The dictionaries defines a museum as "a building where objects of historical, scientific, or artistic interest are kept"

A Changing Understanding of “Museum”

• Historical Perspective: Historically, the word “museum” has been linked to a physical building or location
  in which objects of cultural, historical, or scientific interest are held and displayed.
  This is why many dictionaries still reflect that earlier emphasis on a physical structure.

• Contemporary Definitions: Organizations such as the International Council of Museums (ICOM)
  periodically update their definition to capture the broader purposes of museums.
  Today, a museum is no longer solely about “a building” but is recognized as an institution that
  “acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits” tangible and intangible heritage
  for the purposes of education, study, and enjoyment. For example, ICOM’s current definition (adopted in 2022)
  does not limit the concept to a physical building. Instead, it emphasizes the role of museums in “society”
  and the range of activities they perform, many of which can happen in purely digital spaces.

Why “Virtual Museums” Exist

Terminology in Flux

Though dictionaries often stick to the traditional notion of a “building,” museum studies experts,
professional associations, and many cultural organizations now use the term “museum”
to include virtual or hybrid institutions. These online museums still perform key “museum functions”—
collecting (digitally), researching, conserving (in digital formats), and sharing cultural content—
just without a permanent physical gallery.

So while you’re correct that many dictionaries define a museum as “a building,”
the professional field and emerging technology have expanded this concept, and the language
around it is evolving to match today’s reality.

 

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