I know its a bit of a clich but truly my favourite museum is the quite simple stunning British Museum in London. Its not just the fact it is situated in my favourite city. Nor is it that is within easy walking distance of Soho. Nor is it the truly magnificent building its collections are housed in. In my mind, the British Museum is everything that a museum should be, and it sets the bar to which all other museums must be measured.
The British Museum was created in 1753 from the collection of Sir Hans Sloan, a scientist and doctor. He wished his collection of over 70000 curiosities and 40000 books not to be split after his death, so he in effect sold them to George 2nd for 20000. The King then passed an Act of Parliament in 1753 to establish the British Museum. Interestingly the British Museum was always meant to be free and available to everyone, not just those who were invited and could pay.
The museum has obviously moved location several times throughout its history as its collection of artefacts have grown and is today located in Great Russell Street. Its collections have likewise grown throughout the years and under British Law it is still illegal for an item to be removed from its collection once it has been entered. Even so, practicality has taken over and a lot of its collections have been moved to set up the foundations of other museums in London. These include the Natural History Museum set up in 1887, the National Portrait Gallery and the British Library in 1971.
It houses some of the most important artefacts from the history of humanity. Relics such as the Elgin Marbles, the Rosetta Stone, Benin Bronzes, and Molds Golden Cloak, the paintings of the greats like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt and Hogarth tell the rich tapestry of human history. The British Museum is a true celebration of humanity in all its glory. Add to this the exhibitions it hosts from around the world and the museum is a breathtaking place to visit.
Even today the museum feels me with a sense of wonder and I make a point to visit it whenever I visit London. I love wandering around the Kings Library and the Egyptian artefacts. Maybe it is because I remember the sense of awe I had as a child when I first visited it and saw all those books, painting, busts and mummies (!) for the first time. Nostalgia may indeed blind me in this instance but for me it truly is the most magical place on earth.
comixbookgurl:
