On Museum Education In United States

The museum mode in Unites States is different from the European one since the very beginning as the large connection with the public and as education being one of major purpose of museums’ building up, as well. For more than200years, the educational function of museums in the United States has continuously enhanced. If it was merely some personal exploration in the18th century, the function of education in the museum is no less important than collection and research in the19th century. By the20th century, it is for sure that the museum is an educational institution participating in the nation-wide life-long education system. With further understanding of museums, museum education, and life-long education, the space and time boundaries of museum education expand.There is one similarity between the museum in China and those in the United States that education is the ultimate goal of the museum as being introduced from foreign countries. Yet, the educational function is still to be developed. Focus on the literature, this paper aims to clear the history, the theory and practice of American museums’education, and recognize the shortage of Chinese museums’ education, and the lessons we can draw from, wishing its beneficial to the overall development of museum education in China.