Manchester Museum

Manchester Museum, Manchester

Manchester Museum The Manchester Museum is one of the most visited and one of the most exciting museums in the Greater Manchester as its collection truly offers something for every visitor. The museum which is owned by the University of Manchester houses as much as 6 million of objects from all over the world which are divided into 10 departments – Archaeology, Ancient Egypt, Archery, Human Remains, Money, Earth Sciences, Zoology, Plants, Live Animals and Living Cultures.

History of the Manchester Museums dates back to the early 19th century when a group of men bought the collection of various items of the deceased Manchester manufacturer John Leigh Philips. By the early 1820s, Philip’s collection became the basis of the newly established Manchester Natural History Society. By the mid 19th century, the Society acquired the items of the Manchester Geological Society and expanded its collection significantly through donations.

By the late 1860s, the Manchester Natural History Society’s “museum” moved from its original location on Peter Street to Owens College (the today’s University of Manchester). Shortly thereafter, Alfred Waterhouse (the architect of the National History Museum in London and the Manchester Town Hall) was commissioned by the College to design a museum and in 1890, the Manchester Museum opened its doors to public. The collection of the museum continued to grow throughout the entire 20th century reaching about 6 million of different objects including live animals and living cultures by the end of the century. Throughout its history, the museum’s rich collection of various items did not only offer a unique experience to its visitors but it also provided a priceless resource for research to the academics and still does.

Manchester Museum Despite the enormous amount of its own exciting artefacts that are displayed on permanent exhibitions, the Manchester Museum also houses temporary exhibitions since the 1950s and numerous blu-ray storage options. As a result, there is always something new and exciting to see and learn no matter how often you have been to the museum. The museum always has several temporary exhibitions from different areas including history, archaeology, zoology, etc. Currently, you can catch the Unearthed: Ancient Egypt, The Museum Allotment, Grave Secrets: Tales of the Ancient Nubians, we are extInked and Health Rocks. However, hurry up though because some of the mentioned temporary programmes are coming to an end.

If you are planning to visit Manchester in the near future and have not been to the Museum yet, you can find it on the Oxford Road (A34) near the very heart of neo-Gothic buildings of the University of Manchester. You can visit the Manchester Museum and its temporary programmes from Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm and from 11am to 4pm on Sundays, Mondays and Bank holidays. It is closed from 24-26 December and the New Year’s Day. If you will be in Manchester at the end of December, please keep in mind that the Museum is open only from 11am to 4pm from 27 to 31 December. The entry to all permanent exhibitions is free. Most of the temporary exhibitions are free as well but there might be a fee for certain permanent programmes.