Powell-Cotton Museum facts for kids
The Powell-Cotton Museum is located in Quex Park, Birchington, Kent. It holds amazing collections gathered by explorer Percy Powell-Cotton. His two daughters, Antoinette and Diana Powell-Cotton, also added their own collections. They all loved nature and conservation.
The museum is connected to Quex House. It has nine galleries filled with large animal displays and many items from different cultures. These items show the traditions of places Percy Powell-Cotton visited.
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How the Museum Started
The museum began in 1896 with just one room. Percy Powell-Cotton decided to build a special pavilion in the gardens of Quex House. His brother, Gerald, helped oversee the building.
Percy asked Rowland Ward, a famous expert in taxidermy (preparing animal specimens), to get the animals ready for display. Percy, a former soldier, had collected thousands of items during his trips.
After Percy Powell-Cotton passed away in 1940, his son Christopher built more galleries. These new spaces held the family's collections of archaeology (from Antoinette), anthropology (from Diana), ceramics, and weapons.
Exploring the Galleries
The museum has many different galleries, each with unique and interesting displays.
Gallery 1: Amazing Animal Dioramas
This gallery, opened in 1947, has three natural history dioramas. A diorama is a 3D scene that shows animals in their natural habitat. The most famous one here shows a large collection of African monkeys and apes.
This primate diorama is one of the biggest and most diverse in Europe. It features nearly 2,000 animal specimens in total.
Gallery 2: The Oldest Diorama
This gallery was the museum's original pavilion from 1896. It holds many mounted heads of large animals from Africa and Asia.
On the other side of the room, you'll find a huge diorama showing animals from the Himalayas. Percy Powell-Cotton had to brave very cold winter weather to collect these specific animals. This is known as the oldest unchanged, room-sized Natural History Diorama in the world.
Gallery 3: Lion vs. Buffalo
Gallery 3, opened in 1908, has a dramatic centerpiece. It shows a fight between a lion and a buffalo. The lion is the actual animal that attacked Percy Powell-Cotton in 1906. The buffalo is a special type named after him.
This gallery also has another large diorama. It shows a scene from Sub-Saharan Africa, where animals are coming to drink at a waterhole.
Gallery 4: Films of African Life
This gallery, from 1955, focuses on media. It includes films shot by the Powell-Cotton sisters. These films show what a typical day was like for a Kwanyama family in Africa.
The museum has a large collection of films. Percy Powell-Cotton and his daughters, Diana and Antoinette, filmed many of their expeditions.
Galleries 5 & 6: African Culture and Crafts
These galleries, both opened in 1970, display items from African cultures. You can see tribal crafts like stools and combs. There are also items used for dress and body decoration.
Gallery 6 also shows many photographs taken during expeditions. These pictures help you see how the displayed items were used in real life. It also features a model of a farmstead belonging to the Kuanyama people of Angola. You can also see items for recreation and carefully made weapons.
Gallery 7: Ancient Tools and Pottery
Opened in 1966, this gallery focuses on archaeology. It displays tools from the Old Stone Age found in east Kent. You can also see early pottery from the New Stone Age.
Passage Gallery: Weapons Through Time
This gallery, from 1955, shows a variety of firearms and cutting weapons. These weapons come from places like Malaysia, India, and Indonesia. There is also a display showing how military firearms developed over time.
Learning at the Museum
The Powell-Cotton Museum welcomes schools, families, and researchers for educational visits. It has a conference room for learning and research in natural and social sciences. Staff can also give guided tours if you arrange it beforehand.
The museum's goal is to be "in trust for the enjoyment of visitors and the benefit of students." This continues the vision of its founder, Percy Powell-Cotton.
Museum's Importance
The museum's wide range of specimens and artifacts makes it an important place for experts and researchers. They can study here by appointment. The museum often works with The Natural History Museum in London. It attracts students from all over the world.
How to Visit
The Powell-Cotton Museum is inside Quex Park in Birchington, Kent. It's about 12 miles from Canterbury.
The museum offers free parking for cars and coaches. All areas of the museum and gardens are accessible for disabled visitors.
The closest train station is Birchington-on-Sea. It's about a 20-minute walk from the park. You can also take the number 8 Thanet bus. It stops at Birchington Square, which is a half-mile walk from the park.
