Abbey House Museum history

Kirkstall Abbey was founded in around 1152, yet following the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII fell to disrepair and eventual ruin. Its gatehouse however was turned into a dwelling house and received renovation over the years, including a 15th/16th century wing and early 20th century additions. At one point it operated as a farmhouse, and at another was the home of the Butler family, the owners of Kirkstall Forge, before in 1926 being purchased by Leeds City Council.

In July 1927, Abbey House Museum was opened in the gatehouse as a bygones and folklore museum, and in the 1950s three Victorian streets were installed – Abbey Fold in 1954, Harewood Square in 1955 and Stephen Harding Gate in 1958.

By 2001 it had received a vast refurbishment, with new shops and houses to explore.

Abbey House Museum today

The museum’s authentic Victorian streets afford visitors the chance to immerse themselves in the sights, sounds and smells of 19th century Leeds. Providing a hands-on experience that is particularly family friendly, the Abbey House Museum includes a number of galleries, including one devoted to childhood as well as information about the history of Kirkstall Abbey itself. Each year the museum also holds a new exhibition inspired by its collection and a number of events run throughout.

Alongside the museum guests may stop for refreshment at the Gatehouse Cafe whilst admiring the imposing Kirkstall Abbey ruins across the road.

Getting to Abbey House Museum

Abbey House Museum is situated in the village of Kirkstall in Leeds on the A65, and there is a large free carpark next to the museum on Abbey Walk. The nearest train stations are Kirkstall Forge and Headingley, both 1 mile away, while the 33, 34 and 757 buses all stop outside of Kirkstall Abbey, a short walk to the museum.

African American Museum – Philadelphia history

As 1976 marked the Bicentennial celebration of American Independence, the African American Museum in Philadelphia – the United States’ revolutionary capital – was founded.

Its founder, Clarence Farmer, was the Human Relations Commissioner for the City of Philadelphia and a longstanding champion of civil rights and social justice. A pioneering venture, the museum was the first institution funded and built by a major municipality to interpret, preserve and exhibit the heritage of America’s African American citizens.

Philadelphia was identified as the location for the museum as a significant centre of African American history and culture: as the US was being formed in the 18th century Philadelphia was not only the capital city but centre of the abolitionist movement. The city also was home to the largest free black population at a time when chattel slavery thrived in the US.

The museum’s founding director was Charles H. Wesley, a noted African American historian, educator and author of over fifteen books of African American history and culture. The fourth African American to gain a Ph.D. from Harvard University and an ordained minister, Wesley’s distinguished career led him to serve as Director of what was at the time known as the Afro-American Historical and Cultural Museum in Philadelphia. In 1997, the museum was renamed as the African American Museum.

African American Museum – Philadelphia today

The AAMP currently houses four galleries and an auditorium, all offering exhibitions grounded in three dominant themes: the African Diaspora, the Philadelphia Story and the Contemporary Narrative. On permanent display, is the exhibition ‘Audacious Freedom’ including a narrated timeline of 100 years of Philadelphia history.

As an integral part of Philadelphia’s rich historical and cultural landscape, the African American Museum is a must-visit, sure to make a meaningful impact on those who experience the stories of African American people through their own words, art, and experiences.

Getting to the African American Museum – Philadelphia

Located in Philadelphia’s historical centre, the AAMP is a 300m walk from the Liberty Bell. If travelling by public transport, the nearest bus stop is Arch St and 7th St, on bus route 48. The closest metro stop is Chinatown or 8th and Market Street Station. If driving, there is an Autopark at Independence Mall, 100m away.

Albufeira Municipal Archeological Museum history

The building that the museum is housed in served as the town hall until the late 1980s. The collection was originally assembled by Father José Manual Semedo de Azevedo and includes pieces from the Villa Romana da Retorta, the necropolis of Morgado da Lameira and the Old Matriz Church. The pieces are closely linked to the history of Albufeira, from its earliest origins up to the 17th century.

The archaeological museum became part of the Portuguese Network of Museums in 2003. In 2007 it was incorporated into the Algarve Museum Network.

Albufeira Municipal Archaeological Museum today

The museum has characteristics of urban architecture commonly found in the south of Portugal and occupies two floors overlooking the sea. There are areas for study, conservation, restoration and storage of materials, as well as a small thematic library.

The collection is divided into four sections: Prehistory, Roman Period, Islamic Period and the Modern Age. Highlights include an impressive Roman mosaic, Roman ceramics, original amphorae from the Villa Romana da Retorta and an excavated silo dating from the Islamic period. Temporary exhibits are shown on the upper floor.

Each exhibit has information in a variety of languages on printed sheets stored in a wall shelf close to them, including English, French, German and Spanish. 

Getting to Albufeira Municipal Archaeological Museum

Located in Albufeira’s old town, the archaeological museum can be found just behind the beach. The museum is within comfortable walking distance of the Museum of Religious Art (Museu de Arte Sacra) and the Capela da Misericórdia.

The Albufeira train station is in Ferreira, around 3.5 miles from the old town. The local bus network is called Giro and tickets are sold by the driver. The regional bus terminal connects Albufeira with other major cities along the Algarve by Trans Rapido express buses and Carreiras Interubanas buses that follow a longer and slower route through the coastal villages.

Taxi drivers are not allowed to stop in the street but can be booked over the phone, and many taxi companies offer a direct service to Faro airport.

The 3,480 square metre museum documents the rich and varied history of Alexandria – founded by Alexander the Great in April 331 BC – from the age of the Pharaohs up to the 19th century and takes in the Pharaonic, Ptolemaic, Coptic, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic eras.

Alexandria National Museum history

The museum’s Italianate building dates to 1926, formerly the home of a wood salesman, the mansion saw meetings of upper-class Egyptian society until the later becoming the United States consulate.

Alexandria National Museum today

Chronologically spread over 3 floors, the 1,800 artefacts include statues, jewellery, coins, weaponry, homewares, religious iconography, sarcophagi, terracotta figurines, clothing, glassware, pottery and even mummies. You can easily spend a couple of hours wandering back through Alexandria’s ancient past, guided by richly informative description boards.

The basement covers finds from Egypt’s time under the Pharaohs – walk past the reserve heads placed near the dead as substitute when passing to the afterlife. The ground floor is dedicated to the Graeco-Roman period and boasts a small statue of Greek god Harpocrates holding a finger to his lips in silence. Harpocrates was derived from the Egyptian god Horus. Finally, the top floor displays items from the Byzantine, Islamic and modern ages, including intricate Ottoman weapons and jewellery.

The old garage block has been converted into a lecture hall and open air theatre while visitors can take a high-tech audio-visual tour of the museum and its artefacts in the basement workshop, looking at the pieces from lots of angles. All the labels are in Arabic and English and for anyone interested in Egyptian antiquity and history, the Alexandria National Museum in Egypt is a ‘must visit’.

Getting to Alexandria National Museum

Located in Alexandria’s Ash Shatibi district, the museum is only 10 minutes drive or taxi ride from the international airport, and a 15 minute walk from Alexandria’s main train station. The museum is also close to the Al Shalalat Park, a great spot to pause and find shade from the Egyptian heat.

History of Alhondiga de Granaditas

In 1810 the priest and leader of the revolution, Miguel Hidalgo, led a campaign to capture Guanajuato City. At that time, the Spanish began using Alhondiga de Granaditas as a fortress in which to shelter, an action which initially proved quite effective. However, Hidalgo then ordered a miner called Juan José de los Reyes Martínez, known as ‘El Pípila’ to set Alhondiga de Granaditas on fire. After strapping a slab to his back for protection from enemy fire, El Pípila did just that. The result was the massacre of those inside Alhondiga de Granaditas and doubt by some as to whether to continue with the fight for independence.

The Mexicans managed to take Guanajuato City, but by the following year the Spanish had recaptured it and exacted revenge on the rebels. Four of the movement’s main leaders, namely Hidalgo, Juan Aldama, Mariano Jimenez and Ignacio Allende were beheaded and their heads displayed on the walls of Alhondiga de Granaditas. The message was clear –rebellion would not be tolerated.

In the nineteenth century, Alhondiga de Granaditas became a prison and today houses a museum, Museo Regional La Alhóndiga de Granaditas.

Alhondiga de Granaditas today

The museum contains colonial exhibits and those about the Mexican struggle for independence as well as some about the pre-Colombian era. It also houses numerous pieces of art, including murals by José Chávez Morado on the staircase. The museum is also a regional museum for Guanajuato, so expect to find an eclectic mix of objects inside.

Getting to Alhondiga de Granaditas

Alhondiga de Granaditas is located just outside the centre of Guanajuato, a short walk from the historic centre. Walking is by far the most convenient method of transport as the historic centre is a winding maze of roads! Guanajuato is about an hour from the city of León, or a 5 hour journey from Mexico City, traffic dependent.

From photographs and manuscripts to items belonging to Robert E. Lee and ‘Stonewall’ Jackson and other artefacts, the The American Civil War Museum offers a comprehensive insight into life in the Confederate States.

History of The American Civil War Museum

The American Civil War Museum is a multi-site museum in the Greater Richmond Region of central Virginia, dedicated to the history of the American Civil War. It is made up of three sites: The White House of the Confederacy, American Civil War Museum at Historic Tredegar in Richmond, and American Civil War Museum at Appomattox.

In 2013, the Museum of the Confederacy and the American Civil War Museum merged, creating the museum in its current state. The Museum of the Confederacy was founded in 1894, 29 years after one of the final battles of the war in Appomattox. I contains more than 15,000 documents and artefacts along with 500 original wartime battle flags from the Confederate States of America.

Beyond its three levels of galleries, the The American Civil War Museum also has one exhibit of special interest – the original White House of the Confederacy. Built in 1818, the house was the official seat of President Jefferson Davis during the Confederacy. The neoclassical building, which forms part of the museum complex, has been restored and can be toured.

The final site, The American Civil War Museum in Appomattox, opened in 2012. It tells the stories of the closing days of the Civil War, and the beginnings of the United States’ journey toward reunion.

The final site, Historic Tredegar, is home to the American Civil War Museum and traces its roots to 1836, when the iron works it now encloses were founded. In 2019, the museum opened a site of more than 7,000 square feet of new gallery space for permanent and changing exhibitions.

The American Civil War Museum Today

Today, all of the museums which make up the American Civil War Museum are popular sites, containing a huge amount of artefacts which relate to America’s often divided history, past and present.

It is worth taking the time to visit all three sites, if possible.

Getting to The American Civil War Museum

From the centre of Virginia, the American Civil War Museum: Historic Tredegar is an hour and a half drive via US-60 E road. The American Civil War Museum in Appomattox is only an 18 minute drive from the centre of Virginia, and an hour and 40 minutes from the Historic Tredegar site.

Whilst Ancient Siam does contain some original artefacts, the appeal of this little known attraction lies not in its authenticity, but in its overview of Thai history and the attention to detail in recreating national treasures.

Again, Ancient Siam is not truly a historical site in the traditional sense, but it is a great way to discover Thailand’s history in a pleasant, tranquil setting.

Ancient Siam history

Lek Viriyaphant was an eccentric businessman and millionaire had a passion in art which inspired him to establish the Ancient city of Siam. Originally his plan was to create a Thailand-shaped golf course with miniatures of ancient sites for tourists.

However, once he started doing research, Lek found that many ancient sites had been left to decay and so altered his plan so the focus of Ancient Siam was education. The Ancient city of Siam therefore chronologically displays significant architectural styles from Thailand’s different eras, from the prehistoric through to the Ancient Khmer and Dvaravati.

The park was completed in 1963.

Ancient Siam today

Today, Ancient Siam is a time-machine back into Thailand’s ancient past, combining replicas of known significant sites with original structures moved there for preservation. Amongst its recreations, visitors can see the Tiger King’s Palace of Phetchaburi, Preah Vihear, the Ancient Theatrical Pavilion, The Royal Stand and many more.

The entire layout of the park creates the shape of Thailand, and sites are placed corresponding to their real geographical locations. Wander through beautiful landscape gardens full of native flowers and trees, streams and lakes, dotted with toilet facilities and shops.

Each site has a sign with a detailed English name, history and location. A particular highlight at Ancient Siam is definitely the Sumeru Mountain; a golden walkway leads across a lake to an island shaped like a giant serpent, its mouth gaped open.

Getting to Ancient Siam

On the outskirts of Bangkok, the faux ancient city is easily accessible from Thailand’s capital. Open between 9am and 6pm daily, you can get a taxi to Ancient Siam after getting the BTS to Kheha station (which takes 7 minutes).

Otherwise, the free shuttle part leaves BTS Bearing Station at 11am each day and stops at the museum, or take Orange bus number 511, getting off at Paknam and getting the 36 mini-van where you pass the Ancient Siam entrance.

Anglo-Boer War Museum history

The Second Anglo-Boer War was a major conflict between Britain and the Orange Free State republics and Boers of South Africa which raged from 1899 to 1902. It was a clash between British imperialism and the nationalism of the South Africans, in which the British tried to unite the different areas into one unified colonial state.

Bloemfontein was a vital location in the war as it was both the site of the Bloemfontein Conference in 1899, which served to fan the flames of war, and was also captured by the British commander Lord Roberts on 13 March 1900.

After the unveiling of the National Women’s Monument in 1913, the memorial committee decided to open a museum preserving the history of the conflict. The cornerstone was laid in 1930 and opened a year later, expanded year-by-year.

Anglo-Boer War Museum today

Open 8am to 4pm on weekdays and 10am to 4pm at the weekend, the Anglo-Boer War Museum chronicles the events leading up to the war, the course of the war and its aftermath. One of its most moving exhibits is that relating to concentration camps: the Second Anglo-Boer War is notorious for being the first war in which such camps were used, a strategy spearheaded by Lord Herbert Kitchener.

The museum is next to the National Women’s Memorial, a high-reaching obelisk which commemorates those who perished in these camps.

Getting to the Anglo-Boer War Museum

Located along Monument Road in Bloemfontein, the Anglo-Boer War Museum is hard to miss in the centre of town and is reached by car just off Route 1 or 8 exiting from Curie Avenue.

History of Antalya Museum

The museum is located to the west of Kaleiçi, Antalya, Turkey. The modern province of Antalya contains dozens and dozens of Hellenic, Hellenistic, and Roman cities and towns as well as many prime archaeological sites. Many of the best artefacts from all of these sites form an integral part of Antalya Museum’s outstanding collection.

The museum was founded as a result of Italian archaeologists removing many treasures from the city centre at the end of the First World War. To prevent this happening, the Sultan’s advisor applied to be voluntary curator of antiquities, and thus first established Antalya Museum to try and collect and preserve what remained.

The museum first opened at the Alaeddin Mosque in 1922 and then the Yivli Minare Mosque from 1937. It moved to its present building in 1972. It was closed for three years between 1982-1985 in order to reorganise its contents.

Today, the museum is made up of 13 exhibition rooms, 1 open-air exhibition area, laboratories, a storeroom, repair shops, a photographic room, a conference hall, administrative offices, a cafeteria, and living quarters for museum officials.

There is talk of a plan for a new museum building to be announced in the future.

Antalya Museum Today

The pieces at the Antalya Museum come from a variety of sites around Turkey and are divided thematically into ’halls’, with each relating to a different period. The museum includes a wealth of statues and sculptures from the Roman period, the majority of which were found during the excavations of nearby Roman cities such as Perge. These astonishing ancient statues are the museum’s most famous exhibits and are responsible for its international renown. The most famous of these statues is undoubtedly the marble Heracles.

There is also a collection of sarcophagi from the Roman period, Roman and Byzantine era mosaics, and a charming children’s section.

Getting to Antalya Museum

From Kaleiçi, Antalya, the museum is a 35 minute walk via Cumhuriyet Cd. and Konyaaltı Cd. By car, it takes around 27 minutes via 100 Yıl Blv, Konyaaltı Cd., or Mevlana Cd.

From the centre of Antalya, the site is reachable in around 15 minutes by car via Adnan Menderes Blv. and 100 Yıl Blv, or 45-50 minutes via 100 Yıl Blv or Konyaaltı Cd.

History of Antiquarium of Boscoreale

The Antiquarium of Boscoreale is a small building located in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. It was set up in 1991 as a place of education to complement the famous Villa Regina site which contains several Roman villas that were uncovered after being destroyed by Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The exhibition showcases the varied and numerous finds that were discovered during excavations carried out between the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Pompeii, Herculaneum, Oplontis, Stabiae, Terzigno, and Boscoreale. 

There are findings of local fauna and flora, food such as carbonised loaves of bread, cosmetics and medicines, as well as plaster casts of victims of the volcano eruption. These objects were stunningly well-preserved when they were discovered, owing to the blanket of volcanic ash and Vesuvian lava that protected them from the elements for nearly 2,000 years.

As a result, archaeologists and scientists have been able to obtain precise and detailed information about the living standards, economic conditions, customs, and traditions of the Roman inhabitants who once inhabited the several farmhouses, villas, and commercial buildings that make up the site.

Antiquarium of Boscoreale today

The first exhibition room displays items that detail the local population’s relationship with the sea and coastal hinterland, agriculture within the local region, crafting such as textile production, as well as various medicines and cosmetics that would have been used by the local population.

The second room details human activity during the prehistoric and protohistoric periods, with a particular focus on manufacturing practises during the period. There are a number of impressive villas in the area, with the most impressive arguably being the Villa Regina, which is an extraordinary example of ‘villa rustica’, or Roman Farm. 

It is recommended that tourists book a two-hour private tour (coming in at about €90) to make the most of the array of knowledge that local guides can provide. These run regularly throughout the year.

Getting to Antiquarium of Boscoreale

The Antiquarium of Boscoreale is a 20 minute drive from Naples, mainly along the E45 road. There are also regular buses – the 116, 175, and 195 – that take around an hour. Both of these journeys enjoy a lovely view along the bay between Pompeii and Naples that looks out into the Gulf of Naples.