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FossilsNatural History Museum (London) - The exhibition that once was...

14th Jan 2021 09:40 UTCJolyon Ralph Founder

The Natural History Museum in London used to have an exceptional public fossil display - taking up the entire east side of the ground floor. The lower space here is now taken up by the gift shop and space for special (paid) exhibitions. The upper areas now include the restaurant and the (modern) insects exhibition, with birds on the far top right where the galleries are now connected up to the Earth Science galleries (what was the old Geological Museum.)

The only parts of this original display still extant are the fossil marine reptiles on the corridor walls (XIII, XIV on this map). There's also a small 1980s display of British fossils on the wall in area No.5 as some kind of apology I guess.

I know insects are important and people have to eat, and buy plastic dinosaurs, but I do think this is a real shame!

Fortunately the mineral galleries on the floor above have remained pretty much undisturbed for the 130 years since this particular map was published (1890). The mineral galleries are the last remaining original gallery from the Natural History Museum - or BM(NH) as it was then.

14th Jan 2021 12:56 UTCLarry Maltby Expert

Jolyon,

That is indeed sad. In 1988 I had a three month work assignment in England. Virginia was with me for six weeks of that time. We lived in Brighton on the channel. I had two personal goals, to see Stone Hinge and the British Museum of Natural History. I was able to get to the Museum three times and Stone Hinge ounce. Virginia road the trains all over Southern England. What we enjoyed most was the tendency that England has to preserve history and tradition. Evidently some of that has been lost.

The good news is that you have documented much of this with photos. It also shows how important the Museum section on Mindat is. We need to document old collections because they could be removed from public display at any time.

14th Jan 2021 14:45 UTCKevin Conroy Manager

The old mineral displays are very good as is so I hope that they remain as is. It has been several years since I've seen the new mineral gallery. Although the cases were very nice, the lighting was not. Has this been improved?

14th Jan 2021 15:13 UTCJolyon Ralph Founder

The lighting has improved - a little.

14th Jan 2021 15:20 UTCKevin Conroy Manager

That's a shame. There are very fine specimens in them, so they deserve to be shown appropriately.

14th Jan 2021 16:19 UTCTom Tucker

I love the British Mineral Museum - don't 'pretty it up" iike the Smithsonian . That's a fabulous idea having the viewable collection index right there on a convenient wall !! Well done ! Tom

14th Jan 2021 16:56 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager

I have yet to visit the NHM in London, mainly because I've spent maybe a grand total of an hour in London to catch a train so I could meet up with Nathalie who was lecturing at Oxford University.

One of these days we truly need to plan a visit to London and the NHM!

14th Jan 2021 19:10 UTCJolyon Ralph Founder

Once the world comes back to normal I'd be delighted to show you round!

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