local life
based upon individual regions unique culture and tradition.

Open Air War Museum in Penang, Malaysia

This museum was built in 1930's by the British to protect

Penang and defend the Malacca straits from southern naval
approaches to this region. It's an impressive engineering feat, for that
time. Led by the British Royal Engineers and Overseas convicts from
India, laborers dynamited and excavated into the 20 acre rocky hill to
build the initial fort. Under which was a labyrinth of this were a
munitions depot, intelligence centers offices, an infirmacy as well as
sleeping quarters. [Plate-50]

Chinese Aviation Open Air Museum - Baijing

It is situated in the Xiaotangshan Town, Changping District. It

is Asia's largest museum where displaying aircraft relics. It covers
area of more than 1000 acres. The collection has in excess of 200
aircraft of over 100 types and more than 700 examples of weapons
and equipments. It is divided into three large exhibition areas like
Cavern Exhibition Hall, Integrated Hall & Open Air Exhibition area.
This area also divided into two parts. There is a artificial lake and
southern side of the lake were used specially for great people,
northern side were used for bombes and special types of aircraft. And
right side of main Hero Avenue exhibits are fighter plans, cargo
transport planes, aniaircraft artillecy, radar, hellicopters etc.

Goreme Open Air Museum - Cappadocia, Turkey

This museum resembles a vast monastic complex composed of

scores of refactory monasteries placed side by side each with its own
fantastic church. It is only 15 minutes walk from Goreme village
center. It contdains the finest of the rock cut churches belong to the
10th, 11th, 12th centuries with beautiful frescoes whose collection still
retain all their original freshness. The Goreme Open Air Museum has
UNESCO World Heritage Site since 198418. [Plate-52]

Railway Museum Hong Kong, China

It is an open air museum occupying some 6500 square meters

covered from the old Tai Po Railway Station. Erected in 1913, the
stdation building features the pitched roof of traditional Chinese
building. It was declared a monument in 1984 and opened as a
museum in 1985.
 72

Ballenberg Swiss Open Air Museum - Switzerland

It began in 1978 with 16 characteristic Swiss buildings, today it

has an extensive exhibition with about 100 residential and
agricultural buildings from all over Switzerland on a 66 hectar large
area. The historic buildings and their kitchens, chambers and living
rooms illustrate rural in Switzerland. There are farmers and craftsmen
who work here with the traditional tools.

Skansen Open Air Museum

It is the first open air museum and zoo] in Sweden and is
located on the island Djurgarden in Stockholm, Sweden. [Plate-55] It
was founded in 1891 by Artur Hazelius (1830-1901) to show the way
of life in the different parts of Sweden before the industrial era. The
name Skasen has also been used as a noun to refer to other open air
museum and collections of historic structures. Particularly in central
and eastern Europe but also in the United States.

Artar Hazelius wo has previously founded the Nortic Museum

on the island of Djurgarden near the centre of Stockholm was inspired
by the open air museum founded by King Oscar II in Kristiania in
1881 when he created his open air museum on the hill that dominates
the island Sakansen was originally a part of the Nordic Museum, but
became an independent organization in 1963. But the buildings are
still property of the Nordic Museum. First keeper gathered object for
the museum all over the country, where they were rebuilt to provide a
unique picture of traditional Sweden19.

Norsk Folk Museum, Oslo

Norsk Folk Museum contains 158 buildings from rural & urban
Norway - from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the main
attractions are Oscar II's collection (the first Open Air Museum in the
world). [Plate-47] The rest of the Open Air Museum contains post
medieval buildings from rural & urban Norway. Like the countryside,
the Old Town, Oscar II's collection & apartment buildings are also to
be found.

The countryside - It contains buildings from different parts of

Norway. The farm buildings were positioned with great care. The
placement of these buildings in relation to each other followed regional
patterns.

The Old Town - It contains buildings from Christiania-Olso and

its suburbs. [Plate-54] The surrounding countryside was also part of
the town. In the center of town one and two story buildings from the
1600s were little changed until the 1850s. Within this area property
was valuable and homes & small businesses were forced out by
 73

offices & larger firms. The small buildings were eventually replaced by
many storied buildings in the decades around 1900.

Oscar II's Collection - The collection of King Oscar it was

established at the King's Summer Residence at Bygdoy in 1881 and
were opened to the public the following year. Kind Oscar II was King
of Sweden & Norway and he relocation of five buildings to the site.
The idea & inspiration behind the collection belonged to Court
Chamberlin Christian Holst, agent at the Summer Residence. The
collections were meant to show that the King was deeply interested in
Norway and thereby strengthen the ties between the monarch and the
nation. The collection became part of the Folk Museum in 1907. The
main buildings in Oscar II's collection are the Stave Church from Gol
in Hallingdal and the house from Hove in Heddal in Telemark20.

The Apartment Building - Wessels Gate 15, an old three story

brick building from Down Town Oslo ware built in 1865 and was very
typical for the residential quarters in the older parts of Oslo.

The Open Air Museum, Frilandsmuseet, Copenhegen, Denmark

The Open Air Museum of Copenhagen is one of the largest and

oldest open air museum in the world. [Plate-51] Spread across 86
acres of land, the museum houses more than 50 farms, mills &
houses from the period 16500-1940. The buildings were re-erected
with gardens and surrounding landscape to give visitors an
impression of the history & environments of the country. It was
founded in 1897. It is also a Danish Peoples Museum for preservating
of rural houses & homes from the post and also protect culture &
heritage that seemed to be lost for ever21.

Nedarlands Open Air Museum

In 1912 a group of private individuals who were concerned

about increasing industrialization & urbanization threatening the
Nedarlands rich hertiage of traditions an regional diversity set up the
"Naderlands Open Air Museum in Arhnem". [Plate-53] The founders
leased waterberg estate from the city of Arnhen and transferred six
building to the grounds. The Netherlands open air museum opened
its doors to the public on 13 July 1918. In 1941 the museum
temporarily become the National Folk Museum and the original
association was renamed the 'Association of Friends of the Nedarlands
Open Air Museum". During the Battle of Arnhem the museum offered
refuge to evacuces. Several buildings were destroyed in the fighting,
together with the collections of regional costumes and painted
furniture. In 1970 the Zaun section of the museum was partly
destroyed by fire. In the time of 75 anniversary, the government
threatened to close it down. Fortunately the public came out in force
to support the museum on 1st January 1991, following a few years of
 74

uncertainity, Naderlands Open Air Museum Foundation assumed full

responsibility for the continued exitence of the museum as an
independent organization. The government provides the foundation
with an annual subsidy for management and maintenance, but the
museum itself is responsible for operation.

Chiltern Open Air Museum - U.K.

It was founded in 1970 and opened to the public 1981, with the
aim of rescuing threatened buildings. More than thirty historic
building have been saved and rebuilt at the site and there are more in
store. The museum's collection focuses a vernacular buildings - the
past houses & workplaces ofx ordinary people that are gradually
disappearing from the landscape. In the Chilterns an area of
outstanding Natural Beauty on London's door step, the pressures of
redevelopment are particularly great. Chiltern Open Air Museum
preserves a heritage that would otherwise have been lost.

Estoniun Open Air Museum -

It is akin to a village, with 12 farms as well as it own church,

tavern an school house. There are a number of mills, a fire station,
fishing net sheds as well as a dancing area and a village swing22.

Detmold Open Air Museum - Germany

It is a museum of Detmold in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe region of

North Rhine Westphalia, Germany, and largest Open Air Museum in
Europe. It was founded together with the Hagen Open Air Museum in
1960 and was first opened to the public in the early 1970s. Over 100
historic, rural buildings was transported and reconstructed from
across the state including schools, farm houses, cottages and wind
mills23.

Prader Open Air Museum with American-Indian Art

In the middle of the majestic and green North Station

mountains, on the winding road to the famous Stilfser Joch, just after
the small sudtiroler village Prad one may encounter an amazing open
air museum. The long space between the road and the river is covered
with colourful wooden sculptures and manually carved stones. The
carvings & painting on the objects of art are inspired by the American-
Indian and Canadian totems. All the materials which are used here
came from the nature fallen down trees, stones smoothed by the river,
bones from animals brought by the water etc.
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Black Forest Open Air Museum, Germany

This museum opened in 1964 was founded as the first open air
museum in Baden-Wurthemberg. The museum was centered on the
Vogtsbaurnh of farm house dating 1612 which was built on this site.
Other buildings from the Black Forest had been dismantled,
transported to the museum and reassembled. Around the building
there were farm animals, medicinal herbs etc.

The Open Air Museum in Szentendre, Hungary

It is 30 minutes drive from down town, Budepest. It is a

museum of ethnography. It was founded in 1967. This museum was
able to demonstrate growth and enrichment even in the hardest period
of the countries transition. Here the old traditions are also recalled
among the old popular houses.

Open Air Village Museum in Lublin, Poland

It was established in 1960. It is located in Kalinowszczyzna city

and cover with area of 12 hactre. In May 1976 the works with the
first object having been transferred to the museum. In September
27th, 1979 that the first museum sector - the Lablin Upland was
opened. The exhibition was divided into seven sectors. Over 50
historic buildings are stored within this museum.

Rural Architecture Museum of Sanok, Poland.

It is one of the biggest Open Air Museums in Poland. It was

established in 1958 and it contained 200 buildings which have been
relocated from different areas of Sanok Land. This museum shows
19th early 20th century's life of Poland. Inside this buildings visitor
finds school house, Roman & Greek Catholic Church etc. and there
was also be found a large pholographic archive from 19th-20th
centuries.

Kizhi State Open Air Museum of History - Architecture & Ethnography

It is one of the largest Open Air Museums in Russia. This

unique historial, cultural and natural complex is a particularly
valuable object of cultural heritage of the peoples of Russia. It is also
a UNESCO World Cultural & Traditional Heritage site. Since ancient
times Kizhi Island has been the centre of peasent life for numerous
neighboring villages. Careful attitude to the world helped to preserve
the world famous monuments of Warden architecture, crafts &
folklore traditions up to our time.
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Open Air Museum of Wooden Architecture, Russia

It is located on the bank of lake Myachino and the Volkhov river

at St. George, Monestery. There is an Open Air Museum of wooden
architecture "vitoslavlisty". It is famed for flok & trade festivals,
christmas fortune telling, and the Bell Ringing festivel held there. The
most picturesque places in the Novgarod region. There preserved
unique works of Norgoradian carpenters. The buildings on display
were so magnificent where Russian people lived there many years ago.

Weald & Dawnland Open Air Museum - England

In this museum there are traditional buildings in a rural

landscape that tell the story of the people who lived and worked in
them over a 600 years period. Amongst the exhibit houses you can
see an archaeological reconstruction of a late 13th peasant house, 17th
century cottage, mid vieloriam railway workers cottage, farm
buildings, water mill in 17th/19th century, farm vehicles & machinary
etc. The museum has a strong supporting collection about 15000
artifats23.

Beamish - The North of England Open Air Museum

It is located at Bemish near county Durham, England. On it

120 hacter estate utilized a maxture of transbeated, original and
replices of buildings. It is first English museum to be financed &
administrated by a county councils & it was the first regional Open Air
Museum in England. It was proposed in 1958 & collection was
established in 1970 by Director Frank Atkinson. He realized that the
regional traditional industries of coal mining, ship building and iron &
steel manufacture were disappearing along with the communities that
serve them, was anxious to preserve the customs, traditions and ways
speech of the region. First exhibition was held in 1971 & opened to
visitor in 1972 with the first translocated buildings (the railway
station and colliery winding engine) being erected the following year.

Highland Folk Museum, Newtonmore, Scotland

It brings to life the domestic and working conditions of earlier

Highland peoples. To this living museum visitor can learn how
scottish Highland ancestors lived. The museum not only encapsulates
human endeavour and development in Highland life from the 1700s to
the present day but also offers an opportunity to explore a beautiful
natural setting, home to red squirrels and tree creepers. Collection of
this museum mainly reflect the social and rural life - agricultural,
domestic, crafts, applied arts, sports materials, photographs etc.
 77

Auchindrain Township Museum - Scotland

It was preserved in 1964 and has been opened to visitors in

1968. It is an extraordinary attraction, which brings an original
Township or farming village back to life. On entering the museum
visitor step back in time to witness how the local community lived,
worked and played. There is also a visitor centre containing an
introductory exhibition on west highland life as well as the usual
visitor facilities.

Musee Plein Air De Lachine, Canada

With a collection of over 50 monumental sculptures, it is the

largest open air museum in Canada.

Sirogojno's Open Air Museum in Serbia, Europe

This museum is based on the way of life in Serbia in the 19th

century. In Serbia, the land was inhabitated by the slavs & had been
for thousands of years. The farmers were never able to make a good
living for themselves for a variety of reasons. The Serbia Monastries
hold some of he world's most prized Byzantine Frexos. Each Church
or mosque is symbol of history. From this museum, visitor finds
cultural artifacts of Serbian people.

Flagstaff Hill Martime Village - Australia

It is a maritime museum with Australia's richest shipwreck

collection, all contained in 1870's village located on a state heritage
listed overlooking Lady Bay. The village provides a glimpse into the
maritime lifestyles and trades of the 1870's era, the peak of Australia's
maritime heritage. [Plate-58]

Miles Historical Village & Museum - Australia

It is an open air museum located near the town of Miles

Queensland, Australia. The village consists of 30 buildings, replicas
of ones built during the time period of the 1920s. The historical
village started in 1971 and has grown since then with the Miles
Historical Society attempting to add a new replica building every year
and expensing the museums collection with memorabilia donated by
families in the district.

Old Gippstown - Gippsland's Heritage Park, Australia

It is an Open Air Museum & reconstructed pioneer township

located in Moe, Victoria, Australia. It provides large scale exhibits
illustrating the history of the Gippsland region and was officially
opened n 1973. It has forty historical buildings, mostly dating mid
 78

19th to 20th century. It has historical collection like horse drawn

vehicles, machinery tools and a wide range of unique & for totem
devices all representing the pioneer era in Gippsland. There is also a
display of military antiques from the first second world war.

Ferrymead Heritage Park, New Zealand

It was founded in the mid-1960s by groups, local govt. bodies

and other interested parties. Museum of science and industry was the
original name of the park. Groups came together in the early 1960s
with a common interest in forming a museum of scientific & industrial
history, including the Canterbury Barnch of the New Zealand Railway
and Locomotive Society, which had formed in the late 1950s to cater
for local rail enthusiast interests.

Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village Museum

Henry Ford Museum is a large indoor, outdoor history museum

complex and a National Historic Landmark in the Metro Detroit
suburbs of Dearborn & Michigan, U.S.A. (1928). [Plate-57] Henry Ford
Museum began as Henry Ford' personal collection of historic objects
which he began collecting as far back as 1906. The 12 acre site is
primarily a collection of antique machineery automobiles, locomotives,
aircrafts and othere items. In G.V. patrons enter at the gate, passing
by the Josephine Ford Memorial Fountain & Benson Ford Research
Center. Nearly one hundred historical buildings were moved to the
property from their original locations & arranged in a village setting.
The village includes buildings from the 17th century to the present
many of which are staffed by customed interpreters who conduct
period tasks like farming sewing & cooking. The village has 240 acres
of land of which only 19 acres are used for the attraction, the rest
being forest, river & extra pasture for the sheep & horses.

Colonial Williamsburg Museum -

It is a living history museum and private foundation

representing the historic district of the city Williamsburg, Virginia,
U.S.A. [Plate-56] Historic Area includes buildings, dating from 1699 to
1780 which made Virginia's capital. The historic Area is an
interpretation of a Colonial American City with exhibits including
re-created colonial houses and relating to American Revolutionary
War history.

Mystic Seaport Museum -

This museum was established in 1929 as the Marine Historical

Association. Its first fame came with the acquisition in 1941 of the
Charles W. Morgan, the only surviving wooden sailing whaler. It is
one of the first living history museums in the United States with a
 79

collection of buildings & craftsmen to show how work was done. The
preservation of shipyard is an important part of the museum. It is
where traditional tools & technique are used to preseve the Museum's
collection of historic vessels.

Plymouth Plantation -

It is a living history museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

that shows the original settlement of the Plymouth Colony established
in the 17th century by English Colonists, some of whom later became
known as pilgrims.

REFERENCES

1. Roede, Lars : "The Open Air Museum idea, An early contribution

: Report of the Association of European Open Air Museum,
1991, Stockhalm.

2. Bennett, Tony : The Birth of the Museum : History Theory,

Politices (Culture : Policy and Politics), Routledge,1995.

3. Young, L : Villages that never were : The Museum Village as a

Heritage Centre, International Journal of Heritage Studies,
12(4), 2006, pp. 321-338.

4. Ibid.

5. Stratton, M. : Open Air and industrial museums : Window onto

a lost world or graveyards for unloved buildings. Preserving the
past : The Rise of Heritage in Modern Britain, M. Hunter,
Gloucestershire, Alan Sutton Publishing Limited, 1979, pp.
156-176.

6. Ibid.

7. Ibid.

8. Ibid.

9. Paardekooper, Rocland : The value of an Archaeological Open Air

Museum is in its use : Understanding Archaeological Open Air
Museums and their visitors, Sidestone Press, 2013, pp. 27030.

10. Rentzhog, Sten : Open Air Museums : The History and Future of
a Visinway Idea, Carlssons, 2007, pp. 4 ff.

11. Ibid, pp. 51-53.

12. Ibid, pp. 36-39.

 80

13. Arinze, Emmanuel N. : Role of the Museum in Society, Public

lecture at the National Museum, Georgetown, Guyana, May
1999.

14. Merriman, N.J. : Roll of Museums, ARCHAEOLOGY, Vol. II,

Institute of Archaeology, University College, London, U.K.

15. Arinse, opp. cit.

16. Greenhill, Eilean Hooper : The Educational Role of the Museum,

Routledge, 1999.

17. Vatsyayan, K. : Souvenir on Indira Gandhi Manav

Sangrahalaya, Bhopal, IGRMS, 293, 2005.

18. Gulyaz, Murat E. : Goreme : Open Air Museum, Demir Color

Kartpostal ve Turi, 2002.

19. Keyland Nils, Nilsson Axel : Skansen (Open Air Museum), The
historical and ethnographical department of Skansen : a short
guide for t he use of visitors, Stockholm, The Northern
Museum, 1973.

20. Anon : Norwegian Folk Museum, Guide to the Open Air Museum,
Oslo Kirstes Boktrykkeri, 1975.

21 Alexander Edward, P. : Museum Masters : Their Museums and

their Influence, Rowman Attamira, 1995, pp. 239-276.

22. Vunder Elle : The Estonian State OPen Air Museum, Perioodika,
1977.

23. Lowe John : The Weald and Down land Open Air Museum,
Museum Journal.