Horniman Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1901 |
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| Location | 100 London Road, Forest Hill London, SE23 3PQ United Kingdom |
| Visitors | 952,954 (2019) |
| Public transit access |
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The Horniman Museum and Gardens is a fantastic museum located in Forest Hill, London, England. It first opened its doors in 1901. The museum was designed by Charles Harrison Townsend in a special style called the Modern Style, also known as British Art Nouveau.
This museum is famous for its amazing collections. You can explore displays about people and cultures (anthropology), the natural world (natural history), and musical instruments from all over the globe. One of its most well-known exhibits is a huge collection of stuffed animals! The main museum building is also a very important historical building, listed as Grade II*.
The Horniman Museum is run as a charity and is supported by the UK government. It's a great place to learn about the world around us.
Contents
Discovering the Horniman Museum's Story
The Horniman Museum was created by a man named Frederick John Horniman in 1901. Frederick inherited his family's tea business, Horniman's Tea. By 1891, this business had grown to be the biggest tea trading company in the world!
With the money from his successful tea business, Frederick could follow his passion for collecting. He traveled widely and gathered an incredible 30,000 items. His collections included objects from nature, cultural artifacts from different parts of the world, and many musical instruments.
Later, in 1911, Frederick Horniman's son, Emslie Horniman, added another building to the museum. This new part, also designed by Townsend, originally held a lecture hall and a library. In 2002, a new, modern extension was opened, designed by a company called Allies and Morrison.
What Can You Explore?
The Horniman Museum focuses on three main types of collections: anthropology (the study of human societies and cultures), natural history (the study of animals, plants, and nature), and musical instruments. In total, the museum has an incredible 350,000 objects!
The collections of cultural items and musical instruments are so important that they have a special "Designated status." This means they are recognized as being of outstanding national importance. One of the most popular things to see is the large collection of stuffed animals. The museum also has an aquarium with a unique design that makes it fun to explore.
Finding Your Way Around the Museum
The museum has several floors, each with exciting things to see and do. Here's a quick guide to what you can find:
| 1st Floor | Ground Floor | Lower Ground Floor | Basement Floor Access by stairs and lift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5s Book Zone Natural History Balcony |
Main Entrance CUE Building Conservatory Café Shop Education Centre Hands On Base Natural History Gallery Balcony Gallery Environment Room |
World Gallery Temporary Exhibition Gallery Music Gallery Gallery Square Security Reception from London Road |
Aquarium |
How to Get to the Museum
It's easy to reach the Horniman Museum using public transport. Here are some ways to get there:
| Service | Station/Stop | Lines/Routes served | Distance from Horniman Museum |
|---|---|---|---|
London Buses  |
Horniman Museum  |
176, 185, 197, 356, P4 | |
| Horniman Park |
363 | 260 m (850 ft) walk | |
London Overground  |
Forest Hill |
East London line | 650 m (2,130 ft) walk |
National Rail  |
Southern |
Exploring the Horniman Gardens
The museum is surrounded by 16 acres of beautiful gardens. These gardens are full of interesting features to explore:
- A historic conservatory from 1894. It was moved here from the Horniman family's old house!
- A lovely bandstand built in 1912, where you can imagine concerts taking place.
- An area for small animals, where you might spot some furry friends.
- A Butterfly House, where you can walk among beautiful butterflies.
- A nature trail to discover local plants and wildlife.
- A peaceful ornamental garden.
- Special areas with plants used for medicines, foods, dyes, and other materials.
- A fun sound garden with large musical instruments you can play.
- A new building called the Pavilion, used for working with materials from the gardens.
The gardens themselves are also historically important and are listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England.
The Meaning Behind the Mosaic
On the London Road side of the main museum building, you'll see a huge mosaic mural. It's called Humanity in the House of Circumstance. This amazing artwork was designed by Robert Anning Bell and put together by a group of young women. It took them 210 days to finish!
The mosaic is made from more than 117,000 tiny pieces, called tesserae. It measures about 10 feet tall and 32 feet wide. The artwork tells a story about people's hopes and challenges in life.
Look closely at the figures:
- The three figures on the far left represent Art, Poetry, and Music. They stand by a doorway that symbolizes birth.
- The armed figure next to them represents Endurance, showing strength.
- The two kneeling figures represent Love and Hope.
- The central figure stands for Humanity, representing all people.
- Charity is on the right, holding figs and wine.
- White-haired Wisdom holds a staff, followed by a seated figure representing Meditation.
- Finally, a figure symbolizing Resignation stands by the right-hand doorway, which represents death.
The Horniman Totem Pole
Outside the museum's main entrance, you'll see a tall, 20-foot totem pole. It was carved in 1985 from red cedar wood. The artist was Nathan Jackson, who is a Tlingit native Alaskan.
The carvings on the pole tell a story from an Alaskan legend about a girl who married a bear. At the very top, you can see an eagle, which is Nathan Jackson's family symbol. This totem pole is one of only a few in the United Kingdom, making it a special sight to see!
The Eco-Friendly CUE Building
The Horniman Museum also has a special building called the CUE (Centre for Understanding the Environment) building. It opened in 1996 and was designed by local architects using environmentally friendly methods.
This building has a grass roof and was built using sustainable materials. It also uses natural airflow to keep it cool, which is called passive ventilation. It's a great example of how buildings can be designed to be kind to the planet.
Gallery
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Museum main gallery
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The CUE Building
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The exterior of the conservatory
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The interior of the conservatory
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The bandstand from 1912
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The bandstand viewed from below in July 2013
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The Horniman totem pole
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A preserved fruit bat showing how the skeleton fits inside its skin.
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A preserved turtle skeleton showing how the carapace connects with the rest of the skeleton.
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Canadian walrus
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The Natural History Gallery with the overstuffed walrus replaced with a giraffe model in July 2013
