Oxford University Museum of Natural History
England
The Oxford University Museum of Natural History (OUMNH) is a distinguished museum located in Oxford, England, dedicated to the University of Oxford's natural history specimens. Established between 1855 and 1860, the museum was conceived to centralize scattered scientific collections and teaching facilities across Oxford. The neo-Gothic building, designed mainly by Benjamin Woodward with influence from John Ruskin, features a grand glass-roofed court supported by ornate cast iron pillars and stone columns made from different British stones. The museum houses extensive collections including fossils, minerals, and zoological specimens, with notable contributions from collectors like John Tradescant and William Buckland. It also contains a lecture theatre used by university departments such as chemistry, zoology, and mathematics. The adjoining Pitt Rivers Museum, accessible through the museum, holds ethnological collections, emphasizing the 19th-century distinction between natural and human-made artifacts. The museum is currently undergoing a major redisplay project called 'Life, As We Know It' to modernize exhibits and enhance visitor experience. Its collections include one of the world's most important Middle Jurassic dinosaur assemblages and exceptional fossils with soft tissues preserved. The museum remains a vibrant center for both public education and academic research in natural sciences.
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Tip: Visitors should plan their visit to avoid periods when parts of the museum might be closed due to ongoing redisplay work, such as the current 'Life, As We Know It' project. Entry is free, but checking the official website for updates on exhibit availability and special events is recommended. The best time to visit is during weekdays and outside school holidays to enjoy a quieter experience. The museum provides access to the Pitt Rivers Museum, so allow extra time to explore both. Advance booking is not required, but group visits may benefit from prior arrangements.
Interesting facts
- •The museum's stone columns are each made from a different British stone, selected by geologist John Phillips.
- •The building's design was influenced by John Ruskin, a prominent 19th-century art critic who advocated for integrating natural forms in architecture.
- •The museum holds one of the world's most important collections of Middle Jurassic dinosaur fossils, including some with preserved soft tissues.
- •The construction of the museum was funded in part by money earned from the sale of Bibles.
- •The museum provides the only public access to the adjoining Pitt Rivers Museum, which houses ethnological collections.
- •The museum's large glass roof and cast iron pillars create a unique neo-Gothic architectural space combining art and science.
History
The Oxford University Museum of Natural History was constructed between 1855 and 1860, initiated by Sir Henry Acland to unify the university's scattered natural science collections and teaching spaces.
The building was designed in a neo-Gothic style by architects Thomas Newenham Deane and Benjamin Woodward, with significant input from art critic John Ruskin.
Initially housing multiple scientific departments, the museum's collections grew from earlier holdings of the Ashmolean and Christ Church museums.
The Pitt Rivers Museum was built adjacent in 1885-86 to house ethnological artifacts separately.
Over time, scientific departments moved to other locations, but the museum has remained a central public and academic resource.
Recent decades have seen major renovations and redisplays to modernize the exhibits and interpretive approaches.
Place Guide
Main Court1860
The central square court features a glass roof supported by ornate cast iron pillars and stone columns made from different British stones. It serves as the primary exhibition space showcasing mineral specimens and fossil displays.
Lecture Theatre1860
A historic lecture theatre within the museum used by the university's chemistry, zoology, and mathematics departments for teaching and events.
Palaeontology Collection
One of the world’s most important collections of Middle Jurassic dinosaurs, including specimens with preserved soft tissues and fossils representing some of the earliest complex multicellular organisms.
Pitt Rivers Museum Access1885-1886
The museum provides the only public entrance to the adjacent Pitt Rivers Museum, which contains ethnological and anthropological collections emphasizing human-made artifacts.
Contact
Phone: 01865 272950
