The first public museums in the world opened in Europe during the 18th century's Age of Enlightenment: •the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology in Oxford is the world's oldest university museum, and the oldest museum in the United Kingdom. It opened in 1683 and the present building dates from 1845. •the Museo Sacro, the first museum in the Vatican Museums complex, was opened in Rome in 1756. •the British Museum in London, was founded in 1753 and opened to the public in 1759. Sir Hans Sloan's personal collection of curios provided the initial foundation for the British Museum's collection. •the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, which had been open to visitors on request since the 16th century, was officially opened to the public 1765. •the Belvedere Palace of the Habsburg monarchs in Vienna opened with an outstanding collection of art in 1781. These "public" museums, however, were often accessible only by the middle and upper classes. It could be difficult to gain entrance. In London for example, prospective visitors to the British Museum had to apply in writing for admission. Even by 1800 it was possible to have to wait two weeks for an admission ticket. Visitors in small groups were limited to stays of two hours. In Victorian times in England it became popular for museums to be open on a Sunday afternoon (the only such facility allowed to do so) to enable the opportunity for "self improvement" of the other - working - classes. -see also wikipedia- Thanks for looking Andreas