Museums are fascinating places full of history, culture, art, science and more. They allow us to learn about the past and be inspired for the future. Museums also provide ample opportunities for riddles and brain teasers. Here are 87 riddles about museums with their answers.
Riddles about museum exhibits
Museums contain a wide variety of exhibits from different time periods and on various topics. Many riddles can be created around particular artifacts or types of exhibits found in museums.
Ancient artifacts riddles
What am I? I’m very old, thousands of years in fact. I was created by ancient civilizations and used in their daily lives. Now I sit protected behind glass for museum visitors to see. What am I? An ancient artifact like a vase, coin, or statue.
I’m an ancient board game made of stone. I was popular in Egypt thousands of years ago. What am I? Senet – an ancient Egyptian board game.
I’m a giant ancient structure with my face on it. I guarded the pharoahs in Egypt. What am I? The Great Sphinx of Giza.
Art riddles
I’m one of the most famous paintings in the world, created by Leonardo da Vinci in the early 1500s. I show a woman with a mysterious smile. What am I? The Mona Lisa.
I’m an impressionist painting by Claude Monet showing a Japanese bridge surrounded by water lilies. What am I? Water Lilies by Claude Monet.
I’m a post-impressionist painting by Vincent Van Gogh depicting a night sky with a crescent moon swirling with stars. What am I? Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh.
Historical artifacts riddles
I’m made of bronze and was designed by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. I welcome immigrants arriving in New York City. What am I? The Statue of Liberty.
I’m the top hat that Abraham Lincoln wore the night he was assassinated. What am I? Abraham Lincoln’s top hat.
I’m the microphone used by Martin Luther King Jr. during his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. What am I? Martin Luther King Jr.’s microphone from his “I Have a Dream” speech.
Science and technology riddles
I’m the skeleton of a large dinosaur species that lived over 65 million years ago. What am I? A T-rex skeleton.
I’m the Apollo 11 command module that went to the moon in 1969. What am I? The Apollo 11 space capsule.
I’m one of the first commercially successful light bulbs ever invented by Thomas Edison. What am I? One of Thomas Edison’s original lightbulbs.
Riddles about museum jobs and operations
It takes a lot of work behind the scenes at museums to keep things running smoothly. Riddles can focus on the various jobs and operations that happen at museums.
Museum job riddles
I work at the museum wearing white gloves. I carefully handle old artifacts and artworks, making sure they are preserved. What job do I have? Museum curator.
I greet visitors when they arrive at the museum, provide maps and sell admission tickets. What job do I have? Museum ticket clerk.
I give educational tours of the museum exhibits to school groups and other visitors. What job do I have? Museum docent.
Behind the scenes riddles
I’m the room at the museum where artifacts are cleaned, repaired and preserved. What am I? The museum conservation lab.
I’m the warehouse behind the museum where artifacts are securely stored when not on display. What am I? The museum archive.
I’m the system that regulates temperature, humidity, and lighting in the museum galleries to protect the artwork. What am I? The museum’s climate control system.
Riddles about museum visitors
The visitors who come to explore museums provide lots of inspiration for riddles. Here are some centered around the museum-going experience.
Museum visit riddles
I’m the paper map visitors can take to help find their way around the museum’s many rooms and floors. What am I? The museum map.
I’m the audio device visitors can rent to hear narration and learn more about exhibits as they walk through the museum. What am I? A museum audio guide.
I’m the blinking red light and loud beeping that goes off when a visitor gets too close to a museum artifact. What am I? The museum security alarm.
Museum visitor riddles
I walk slowly through the museum galleries gazing at all the artwork. I wear comfortable shoes and carry a bag with my camera, snacks and other amenities. Who am I? A museum visitor.
I’m part of a big group visiting the museum together. We follow a guide and learn about the exhibits on our tour. Who are we? Museum tour group.
I visit the museum gift shop before I leave to buy postcards, prints and souvenirs from my visit. Who am I? A museum visitor in the gift shop.
Riddles about museum collections
The artifacts, art, and objects in a museum’s collection make for lots of riddle fodder. See if you can guess what these museum pieces are.
Art museum collection riddles
I’m a cube-shaped sculpture in New York’s Museum of Modern Art made of smoothed, painted steel. What am I? The Minimalist sculpture “Die” by Tony Smith.
I’m a painting of sunflowers in a yellow vase on display in the National Gallery in London. What am I? “Sunflowers” series paintings by Vincent Van Gogh.
I’m a silkscreen print of a can of Campbell’s tomato soup by Andy Warhol. What am I? Campbell’s Soup Cans by Andy Warhol.
History museum collection riddles
I’m the top hat worn by Abraham Lincoln when he was assassinated. I’m part of the collection at the National Museum of American History. What am I? Abraham Lincoln’s top hat.
I’m the Wright brothers’ original airplane on display at the National Air and Space Museum. What am I? The Wright Flyer airplane.
I’m the giant sequoia tree cross-section on display at the American Museum of Natural History. What am I? The museum’s giant sequoia tree slab.
Children’s museum collection riddles
I’m a huge wooden maze shaped like a human body with exhibits about health. What children’s museum am I part of? The giant walk-through body at the Boston Children’s Museum.
I’m a simulated archaeological dig pit where kids can uncover buried artifacts. What children’s museum am I part of? The archaeological sand dig at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.
I’m a towering jungle gym structure made of rope and steel beams shaped like a beanstalk. What museum am I in? The Giant Beanstalk Climb sculpture at The Strong museum.
Riddles about museum architecture and design
From famous facades to unique layouts, museum buildings themselves provide lots of riddle fodder.
Famous museum architecture riddles
I’m a famous art museum in New York City with a curved, granite facade. What am I? The Guggenheim Museum.
I’m a museum in DC with a unique triangular building and towers resembling antique books on shelves. What am I? The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
I’m an architecturally stunning modern art museum in Los Angeles with galleries bathed in natural light. What museum am I? The Broad museum.
Museum layout riddles
I’m a section of the museum where you can see a timeline of historical artifacts arranged in chronological order. What part of the museum am I? The timeline exhibit.
I’m a large central space in the museum with high ceilings and doorways to the many galleries. What part of the museum am I? The museum atrium.
I’m the area in an art museum where you can sit and closely study masterpiece paintings and prints. What museum space am I? The print study room.
Riddles about museum events and activities
From after-hour parties to educational programs, museums play host to a diverse mix of special events.
Museum event riddles
I’m an evening museum event with music, drinks and a chance to view exhibits after regular hours. What am I? A museum after-hours party.
I’m a cultural festival at the museum with traditional music, dance, food, and crafts. What am I? A museum heritage festival.
I’m an adults-only late night event at the science museum with wine, music and hands-on science demos. What am I? A science museum adults night.
Museum program riddles
I’m a programmed museum tour focused on accessibility for vision-impaired visitors. What am I? A museum touch tour.
I’m a weekly art class at the museum where you can learn to draw, paint, sculpt or do other art projects. What am I? The museum art workshop.
I’m a summer class where kids can excavate simulated fossils and do archaeology experiments. What museum class am I? The museum summer paleontology camp.
Riddles about museum secrets and mysteries
Museums hold countless intriguing mysteries just waiting to be uncovered.
Museum secrets riddles
I’m invisible ink used on museum artifacts that is only visible under certain lights. What am I? Museum object UV markings.
I’m a hidden symbol on frame backs used to track museum artworks. What am I? The museum registration numbers.
I’m the miles of non-public basement hallways beneath the public museum floors. What am I? The museum sub-basements.
Museum mysteries riddles
I’m the unlisted museum artifacts kept in storage whose origins are unknown. What am I? The museum’s undocumented objects.
I’m the stacks of artwork buried in the museum’s archives that haven’t seen light in decades. What am I? The museum’s vault inventory.
I’m the museum pieces that have been lost, stolen or gone missing over the centuries. What am I? The museum’s missing inventory.
Conclusion
Did you enjoy these riddles about museums? Museums make wonderful places to stimulate curiosity and imagination. From historical artifacts to modern art, from architecture to jobs, museums provide almost endless inspiration for riddles. Next time you visit a museum, see what interesting riddles you can think up about the exhibits and inner workings of museums!
