As the calendar turns over, we often find ourselves seeking creative and exciting methods for betterment. We turn to new avenues and institutions on our journeys to improved physical, mental, or social health, enrolling in an assortment of self-help symposiums from gyms and saunas to knitting circles and cooking classes. If your pointer finger is itching to hit the ‘join’ button, we have a solution for you: a museum membership.
Visiting a museum provides a myriad of proven benefits to health and well-being, creating lasting opportunities to reduce stress, increase physical activity, and foster community engagement. To assist you in whatever metric you’re hoping to improve — or simply address with more intention — we’ve compiled some anecdotal and scientific evidence for why a museum might be your resolution solution.
Physical:
A stroll through our 8-acre exhibit floor is no walk in the park, but rather, a form of moderate exercise that can significantly increase your well-being and step count. An extremely scientific* internal study showed that one trip through the museum amassed roughly 2,516 steps. According to a 2023 analysis, health benefits — including lowering mortality risk — start after walking as few as 2,500 steps.
For this study, we walked through every exhibit, up to the Cafe to refuel, through the Explore Store, and up all 64 of the Omnitheater’s steps to find seating in the final row. If all the walking gets you winded, the Omnitheater shows’ 40-minute runtimes allow for the perfect nap duration, with a 10-minute buffer before and after your snooze to reacclimate to your surroundings and catch the film’s finale.
A stop on the Musical Staircase allowed the study participant (yes, just one) to soak in sunlight from all 63 of the floor-to-ceiling windows, a practice proven to reduce stress levels, boost immune function, and improve mood.
Mental:
Beginning in 1993, the idea of museums operating not solely as educational institutions, but also as calming, restorative environmentsbegan to garner popularity. These environments are typically marked by (1) the ability to be away from everyday concerns, (2) is interesting but not mentally exhausting, and (3) fulfills some purpose for the visitor. We think our exhibits knock all of these metrics out of the park; some quite literally. If your purpose in need of fulfillment is to outswing a pro baseball player, we suggest swinging (pun quite intended) by Sportsology.
More than simply a reprieve, museums are a great place to learn something new. Research has shown people gain more knowledge — and retain it longer — when they actively engage with the information and experiences at hand. Sure, you can read about how tornadoes are formed, but where else can you (safely) create one of your own?
Social:
Museums build connections. With objects and specimens, with our communities, and with each other. Whether you’re here for a casual group visit or a facilitated collections tour, each touchpoint creates an opportunity to deepen your relationship with those seeking the same — and the world around us.
In a 2021-2022 study across 38 museums, visitors reported a positive change in valuing diverse communities and strengthening relationships after visiting a museum. One response articulated: “Museums are so much more than just an outing with the family. It connects you to new experiences, people and things that we do not see in our daily lives. This is crucial for connecting the community with each other and understanding a different perspective.”
These spaces museums create — places for like-minded individuals to share enriching experiences and diverse voices of thought to learn from each other — both create a profound sense of belonging and an impetus for personal growth.
While you can reap these benefits with one museum visit, they compound over the course of many. Membership gets you free visits all year, which includes an Omnitheater movie with every trip – ideal if you do decide to take that nap every once in a while. We hope to see you getting your steps in very soon.
*one employee’s lunch break walk
