History of the Museum
The Natural History Museum from Cromwell Road, c.1880.
Delve into the rich past of the Natural History Museum, from wartime damage and departmental restructures to the people building and studying our vast collections.
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A brief history
An overview of the Museum's inception, from Hans Sloane's British Museum collections to Richard Owen's campaign for a dedicated museum of natural history in South Kensington.
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Departments
Find out more about the history of our scientific departments, including major specimen acquisitions and the staff studying our collections.
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Galleries and exhibitions
Discover hundreds of exhibitions hosted by the Natural History Museum since its opening in 1881, and the changing face of galleries during periods of redevelopment and wartime.
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Museum staff
From Richard Owen, the Museum's first Superintendent in 1881, to the effects of a major departmental restructure in 2012.
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Donors and collectors
Meet some of the generous benefactors and dedicated collectors who built our vast collections.
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Architecture
Learn about the key figures involved in the Museum's design and development, including Alfred Waterhouse and Sir Richard Owen.