I suspect you're more interested in the building itself? And not so much the exhibits? 🤨
Welcome to SW, our common mothership! I'm sure you'll make many beautiful friends soon... 🌷 <== your personal, unique welcome tulip from helenS, frequent Natural History Museum visitor
The Natural History Museum in London, originally called the British Museum (Natural History), opened to the public on April 18, 1881, in South Kensington.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Origins: The museum's origins can be traced back to 1753 and the career of Sir Hans Sloane, a doctor and collector.
Early Plans: In 1864, Francis Fowke, the architect who designed the Royal Albert Hall and parts of the Victoria and Albert Museum, won a competition to design the Natural History Museum.
Architect: After Fowke's death, Alfred Waterhouse took on the project, designing the building in a mix of Gothic Revival and Romanesque styles, which Waterhouse envisioned as a "cathedral to nature".
Construction: Construction began in 1873 and was completed in 1880.
Opening: The museum opened to the public on April 18, 1881.
Move from the British Museum: The museum was originally housed in the British Museum in Bloomsbury, but as the collections grew, a larger space was needed.
Independent Status: The Natural History Museum became fully independent in 1963, with its own Board of Trustees, and wasn't permitted to use its present name until 1992.
@V00doo There are always groups of children there no matter what day I go. On the main steps there were about 50 of the little rugrats having their photo taken. It was cute
@FrogManSometimesLooksBothWays I've been to D.C. But I did not visit any museums. I was there for the cherry blossom and I had the perfect weather....my pictures came out looking fake, that how nice they were.
