Natural History Museum, London

The museum's origins lie in the collection of Sir Hans Sloane, which was acquired by the British government in 1753 and housed in the British Museum. In 1881, the natural history collections moved to a new building in South Kensington, designed by Alfred Waterhouse in a Romanesque style, with terracotta facades featuring intricate carvings of flora and fauna.¹ The building was constructed with a steel frame and brick, and its central hall, known as the Hintze Hall, was originally a cathedral-like space for exhibitions.

The museum's collections are vast and scientifically significant, including specimens from Darwin's voyage on the HMS Beagle, such as the giant ground sloth and the Galápagos finches. The museum also holds the world's largest collection of dinosaur fossils, including the famous Diplodocus cast (now replaced by a blue whale skeleton in Hintze Hall).² Research at the museum spans taxonomy, genomics, and Earth sciences, with over 300 scientists working on projects like the identification of new species and the study of ancient DNA.

Key galleries include the Dinosaurs Gallery, the Earth Hall with its giant rotating globe, and the Wildlife Garden, a natural haven in the city. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions, such as the popular 'Dippy the Diplodocus' tour and the 'Titanosaur' exhibition. The Darwin Centre, opened in 2009, provides a behind-the-scenes look at the museum's scientific work, including the cocoon-like building that houses millions of specimens in alcohol.

Beyond the headline attractions, the museum has several niche features. The 'Attenborough Studio' hosts live science shows, and the museum's library holds rare books and manuscripts, including original drawings by John James Audubon. The museum also has a hidden 'Spirit Collection' of over 27 million specimens preserved in fluid, many of which are not on public display. Additionally, the museum's roof is home to a colony of bees, and its gardens are managed for biodiversity, including a pond that supports newts and dragonflies.

The museum has a long history of public engagement, from the first public display of a dinosaur in 1854 (the Iguanodon at the Crystal Palace) to the modern 'Dippy' and 'Hope' the blue whale. The museum's iconic 'Dippy' was a cast of a Diplodocus that stood in the entrance hall for over a century, becoming a beloved symbol. In 2017, it was replaced by the skeleton of a blue whale, named 'Hope', to highlight the museum's focus on biodiversity and conservation.

Hintze Hall

The central hall of the museum, originally called the Central Hall, renamed after a major donor.

Diplodocus

A genus of long-necked sauropod dinosaur, known from a cast that was displayed for over a century.

Spirit Collection

Specimens preserved in alcohol or other fluids, used for scientific research.