World Museum, Liverpool
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The World Museum is an absolute must-see if you are staying in Liverpool or nearby. It is considered to be one of the finest museums in England, while its collection of ancient Egyptian items for instance is considered as the second most important after the one that can be seen in the British Museum in London. But the World Museum which is a part of the Liverpool Museums does not attract over half a million visitors a year with its spectacular artefacts from ancient Egypt and Sudan alone. The museum truly offers something for everyone including children as it also houses thousands of fossils, huge collection of minerals and rocks, outstanding zoological and botanical collection with live insect colonies, one of the finest ethnological collections in England, an important physical sciences collection and a planetarium which alone is visited by nearly 100,000 people a year. It is without a doubt a great place to spend your afternoon. |
History of the World Museum starts in the mid 19th century when the town of Liverpool received a natural history collection of the deceased Duke of Derby which was decided to be displayed on Duke Street. A few years later, an aquarium tank was installed in the Derby’s Museum and the town council was soon forced to relocate the museum to a larger building due to its extreme popularity. William Brown, the local merchant and Member of Parliament donated the land as well as most of the money needed for the new museum building that was opened to public in 1860 and renamed the Liverpool Free Public Museum. However, the new building soon became too small for the growing museum’s collection and at the end of the 19th century, Edward William Mountford’s design won the competition for the design of an extension to the museum and the nearby Liverpool Central Technical School. The school occupied the low level and the museum the upper level of the extension.
The World Museum (at the time still called Liverpool Free Public Museum) was heavily damaged by German bombing during World War II. Fortunately, the collection was moved to safe locations but the museum was not reopened to visitors until the mid 1950s and even then only partly. The museum building was gradually being restored and ten years later, the UK Prime Minister Harold Wilson officially opened the first portion of rebuilt museum building. The museum was eventually restored completely, however, its enormous collection required another extension which took place in the early 21st century during which it was briefly closed. The museum took the lower portion of the late 19th century extension and gained a new aquarium, while the galleries were refurbished. It was reopened in 2005 when it was renamed the World Museum.
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The World Museum is located on the William Brown Street, also known as the Cultural Quarter where you can also find other top Liverpool attractions. You can visit the museum every day from 10am to 5pm except 25-26 December and 1 January when it is closed. Also, keep in mind that it closes at 2pm on 24 December. The entrance to the World Museum is free. |