David Haberstich,

How do all the museums that display replicas of dinosaurs & other
prehistoric life fit into your definition of a museum needing the real
thing (and I don't mean Coke) to be a museum. I am sure that Madam
Trussuad's Wax Museum forfills as many of the educational and entertainment
goals that more formal museums do (in somecases probably better!).
Different type of collection, different problems, different target
audience, different goals.

What is a museum anyway, and what is its purpose?

George Bailey
Australian War Memorial