Stuffed full of wonder
Oxford's old-fashioned Natural History Museum would be amazing even without its exhibits...
It’s not the biggest museum you will ever visit but it is one of the most amazing spaces I’ve visited so far this year.
Oxford’s Natural History Museum is almost an exhibit in its own right, with a huge glass and iron vaulted roof that towers above a masterpiece of Victorian architecture supported by exquisitely crafted columns and arches.
If the building itself is not enough for you, it also houses skilfully displayed collections of dinosaur and other animal skeletons and stuffed animals such as the otter and bear, pictured.
This is very much the archetype of 19th century museums, designed by Irish architects Thomas Newenham Deane and Benjamin Woodward. It opened in 1860 and is now a Grade 1 Listed Building.
There are plenty of places to find out more about the place and its collections so I won’t repeat all that here - but I will give you a few links that may be useful to find out more.
Museum website - https://www.oumnh.ox.ac.uk
Oxford Megalosaurus - https://www.oumnh.ox.ac.uk/megalosaurus-0
The Oxford Evolution Debate (hosted in 1860 at the Museum) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1860_Oxford_evolution_debate