Historian Lisa Jardine goes in search of the origins of public museums by exploring the fascinating history of Cabinets of Curiosities – the private collections which not only inspired our first museums but also helped stock them. She reveals how cabinets evolved from fantastic displays of the rarest objects, to all-embracing collections that helped us make sense of our place in the world.
Museum history
Founded in 1753, the British Museum has been continuously expanding ever since. Find out more about its history.
Aspic or celebration?
Read how curiosities brought back from voyages of discovery in the 16th and 17th centuries led to the rise of museums.
250 years of the British museum
The British Museum has brought understanding and wonder to the public for the past 250 years.
Discover for yourself
Want to learn more about art and its histories? Follow our ideas for taking it further.
On television
Lisa Jardine celebrated the 250th anniversary of the British Museum by taking a look back at the institution's history. Find out about the programme.
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