Manchester Museum - well worth a visit!

Manchester Museum is part of the University of Manchester and can be found amongst the hustle & bustle of Oxford Road. You can't miss it as it is set in this beautiful Victorian building and there are plenty of signs around.

Museum's aren't for every one but they are a fantastic resource and a great place to learn. The purpose of this blog is not to teach or bore you with too much history/details, but rather give you a glimpse of a superb place to visit in Manchester. The collection dates back to 1821 and moved to it's current location way back in 1868 so it has been a part of Mancunian life for almost 150 years. It is free to the public and is open 10am to 5pm every day of the year except between 24th and 26th December, and 1st January. More details can be found at www.museum.manchester.ac.uk.

Fairly soon into the visit, you are welcomed by two impressive exhibits at the museum; a giant spider crab which was captured in the 19th century & which can measure 4 metres claw to claw and a full skeleton of an elephant. I was surprised how big the tusks really are!

The first main collection is Living Cultures, and the pieces originate mainly from areas outside Europe such as Asia, Africa, the Americas and Oceania. There are over 16,000 objects on display in this collection alone! There is a fantastic array of carvings, art, statues, masks, warrior outfits and weapons from different cultures all over the world. You are taught the history, meaning and background of all the pieces. I was impressed by the beautiful craftsmanship of some of the speaks & crossbows and it was fascinating to see how they are made.

There is a large number of Roman objects to be found too, including pottery, figurines and this vase which is still standing at almost 2000 years old - incredible. But there are items to be found which are even older.

Manchester Museum hosts one the largest collections of ancient Egyptian artefacts in the UK - with objects dating from 10,000 BC to AD 600. The Ancient Worlds gallery also contains items from the ancient civilizations of Greece & Rome. It was the Egyptian collection which excited me most. There are beautiful examples of Hieroglyphics, Ancient Egyptian art and amazing mummy's to be found here. It is well worth a visit to learn about these incredible people, their lives and the process of the mummification itself. You can even see inside a coffin. Just remember how old these items are when walking around.

Soon you find yourself in the Zoology section sharing your space with fellow visitors and an impressive array of animals, insects and plants from all over the world. It's always great to see the different species found across the globe, and for the young-at-heart (like me!) you can act out some of the poses...

There are a few, stranger animals too, he must have been chilly...

A little unusually, you find a number of concept boxes which are more artistic but still very interesting. I have included a photo of my favourite ones but there are many more to be seen so make sure you check them out on your visit! The 'Humans' box displays the full skeleton of a chimp, human and ape alongside each other, as well as many other primate skulls. With us being so closely related to these species it is fun to make comparisons between them. The 'Peace' box was beautifully lit and decorated with hundreds of origami birds. Finally, the 'Life' box was a little more quirky displaying a number of hanging chicks & eggs inside. I loved them all.

Back to the animals and remember to look up at this gigantic whale skeleton taking pride of place over the museum.

From a giant monster of the deep to a giant monster of the past, check out the dinosaur exhibit and you will not find out about this incredible species as well as a huge T-rex skeleton. I was obsessed with dinosaurs growing up and it was a real highlight to find this beauty. It almost makes you feel like you're on the set of the movie 'A night at the Museum' and I found myself waiting for Ben Stiller to come walking round the corner.

The last collection to check out is the 'Warriors of the Plains' which focuses on 200 years of Native North American honour & ritual and is showing until 3rd November. You find ceremonial shirts, moccasins and tomahawks, alongside photographs of the objects in use, portraying the world of Native North American warfare and ritual from 1800 to today. Here are two examples of stunning North American battle outfits - impressive stuff eh!

Sadly, the Live Animals area of the museum is currently closed for a refurb. You can find live frogs, amphibians and reptiles here when it is open. But don't worry, it reopens on Saturday 26th October bigger than better than ever!

Be sure to pay a visit to the museum to view these wonderful & interesting collections in person - I promise you will have fun and even learn a thing or two. All free!