Mall museum facts for kids

A mall museum is a cool place where a shopping mall and a museum are built together! This idea became popular after a big economic slowdown around 2007-2010. During that time, museums started using large empty spaces inside shopping malls. This was a smart move because it helped the malls use their space, and it brought more visitors to the museums. People who came to shop could also easily visit exhibits and learn new things. This trend has grown in many countries, like Iran, Turkey, Spain, and the United States.

Mall Museums Around the World

Mall museums are popping up in different parts of the world, offering unique experiences for visitors.

Middle East Mall Museums

The Isfahan City Center in Iran is a huge shopping mall. It's special because it has one of the largest museums inside a mall anywhere in the world! This museum covers a massive area of 16,000 square meters. It displays amazing treasures that are thousands of years old. You can see more than 15 different collections, including old stamps, bills, coins, and beautiful art. The main goal of this museum is to teach the world about Iran's rich history.

European Mall Museums

Europe also has some exciting mall museums.

Rock and Roll in Spain

In Barcelona, Spain, you can find the new Rock and Roll Museum. It's located inside a modern shopping complex called Arenas de Barcelona mall. This mall opened in March 2011. What's really interesting is that the mall used to be a historic bullring! It was called Plaza de Toros las Arenas. The original bullring was designed by a famous architect named Lluís Domènech i Montaner. It was turned into a mall and entertainment center because bullfighting became less popular.

The Museum of Rock Music says it has one of the biggest collections of rock music items in Europe. It includes 500 pieces from a special foundation in Barcelona. The museum has four main exhibit rooms. One room is all about Spanish rock music. Another is dedicated to the famous band The Beatles, and a third is for the Rolling Stones. The fourth room changes its exhibits regularly, so there's always something new to see!

Ice Museum in Turkey

The Forum Istanbul shopping mall in Turkey is home to the first ice museum in the country. It opened on April 23, 2010. This museum is open all year round! When you visit, you get a warm arctic coat at the entrance. This is because the temperature inside the museum is very cold, around minus 5 degrees Celsius (which is about 23 degrees Fahrenheit). Brrr!

United States Mall Museums

The United States has also seen museums opening inside shopping malls.

Hungarian Heritage in Ohio

One of the first museums to open inside a shopping mall in the United States was the Hungarian Heritage Museum. It's located at The Galleria at Erieview Mall in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cleveland Hungarian Heritage Society supports this museum, which first opened its doors on March 15, 2003.

Arizona's Diverse Collections

Arizona has several museums that have opened or are planning to open in empty store spaces.

In December 2010, the Scottsdale International Auto Museum announced plans to open. It would display about 100 cars at the Scottsdale Pavilions shopping center in Arizona.

In May 2010, Sea Life Arizona opened in the Arizona Mills Mall in Tempe. This aquarium is about 2,600 square meters in size. Sea Life Arizona is managed by Merlin Entertainments Group. This company is the second-largest operator of themed attractions in the world, right after Disney. The Tempe aquarium is one of 33 Sea Life museums that Merlin operates in eleven different countries. The aquarium is home to more than 5,000 sea creatures. You can see amazing animals like sea horses, octopuses, and sting-rays.

The Pop Culture Experience museum opened on April 8, 2011. It's located in the Desert Ridge Shopping Mall in north Phoenix. This museum features cool items like Apollo 11 memorabilia, Barbie dolls, Superman figures, and collectibles from popular TV shows and movies. These items are all part of America's pop culture from the 1960s until today.