Back in January of 2019 (which honestly seems like yesterday), I set myself the goal of visiting 100 museums during the year, and posting a short blog entry about each one. That would work out to three or four a week, which sounded overly ambitious, but hey, why not. 

I’m delighted to report that I managed to complete my 100 Museums Challenge (visiting, in fact, 102 – see all below)!

This is despite falling and breaking my shoulder (in February, on the way home from the The Ontario Science Centre), and my father passing away in March (sigh sigh). So not my favourite year, but there was plenty of good in it too.

The purpose(s) of this challenge, as described in my first post, had been the following, and I think I can put a check mark next to each one:

• to explore and appreciate new places, and revisit familiar ones  
• for the joy of research in preparation and follow-up 
• as an excuse to have adventures with friends 
• to encourage myself to blog more often 
• for physical exercise, as I love walking around, looking at stuff 
• to satisfy the spreadsheet-maker and list-writer in me 
• to see if I can! 

So what did I learn?

I’ve been thinking all along about some comprehensive, insightful, and academic-worthy summary response to this question, and I’m not sure I have one.

Fundamentally, there are wonderful museums out there, many of them free, and I was lucky to have the opportunity to visit them. These museums are staffed by knowledgeable and passionate people, both paid and volunteer, and I was lucky to meet them. Go culture sector!

For one thing, my photography and graphic design skills have definitely improved. I’m in love with Canva.com as a design tool. And John Summers’s excellent book Creating Exhibits that Engage: A Manual for Museums and Historical Organizations (2018) has proved a valued companion, informing my experiences with terms such as “micro rest.” Highly recommended. 

I’m going to let the blog entries speak for themselves … and provide a few tidbits below, before linking to the full run of the challenge’s posts.

Here are a few Bests and Mosts.

• Most Terrifying Object: the foot-tall model of a sharp-toothed sea lamprey at the Archives of Ontario’s Animalia Exhibition, Toronto (Runner Up: Electric Chair Man at Haunted House of Wax, Niagara Falls, New York)
• Most Surprising: National Shrine of St. Oliver Plunkett (including his head), St. Peter’s Church, Drogheda, Ireland
• Most Memorable: Canada’s Penitentiary Museum and Kingston Penitentiary, Kingston, Ontario
• Most Delightful: High Park Zoo, Toronto (the Highland Cattle!)
• Most Unexpected: The Vault at One King West, Toronto
• Most Fun with a Friend: Museum of Illusions, Toronto
• Most … Interesting: Niagara Wax Museum of History, Niagara Falls, New York
• Best Tour: Coptic Museum of Canada (Formerly St. Mark’s Coptic Museum), Toronto
• Most Worthy of a Repeat Visit: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, Ohio
• Most Wonderful Storage Room: Peterborough Museum and Archives, Peterborough, Ontario
• Favourite First Time Visit: Toronto Police Museum and Discovery Centre (Runner Up: Castellani Art Museum, Niagara Falls, New York)
• Best New Museum: Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, Niagara Falls, New York (Runner Up: Pierre Berton Heritage Centre, Kleinburg, Ontario)
• Best Free Museum: Toronto Dominion Gallery of Inuit Art, Toronto (Runner Up: Legislative Assembly of Ontario (Queen’s Park), Toronto)
• Best Overall Experience: Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, Boston, Massachusetts
• Most Beautiful: McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Kleinburg, Ontario (Runner Up: The Great Blasket Centre, County Kerry, Ireland)
• Overall Favourite: The Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto (inspiring always)

So today I rest my feet. What’s next for 2020? Don’t know yet. Stay tuned!