Imperial Museum - Calcutta - 1875
Chowringhee Rd, Calcutta.
Originally called the Imperial Museum and established in 1814 by Danish botanist Dr Nathaniel Wallich, the first museum was originally housed in the Asiatic Society building. In 1866, the Governor-General of India in Council passed an Act to establish a public musuen in Calcutta:-
"To be devoted in part to collections illustrative of Indian Archaeology and of the several branches of Natural HIstory, and in part to preservation and exhibition of other objects of interest, whether historical or physical, in part to the records and offices of the Geological Survey of India and in part to the fit accommodation of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, and to the reception of their Library, Manuscripts, Coins, Busts, Pictures, Engravings and other property."
It relocated to this huge purpose-built structure in 1875 -which was designed by Government Architect Walter Granville, who also designed Calcutta's General Post Office (see www.flickr.com/photos/23268776@N03/2331199238/in/set-7215... ) and the High Court (see www.flickr.com/photos/23268776@N03/3130307251/in/set-7215... ). It remains a wonderful time-warp with plenty of mangy-looking (and quite scary looking) stuffed animals, fish and birds, together with fossils so beloved of Victorian collectors, as well as fascinating Indian friezes, bas-reliefs and stone carvings and art. Now known as the Indian Musuem, this is the 9th oldest museum in the world.
This massive white-washed Italianate building occupies a block and has a beautiful colonnaded quadrangle . This building is very difficult to photograph given that the Park Street flyover ramp runs straight across the front of its nose. Hopefully, this gives you some idea of the scale of the building.
Imperial Museum - Calcutta - 1875
Chowringhee Rd, Calcutta.
Originally called the Imperial Museum and established in 1814 by Danish botanist Dr Nathaniel Wallich, the first museum was originally housed in the Asiatic Society building. In 1866, the Governor-General of India in Council passed an Act to establish a public musuen in Calcutta:-
"To be devoted in part to collections illustrative of Indian Archaeology and of the several branches of Natural HIstory, and in part to preservation and exhibition of other objects of interest, whether historical or physical, in part to the records and offices of the Geological Survey of India and in part to the fit accommodation of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, and to the reception of their Library, Manuscripts, Coins, Busts, Pictures, Engravings and other property."
It relocated to this huge purpose-built structure in 1875 -which was designed by Government Architect Walter Granville, who also designed Calcutta's General Post Office (see www.flickr.com/photos/23268776@N03/2331199238/in/set-7215... ) and the High Court (see www.flickr.com/photos/23268776@N03/3130307251/in/set-7215... ). It remains a wonderful time-warp with plenty of mangy-looking (and quite scary looking) stuffed animals, fish and birds, together with fossils so beloved of Victorian collectors, as well as fascinating Indian friezes, bas-reliefs and stone carvings and art. Now known as the Indian Musuem, this is the 9th oldest museum in the world.
This massive white-washed Italianate building occupies a block and has a beautiful colonnaded quadrangle . This building is very difficult to photograph given that the Park Street flyover ramp runs straight across the front of its nose. Hopefully, this gives you some idea of the scale of the building.