What is the history and significance of the first art galleries?  What
innovations in art galleries are most notable?  How have art galleries
affected society, then and now?

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Clarification of Question by mimesis-ga on 01 Apr 2004 16:40 PST

Just a simple answer may suffice... can anyone tell me the history of
the first art gallery or art exhibit?

The oldest museums in the Western world are usually considered to be
the Capitoline Museums, founded in 1471, which are still located in
their original buildings on the Campidoglio Hill in Rome. More info on
this collection (in English) is at 
http://www.museionline.it/eng/cerca/museo.asp?id=2320

Other info,  on the history of the British Museum, that may be helpful
to you is at http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/visit/history.html

Though no expert, I would say that one key moment in the history of
museums was when collections of "curiosities" common in the 17th and
18th centuries (and still on view in, for example, the Sir John Soane
Museum in London) began to be categorised in late 18th and 19th
centuries, and museums were transformed into places of learning.
Another important, more recent, change has been the popularisation of
museums, with the display of fewer, carefully selected objects; more
"hands-on" displays;  and easy-to-follow wall-texts etc.

Hope this is helpful.