GH gives us a look inside the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum in the historic Vieux Carre district. As mentioned on their “vintage” site (yes, I am referring to the HTML), “The Museum also highlights the role of Louis Joseph Dufilho, Jr. whose work symbolizes the beginning of a system of certifying the professional competence of pharmacists, and recognizing the vital significance of that competence for the public health.” The history of the industry is a tangled one, but we thank it for existing today.

More looks after the click.

Here’s  look inside the new Gucci Museum exhibition in the heart of Florence’s Piazza Signoria. The permanent exhibition spans three floors with themes ranging from travel to florals; complemented by a gift shop, bookstore and more. The second floor of the exhibition looks to be most interesting in terms of brand. There you will find logos and icon work from the Gucci house.

More looks after the click.

Give it to Dazed for getting the description right on the latest project from CdG’s Rei Kawakubo and Dover Street Market. “Only Comme des Garçons has the guts to fill a shop floor with beautiful products that no one are allowed to buy, just gaze admiringly at. But what a brilliant idea though. How often are you ashamed of just walking around a shop, knowing that a shop assistant is staring you in the neck, upset to that you are ‘just browsing’. Well, now you don’t have a choice. You’re not allowed to buy, just look.” I have heard many people mention this is how they feel when they walk into DSM, no?

Pioneering works of natural history illustration on view at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston.

Interest in the natural world over the course of the 19th-century generated an enormous visual record produced by artists and naturalists alike. Fascination with detail forms a constant thread, even as debates raged over the best way to display, exhibit, and record “discoveries.” Feathers, Fins, and Fur: Natural History Illustration of the 19th-Century privileges the works of Alexander Wilson and John James Auduboun, and introduces a range of lesser known illustrators. Additionally, the exhibition draws from the institution’s library collection to explore preservation of natural artifact through print.

On view through May 23, 2010.

Above -  H. Patterson, Sebastes Marmoratus, 1856.

One of my personal favorite museums lies just a short walk from the Ashmolean. The Pitt Rivers, housed in Oxford’s Natural History Museum, received a face lift not too long ago and its neighbor too has undergone renovation. Rick Mather Architects has transformed the “dusty old labyrinth” doubling the exhibition space and adding much needed lighting. A full review of the new Ashmolean has been posted on Wallpaper*.  Adding exhibition space, promoting increased access to collections, and improving visitor flow is nothing new in museum renovation, but the work of Mather is nonetheless quite important to the history of the institution.

More views follow.

“Unrivaled” anywhere else in the world, the Victoria & Albert Museum’s ceramics collection has received new housing. The exhibition space opens tomorrow, September 18, and is comprised of several galleries. An introductory exhibition highlights the “world history” of ceramics, while other rooms tackle technique and architectural ceramics. On view is also a comprehensive study collection of 20th-century ceramic.

More images (via the Guardian) of the new galleries after the jump.

Louis Vuitton expands their support of the Arts with a new show at the Hong Kong Museum of Art in collaboration with the Consulate General of France (in HK). Louis Vuitton: “A Passion for Creation” lands in the middle of the 17th French May Arts Festival in HK. The show is broken into three parts “each of which deals with different aspects of the [Vuitton] House’s activities and projects…” As well, the facade of the museum is being “wrapped” up with the “After Dark” series by Richard Prince and gives the Victoria Harbour of Hong Kong “a new facade.”

The exhibit is runs through August 9th at the Hong Kong Museum of Art.

More images from the Louis Vuitton’s “A Passion for Creation” at the Hong Kong Museum as wrapped by Richard Prince after the jump.

Located in New Bremen, Ohio, The Bicycle Museum of America has recently received some great additions to their collection — including a 1941 Schwinn Paramount restored by Waterford Cycles. Aside from the physical location the museums website offers some great distraction. Hit the timeline, and don’t miss the “For Students” section (even if you are not engaged in a research project, it is a joy). Whittled away a few hours this morning there already…

Last Friday the New York Times reviewed the newly redesigned National Museum of American History. One of the Smithsonian’s largest institutions, it can often look like its most mistreated. The new layout and design opens up the galleries, brings in some natural light and uses keynote objects to present central themes and sections. “America’s Attic,” as it is affectionately known (though the term is more useful for the secret storage location… which, conversly, is pretty amazing), the NMAH now does the right thing and truly highlights one of the most fascinating objects in the Nation’s care… the original Star Spangled banner.

The redesign was helmed by Gary P. Haney and architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.

A few selected images of the new National Museum of American History follow.

Charleston is home to lots of blonde’s, A.W. Shucks Seafood Nachos and Ben Silver. Until January, 2009, the city and it’s great Charleston Museum is also home to a rather amusing exhibition about how the bicycle helped change the way women dressed in the 19th century. We knew we loved bikes here. What we didn’t know was that they helped our lady friends move towards “less restrictive undergarments.” In all seriousness, the exhibition sounds great, and the permanent collections in Charleston are absolutely fantastic.

“The Charleston Museum presents an original mini-exhibition called Bustles, Bicycles and Ballgowns: Beginnings of Change in Late 19th Century Clothing. Bicycles prompted a change in clothing and less restrictive undergarments.  Late 19th century women could go out on their bicycles unchaperoned for the first time because it was deemed acceptable as exercise. The bustle emerged during this era and proved to be more versatile than the hoop skirt.  This freedom of movement was a major factor in the increasing number of women in the workplace.

Bustles, Bicycles and Ballgowns offers a full range of garments, accessories and even equipment from late 19th century Charleston. In addition to women’s undergarments, walking clothing and formal attire, guests will see an 1890s bicycle, typewriter and shorthand machine. The exhibit also features a try-on station complete with a period-appropriate corset, bustle, and drawers.”