Australia charts its tumultuous history in some fine museums; here are a few of the ones we find most interesting:
- National Museum of Australia (Acton, Australian Capital Territory): Using state-of-the-art technology and hands-on exhibits, the museum concentrates on three themes: Australian society and its history since 1788; the interaction of people with the Australian environment; and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories. It relies more on images and sound than on historical objects to tell the stories.
- The Australian Aviation Heritage Centre (Darwin, Northern Territory): This museum has a B-52 bomber as its most prized exhibit but also boasts a B-25 Mitchell bomber, Mirage and Sabre jet fighters, and rare Japanese Zero fighter wreckage. Even if you aren’t a military or aircraft buff, you may enjoy the funny, sad, heartwarming, and sometimes heart-wrenching displays on World War II and Vietnam.
- The National Gallery of Victoria (Melbourne, Victoria): The international branch of the National Gallery (in St. Kilda), and its Ian Potter Centre, off Federation Square, combine to offer a collection of international art, including works by Gainsborough, Constable, Bonnard, Delacroix, Van Dyck, El Greco, Monet, Manet, Magritte, and Rembrandt, and more than 20 rooms dedicated to Australian art.
