That blue expanse on the left of today"s homepage image is the roof of the British Museum"s Great Court and Reading Room in London. The oculus at the top of the dome is made of glass, and the ceilings within are papier-mâché. The Great Court opened in 2000, a new addition to a storied institution. Irish physician Sir Hans Sloane sold his personal collection of antiquities and books to Great Britain in the early 18th century. Sloane’s items included many books, rare manuscripts, and artifacts from around the globe, and he wanted them preserved and exhibited in public. This led to the creation of the British Museum, the world’s first national public museum, which opened this day in 1759. The collection has grown and changed significantly since then, but one detail remains: Admission to this London attraction is still free.
A personal collection becomes an institution
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Flock online for the Great Backyard Bird Count
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Juneteenth
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World Migratory Bird Day
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Groundhog Day
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Illuminated Uluru
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Northern cardinal in winterberry bush
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Spotted Lake emerges
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An improbable tribute for Towel Day
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Yabba-Dabba-Doo!
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Let the holiday shopping commence
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Celebrating the first day of spring
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Happy Father s Day
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Making it work—in Norway
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And they’re off!
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A sizzling summit hides in the clouds
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Aït Benhaddou, Morocco
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Daintree Rainforest and Noah Beach, Queensland, Australia
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Common raven
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Dressed for winter fun
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Take the stairs
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Bridge of Hillsborough County
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Cherry blossom season in Tokyo
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World Whale Day
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Pascua Florida Day
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Indigenous living
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National Park Service anniversary
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A growing business
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1, 1, 2, 3: It s Fibonacci Day!
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Sky island views
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20 years later