Museums 101: A Drug Store and an Optical Shop (Photo Diary)

During the eighteenth century, wealthy men who had travelled widely, would place the collection of curios from their travels in a special cabinet which became known as a Cabinet of Curiosities. The collection of objects was arranged at the whim of the owner. In the nineteenth century, public Cabinets of Curiosities became popular and out of these museums emerged. In the twentieth century museums began to focus more on explanation and interpretation rather than just displaying a collection of interesting artifacts. There are, however, a few museums in the twenty-first century which are still public Cabinets of Curiosities—lots of curiosities with limited explanation. One of these is the Miracle of America Museum in Polson, Montana. The buildings on the museum’s grounds include a drug store and an optical shop which are filled with related artifacts.

Drug Store and Medicine

Drug Store Fountain

Optical Shop