Ground plan for a museum of natural history
Catalogue number: WP4/5(1)
Architectural design drawn by Wallace, showing the central area of a museum of natural history, dated 1864.
This magnificent architectural design is entitled 'Museum of Natural History - Ground Plan of Central Portion'. It was drawn in black and red/pink ink, on blue squared paper, by Wallace himself.
An enormous central hall, 60 feet high (over 18 m), would greet visitors, flanked by spacious galleries on either side. The details are precise, with Wallace annotating the plan with suggested dimensions: 'Total width 160ft, total length 920ft, occupying under 3.5 acres'. Look at the beautiful cross-sectional drawing too.
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Wallace Letters Online
View high resolution scans and transcripts of Alfred Russel Wallace's correspondence, including all surviving letters between him and Charles Darwin.