Museums: Pop Culture Exhibits

Considering the impact that popular culture has had on contemporary times, it should be no surprise that Geek Culture has become the focal point for museum exhibits across the country. From original costumes worn in motions pictures like Black Panther to action figures and toys from decades past, from Space Age jewelry to board and video games, a plethora of pop culture artifacts have found their way into museum. Just as history can be explored through exhibits, the same now holds true for Geek Culture.

Doomsday: Turn Back the Clock

A 2017 exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago explored the history of the Doomsday Clock, whose “minutes to midnight” reflect how close the planet is to Armageddon.

Guitar: The Instrument That Rocked The World

The traveling exhibit created by the National Guitar Museum features a 44-foot long Gibson guitar and examples of 77 other designs in an exploration of the iconic musical instrument.

Indiana Jones and the Adventure of Archaeology

A 2015 exhibit at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C. spotlighted both the fictional archaeologist and many of his real-life contemporaries, as well as their discoveries.

Kaiju vs. Heroes and the Journey of Mark Nagata

A 2019 exhibit at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles featured action figures from the collection of Mark Nagata, whose life’s path was profoundly affected by them.

Minecraft: The Exhibition

The exhibit premiered at the Museum of Pop Culture in 2019 to mark the tenth anniversary of the initial release of the popular culture sensation that has evolved beyond mere video game.

Out of This World! Jewelry in the Space Age

A 2015 exhibit at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh contained a collection of jewelry that paid homage to the humanity’s fascination with the stars and spanned centuries.

Ruth E. Carter: Heroes and Sheroes

The ongoing career of the African American costume designer was showcased at the Senator John Heinz History Center in late 2018, just months before her first Oscar win for Black Panther.

The Games We Played

After a full-scale exhibit in 2002, the New-York Historical Society began rotating its collection of original board games from the late 1800s, making them an ongoing feature at the museum.

The Power of Poison

The traveling exhibit premiered at the American Museum of Natural History in 2013 and explored the importance of the fatal substance within nature, myth, literature, and history.

Toys of the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s

The travelling exhibit is filled with nostalgic memories for young and old alike, and features such iconic treasurers as Barbie, G.I. Joe, Mr. Potato Head, Tonka trucks and Hot Wheels.