Oh, what wonderful madness. This behemoth of a museum claims to contain around two million years worth of history and boasts artifacts from nearly every culture on Earth. The British Museum holds in trust for the nation and the world a collection of art and antiquities from ancient and living cultures.The Museum was established in 1753, largely based on the collections of the physician and scientist Sir Hans Sloane. The museum first opened to the public on 15 January 1759 in Montagu House in Bloomsbury, on the site of the current museum building. Its expansion over the following two and a half centuries was largely a result of an expanding British colonial footprint. The Museum website states that it was founded based on the practical principle that the collection should be put to public use and be freely accessible. Today, admission to the site is free to the public. It boasts nearly six million visitors a year from all around the world. It contains eight million objects, the oldest of which is thought to be two million years old. The building's size is equivalent to nine soccer pitches.
From the moment you stand outside its doors, you feel its sheer magnitude. The museum's main entrance faces Great Russell Street and is easily accessible by car, underground, or bus. The signage near the site ensures that visitors find their way to the mammoth opening. As you step inside you are overwhelmed by the enormity of everything. It is similar to being in an enclosed city. Thankfully the site boasts the kind of stellar services that a museum of this size requires. There is a large information desk and the signage inside is very helpful.
All types of displays are on exhibit here. From display cases to free standing sculptures, all modes of museum displays are employed. Technology is surprisingly low key and not over used. There were several display cases with built in monitors that provided additional information and the obvious use of audio visual displays. Overall, the artifacts themselves were so magnificent that they stood on their own with little help needed. Information plaques and stands provided orientation and the required background knowledge.
What was unsetting was the sense of chaos in the museum. The space is so large that it allows for enormous crowds to converge into a sea of noise. The staff did not step in to ensure that patrons were moving in a uniform direction. This often led to bottle-necks near popular sites. The madness near the Rosetta Stone and the mummies made it unappealing to even attempt to view these exhibits. Since photography is allowed in the museum, there are also hundreds of people vying for the best angles and shots. This causes severe delays in the flow of visitors. Having been to large museums before, such as the Smithsonian, I have seen these problems before, but never to this extent. Perhaps, this is the major drawback of sites with virtually unlimited space and artifacts. Crowd control, orientation, and movement become such a problem that it takes away from the overall experience of the museum.
The British Museum is certainly a must see attraction. Standing in front of some of these items was truly awe inspiring and life changing. However, it is a taxing experience. I love to find large museums, such as the Victoria and Albert, where you can find a quiet corner or room for reflection and thought. I never had that peaceful moment at the British Museum. I never had time to stop and get lost in an exhibit. That is a shame, but it may be the price that one has to pay for such pleasures.