The British Museum was founded in 1753 to house Sir Hans Sloane’s collection of antiquities. It has grown into one of the world’s largest collections of human artifacts. The museum is free to visit and has a diverse collection, including the famous Rosetta Stone. The museum has faced controversy over the display of certain artifacts. It is open every day and is easily accessible by bus, tube, or on foot.
The British Museum was established by King George II of England in 1753, to house the collection of antiquities bequeathed to the king by Sir Hans Sloane. Since then, it has grown into one of the world’s largest and most respected collections of human artifacts. Like most of Britain’s national museums, the British Museum is free to visit and well worth a day of exploration while visiting London.
Throughout its history, the museum has been blessed with spectacular collections donated by artifact hunters from around the world. Captain James Cook regularly sent his collection of specimens and discoveries from his voyages to the museum for display. By the early 19th century, the British Museum had become a major collector of Egyptian antiquities, including the famous Rosetta Stone, which allowed for the translation of hieroglyphs. In addition to human artifacts, the collection originally included natural history specimens and an impressive library, including the only surviving copy of Beowulf. These collections were later housed in separate institutions, including the British Library and the British Natural History Museum.
By the 1820s, the collection had grown so enormous that the area surrounding the original building was purchased and rebuilt to house the museum. The new galleries and main buildings were designed and built by brothers Sir Robert and Sydney Smirke, and construction continued for more than three decades. Today the museum remains in its original location and recently celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2003.
Today, the British Museum houses one of the largest collections of human history in the world. Originally, the collection was divided into three fairly random categories: manuscripts, printed books, and natural or man-made artifacts. The third all-encompassing category was naturally huge and led to considerable reorganization over time. Today, the collection is much more accurately described with major departments including regional sections such as Asia, Egypt and Assyria, and descriptive branches such as coins and medals, prints and documents, and prehistory.
Such a diverse collection of historical artefacts cannot exist without controversy and the British Museum sparks it. Two of their most famous exhibits, the Elgin Marbles and the Benin brass plaques, are under constant lobbying to be returned to their home countries. Furthermore, many object to the display of Egyptian tomb artifacts, arguing that the excavation of these objects constitutes gross disrespect for the burial customs of ancient Egyptian culture, and is even comparable to tomb robbing. Historically, the museum has accepted artifacts taken under less-than-friendly circumstances, which has occasionally led to considerable nastiness.
If you are in London and would like to visit the British Museum, it is open every day from 10am to 5.30pm, continuously on Thursdays and Fridays. Be prepared to spend most of your day here, as the collections are vast and incredibly fascinating for any history lover. Stop for a snack at the museum cafe or check out one of the delightful restaurants in nearby Holborn. The British Museum is located in central London and is easily accessible by bus, tube or on foot from any central location.
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