Let kids help pick out which museums they want to visit virtually.
Encourage kids to talk about what they like and don't like about different museums and different pieces. Be careful to validate their opinions, whether you agree with them or not. We are all drawn to different types of art, and there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to having an opinion.
If a child finds a piece of art that they really like you may want to show them that you were listening, and that you appreciate their opinion and their participation, by displaying the piece of art in your home. This can be done by finding a picture of it online and printing it off.
Take time to really enjoy the experience with your child, especially if you have an art enthusiast! Let them know that they matter to you by being present, giving your full attention, and sharing your own ideas, thoughts and opinions in a way that validates the experience, and our love, for them.
Enjoy some of Google’s top museums that are offering online tours and exhibits:
Walk through the Boston Children's Museum thanks to Google Maps! This virtual tour allows kids to explore 3 floors of fun!
This iconic museum located in the heart of London allows virtual visitors to tour the Great Court and discover the ancient Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies. You can also find hundreds of artifacts on the museum’s virtual tour.
Google’s Street View feature lets visitors tour the Guggenheim’s famous spiral staircase without ever leaving home. From there, you can discover incredible works of art from the Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary eras.
This famous American art museum features two online exhibits through Google. The first is an exhibit of American fashion from 1740 to 1895, including many renderings of clothes from the colonial and Revolutionary eras. The second is a collection of works from Dutch Baroque painter Johannes Vermeer.
You can virtually walk through this popular gallery that houses dozens of famous works from French artists who worked and lived between 1848 and 1914. Get a peek at artworks from Monet, Cézanne, and Gauguin, among others.
One of Korea’s popular museums can be accessed from anywhere around the world. Google’s virtual tour takes you through six floors of Contemporary art from Korea and all over the globe.
As one of Germany’s largest museums, Pergamon has a lot to offer–even if you can’t physically be there. This historical museum is home to plenty of ancient artifacts including the Ishtar Gate of Babylon and, of course, the Pergamon Altar.
Explore the masterworks from the Dutch Golden Age, including works from Vermeer and Rembrandt. Google offers a Street View tour of this iconic museum, so you can feel as if you’re actually wandering its halls.
Anyone who is a fan of this tragic, ingenious painter can see his works up close (or, almost up close) by virtually visiting this museum – the largest collection of artworks by Vincent van Gogh, including over 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and over 750 personal letters.
European artworks from as far back as the 8th Century can be found in this California art museum. Take a Street View tour to discover a huge collection of paintings, drawings, sculptures, manuscripts, and photographs.
This less well-known gallery houses the art collection of one of Florence, Italy’s most famous families, the de’Medicis. The building was designed by Giorgio Vasari in 1560 specifically for Cosimo I de’Medici, but anyone can wander its halls from anywhere in the world.
The Museu de Arte de São Paulo is a non-profit and Brazil’s first modern museum. Artworks placed on clear perspex frames make it seem like the artwork is hovering in midair. Take a virtual tour to experience the wondrous display for yourself.
Built in 1964, this museum is dedicated to the archaeology and history of Mexico’s pre-Hispanic heritage. There are 23 exhibit rooms filled with ancient artifacts, including some from the Mayan civilization.
Sadly, not all popular art museums and galleries could be included on Google Arts & Culture’s collection, but some museums are taking it upon themselves to offer online visits. According to Fast Company, the Louvre also offers virtual tours on its website.
To see more of Google Arts & Culture’s collection of museums, visit the collection’s website. There are thousands of museum Street Views on Google as well. Google Arts & Culture also has an online experience for exploring famous historic and cultural heritage sites.
*This story originally appeared on TravelAndLeisure.com by Andrea Romano.
Ready to take this Adventure to a new level?
If you are enjoying this Adventure during the coronavirus pandemic you won't want to enjoy with other families in person, but you can set-up a 'watch party' or online tour together and discuss with each other what your favorite pieces are, why you like it, etc.
Discovery Family Program How-To Visual
