The intention of this book consists in providing an original description of how museums have developed from 1993 to 2008 handling the contemporary situation under different points of view and focusing in particular on the European branch of the industry. The first part of the analysis aims at providing a theoretical framework going through the history of museums since their birth and discussing how the role of these institutions have changed over the years; particular consideration is given at the architectural factor to understand the influence it had on the concept of "museum" and vice versa. After this theoretical setting, the paper deals with empirical work: it brings the reader right into the core of the quantitative analysis, anticipated by an explanation of the methodologies used to gather and elaborate data of more than 700 new museums and renewals. Many results will allow the author to "take a picture" of the contemporary museum industry contributing, at least, to the curiosity that everyone may have towards this sector or, better, to make up for a lack in the current literature.