History of Science Museum, Oxford facts for kids
The Old Ashmolean Building as it stands today
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Established | 1683 (as Ashmolean Museum) 1924 (as Lewis Evans Collection 1935 (as Museum of the History of Science) |
|---|---|
| Location | Broad Street, Oxford, England |
| Type | University museum of the history of science |
| Visitors | 148,412 (2019) |
The History of Science Museum in Oxford, England, is home to an amazing collection of scientific instruments. These tools show how science has grown from the Middle Ages all the way to the 1800s. The museum building is also called the Old Ashmolean Building. This helps people tell it apart from the newer Ashmolean Museum. Built in 1683, it is the oldest museum building in the world that was made just to be a museum!
Museum's Story
The museum building was finished in 1683. It was built to hold Elias Ashmole's collection of interesting items. It was the very first museum building made specifically for that purpose. It was also open for everyone to visit.
The main idea behind the museum was to share new scientific ideas. These ideas were becoming popular in the 1600s. Scientists did experiments in a special lab in the basement. They also gave talks and showed demonstrations on the middle floor.
Over time, Ashmole's collection grew much larger. It began to include many things related to the history of science. In 1924, a collector named Lewis Evans gave his collection to the museum. This made the museum even better. It was then officially named the Museum of the History of Science. Robert Gunther became its first curator, which is like a manager of the collections.
Cool Collections and Displays
The museum's collection and its old building are very important. They help us understand the history of science. They also show how Western culture and collecting have changed.
One of the most famous items is Einstein's Blackboard. This blackboard was used by Albert Einstein himself! He used it on May 16, 1931, when he gave lectures at the University of Oxford. Some professors saved it after his talk.
Today, the museum has about 18,000 objects. These items range from ancient times to the early 1900s. They cover almost every part of the history of science. People visit to learn and enjoy the displays. Scientists also use the collection for their studies.
The museum has many different scientific tools. You can see quadrants and astrolabes. The museum has the biggest collection of astrolabes in the world, with about 170 of them! There are also sundials and early math tools. These were used for things like counting, astronomy, navigation, and drawing.
You can also find optical instruments. These include microscopes, telescopes, and old cameras. There's also equipment for chemistry, medicine, and other sciences. The museum has a special library too. It holds old books, manuscripts, and early photographic items about scientific tools.
The museum also shows how mechanical clocks developed. You can see old Lantern clocks and tall longcase clocks. These are in the Beeson Room. This room is named after Cyril Beeson, who gave his clock collection to the museum. You can also see very old turret clocks near the stairs. The museum also has a collection of beautiful objects made from turned ivory by Lady Gertrude Crawford.
From late 2009 to early 2010, the museum had a special art show. It was the first big exhibition of Steampunk art objects.
The museum also keeps the Rochester Avionic Archive. This is a collection of avionics, which are electronic systems used in aircraft. Many of these came from the Elliot Brothers company.
Who Were the Curators?
Here are the people who have been in charge of the museum's collections:
- R. T. Gunther (1924–40)
- F. Sherwood Taylor (1940–45, temporary; 1945–50)
- C. H. Josten (1950–64; 1964–94, emeritus)
- F. R. Maddison (1964–94)
- J. A. Bennett (1994–2012)
- Stephen Johnston (acting director, 2012–14)
- Silke Ackermann (2014 onwards)
