Index Museum
Richard Owen had great plans for what he called the Index Museum, a central area of the building that would introduce visitors to all the main groups of plants, animals, fossils and minerals.
Richard Owen himself drew the original plan for the Index Museum, which would display examples from across the Museum’s collections in one central location.
The Index Museum was designed to be able to display a wide variety of exhibits, from massive animals like this elephant, to the most tiny and delicate plants and fossils.
Different types of display would show the exhibits to advantage, and allow visitors an overview of the diversity of what the Museum has to offer.
Unfortunately Owen never lived to see his cherished Index Museum open to the public. He died in 1892 before it was completed.