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1873 British Museum Open to the Public
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1873 British Museum Open to the Public
Holiday Time: British Museum by F. Smith in the Illustrated London News 1873. This image shows the general public visiting one of the natural history rooms in the British Museum (before the Natural History Museum separated to South Kensington). Visible in back are the Gorilla specimens that caused a sensation when sold to Richard Owen by Paul Du Chaillu in 1860 (Darwins Origins published 1860, Descent of Man published 1871). Opening the museum to the public was contentious, but had Richard Owens support. In 1835 the BM principle Librarian Sir Henry Ellis noted " the more vulgar class would crowd into the museum" " sailors from dock yards and girls whom they might bring with them" " the more important class of the population would be discontented". It was not untill 1879 that daily opening hours allowed the working class to regularly visit the museum
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Media ID 6317751
© PAUL D STEWART/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
British Museum Darwin Descent Of Man Display Education Gorilla Museum Natural History Owen Popular Science Public Richard Owen Victorian Visitors Working Class Snobbery
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a significant moment in history - the opening of the British Museum to the general public in 1873. The image showcases a natural history room filled with visitors, eagerly exploring the wonders on display. In the background, we catch a glimpse of the Gorilla specimens that caused quite a sensation when acquired by Richard Owen from Paul Du Chaillu in 1860. The decision to open the museum to all was not without controversy. Sir Henry Ellis, then principle Librarian of BM, expressed concerns about "the more vulgar class" and how they would mingle with "sailors from dock yards and girls whom they might bring with them" while fearing that it would leave discontent among the more important segments of society. However, Richard Owen's support played an instrumental role in making this change possible. It is worth noting that access for working-class individuals remained limited until 1879 when daily opening hours were introduced. This move allowed regular visits by those who had previously been excluded due to their social status. This photograph serves as a testament to both progress and education. It highlights how museums can bridge societal gaps and provide opportunities for popular science exploration. The presence of Darwin's influential works like "Origins" (published in 1860) and "Descent of Man" (published in 1871) further emphasizes the intellectual significance associated with this historic moment at the British Museum.
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