I’ve made an interesting observation recently regarding the ability for museums to act like “quest boards” that you might see in a video game.
Let me explain a bit. In a lot of open-ended games, and in tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons (both of which I play a lot), it’s common to find quest boards. These usually act as a starting point to go off on grand adventures, slaying dragons, petitioning wizards, and saving kingdoms. Of course, the job boards are usually simpler things, like slaying some goblins or clearing rats out of a basement, but you get my point.
These quest boards provide a means to begin exploring the world. A jumping off point for a grand adventure.
Over the years I’ve visited many museums, both in and out of my local area. They can very easily function like quest boards to find local adventures, whether you’re visiting for the first time or have lived there for years!
Local Museums
Here’s some examples.
Today, I visited the Museum of North Idaho for its grand re-opening in a new location. It’s a local museum focused on my hometown and the surrounding area.
I’ll write more about that experience in a separate post, but I’ll just say I had a great time!
While we read through everything there, we were reminded of a nearby town with an abandoned brothel you can tour, and we’re hoping to go see it at some point.
Also, we read about the Hiawatha Trail, Fort Sherman, the Cataldo Mission, and the Farragut Military Camp. These are all places we’ve visited and seen before (expect some posts about them in the future!). But as a tourist, you might not have known about them otherwise! Now you have at least four more adventures to go on!
We also learned the reason why a nearby mountain pass is called 4th of July Pass (it has to do with a trail marker left by the military on that date)!
I mentioned in a recent post that we visited a similar history museum in Spokane Valley many years ago. While there, we learned about a horse slaughter monument nearby. We finally visited just within the last two weeks!
Even though I’ve lived in Coeur d’Alene for about 16 years, there are still so many things I don’t know about local history. Whatever your interest is, museums can provide you with further places to explore!
Somewhere Between a Local and a Tourist
I lived in Pocatello, Idaho (in the southeastern part of the state) for almost 2 years while I was in college. For a year of that time, I interned at the Bingham County Historical Museum. It’s another small history museum like the Museum of North Idaho. I lived in Pocatello, but the museum was in Blackfoot, about a 30-minute drive north of Pocatello.
Now, having never been in the area, I didn’t know a lot about it. I had to learn the history quite quickly to be able to answer questions for guests.
But the main managers for the museum put together a walking tour for local history and took us interns on it one day. They showed off some historical locations like theaters, schools, churches, and even a candy store!
I heard Blackfoot locals come in all the time and say they never knew the place existed. (It might’ve been overshadowed too much by the Potato Museum, which was in a better location.)
Any local entering the museum and deciding to take the walking tour would probably discover so much history. Some that they never knew, and more that they likely only vaguely knew. So as a tourist or a local, there is so much to discover. I was a bit of both here, since I lived in the area but was also a newcomer.
Museums as a Tourist
As a tourist, it sometimes seems harder to utilize this, but it just means you have to look harder.
When I visited Dublin, I stopped by the National Museum of Archaeology two days in a row. One of the exhibits mentioned the Hill of Tara. We had heard of it before and thought about visiting, but this helped us to be more certain of where exactly it was.
So, when we left Dublin, we made it a point to visit the Hill to explore some more history. Atop the hill are a bunch of man-made mounds that served as the foundations for homes and a palace. There are some mythological tales set on this hill, too!
At the Jameson Distillery, we learned of a similar one in Cork. At the Ballygally Castle Hotel on the Antrim Coast, we learned about a bunch of nearby locations where Game of Thrones was filmed. They included spooky forests, open fields, and rocky beaches. We didn’t have time to visit, but we wouldn’t have known about it otherwise!
At National Parks like Bryce Canyon and Zion, you might learn about adventure opportunities you didn’t know you could have. They can range from visiting at night to see the stars to a hiking trail you didn’t think you wanted to go on!
Museums can make for amazing quest boards no matter where you are. If you’re starved for destination ideas while you travel, or looking for something new to check out in your local area, try a museum!
Conclusion
Like I said, museums can be a great source of travel inspiration. I already have a few new ideas for places to go from my museum visit today. There are others I want to revisit with the new knowledge I have.
I’ve always been a big fan of museums. I’ve worked in one, contributed to knowledge that might be displayed in one, and I visit them whenever I can.
If nothing else, what I’m trying to say is to go to more museums. You’ll be better off for it, whether it’s an art museum, history museum, car museum, or one of the hundreds of other subjects out there!
And, if it’s local, they probably have some exhibits that cycle out. You can always return again to find something new!
I hope this was an enjoyable read! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, make sure to let me know below or contact me directly!
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Thank you for reading! I appreciate your visit, whether you’re new or returning!
