The question has arisen in the creation thread as to whether the Creation Museum is just that, a museum.  I think there's a little narcissim that goes on in the museum sector, that museum needs to be as defined by one or more specific organizations (AAM, ICOM, etc.).  While that works for the rules of the groups that belong, they may not, in fact, work for the people who create museums--even if those museums don't match your perception of what constitutes a museum.  So, I decided to do a little digging online for definitions.
 
According to Wikipedia:
 
Museum Definitions
The Museums Association definition (adopted 1998) is:
“ Museums enable people to explore collections for inspiration, learning and enjoyment. They are institutions that collect, safeguard and make accessible artefacts and specimens, which they hold in trust for society. ”
A previous Museums Association definition was:
"A museum is an institution which collects, documents, preserves, exhibits and interprets material evidence and associated information for the public benefit."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum#Museum_Definitions
 
Now many of us who have stronger leanings in science find the Creation museum to be a farce, failing to hold up to the standards of science.  But, to the bigger question of are they a museum, by the definition above, the answer would seem yes.  They inspire, people learn (remember, that can be very subjective), and they hold things in trust for a segment of society.  Clearly, they interpret. 
 
According to Wiki, the ICOM definition includes:
 
A museum is a "permanent institution in the service of society and of its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits, for purposes of study, education, enjoyment, the tangible and intangible evidence of people and their environment" (ICOM definition).[1]
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum
 
All the creation talk clearly falls into the intangible side of the equation, relying on belief as opposed to science.
 
Querying ICOM itself, I found:
 
ICOM Definition of a Museum

 
"A museum is a non-profit making, permanent institution in the service of society and of its development, and open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits, for purposes of study, education and enjoyment, material evidence of people and their environment. (...)"
 
http://icom.museum/definition.html
 
For some on the Creation side, one could argue it's there to study, provide (biblical) education, and simply enjoyment.   Again, one could argue it is a museum.
 
Going to the AAM site, one can find the AAM, ICOM, and IMLS definitions of a museum:
 
http://www.aam-us.org/aboutmuseums/whatis.cfm
 
As much as many of us are averse to the Creation Museum, it would seem to me based on the evidence at hand, one cannot say it is not a museum.  We may not like the content or what is being portrayed, but we cannot counter the fact that it is a museum and has a right to exist . . .
 
OR CAN WE?  I leave that to you guys to duke out.
 
 


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