When you think of multi-channel marketing strategies, a museum exhibit might not be the first thing that comes to mind, never mind one that was on display in 1980. But in February of that year, The British Museum launched an exhibit about the untold stories of Vikings, opening the same day that “The Vikings” television movie aired on BBC.

Without mobile devices demanding constant attention, linking a new museum exhibit to a popular television network was a smart move. Today, you can download an app to get a richer experience both during and after your museum visit, but I can imagine that seeing the story of the Vikings played out on your television set, then getting the chance to see the artifacts first hand, must have been an exciting experience.

Perhaps it’s our accessibility to mobile devices and the extensive information they make available to us that inspired this much starker ad when the exhibit returned in 2014.

FUN FACT: The British Museum in London houses about 30% of  the original sculptures from the Parthenon. This has been a point of contention with the Greek government who has been questioning the museum’s legal rights to the artifacts since the 1980’s. (Source: The British Museum Website)