Museum of Cambridge facts for kids
The Museum of Cambridge is a cool place to visit in Cambridge, England. It used to be called the Cambridge & County Folk Museum. This museum helps you discover what life was like for people in Cambridge and the surrounding areas from the 1700s onwards.
What You'll Discover Inside!
The museum is located in an old building called the White Horse Inn. This inn was built way back in the 1500s and closed in 1934. Inside, you'll find over 20,000 objects! These items show the everyday lives of people from Cambridge and Cambridgeshire.
The collection includes many interesting things. You can see old coins, costumes, and decorative art. There are also items related to hobbies, music, and toys. The museum even has paintings by local artists like Mary Charlotte Greene.
The Museum of Cambridge is run by a group of people who volunteer their time. It's a special kind of organization called an independent charity. They also manage a website called Capturing Cambridge. This website collects stories and memories from people living in Cambridge. It helps to document the history of different streets and neighborhoods.
A Look Back in Time
The Cambridge & County Folk Museum first opened its doors in 1936. Before that, there was a big exhibition in 1933. It was called 'A Festival of Olden Times'. This event was put together by the Cambridgeshire Federation of Women's Institutes.
In 1938, Queen Mary visited the museum. The next year, she even donated two items! These were a tiny table and a tea caddy. By 1939, the museum had grown to include over 1,900 exhibits.
A very important person named Enid Porter became the museum's Curator in 1947. She was an expert on the culture and history of Cambridgeshire. She also helped start the idea of collecting people's spoken memories, which is called oral history. Enid Porter worked at the museum until 1976.
Sometimes, the museum faced tough times. In 1988, it was reported that it might have to close due to money problems. It was also longlisted for a big award, the Gulbenkian Prize, in 2006. But by 2017, it was again struggling financially.
Then, in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused more challenges. The museum started a special fundraising campaign to stay open. The local Member of Parliament, Daniel Zeichner, helped support this effort. Luckily, in May 2021, the museum announced its fundraising was successful! It was able to reopen its doors to the public.
See also
- Enid Porter
