Oxford University Museum of Natural History
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Founded in 1860 as the centre for scientific study at the University of Oxford, the museum now holds internationally significant collections of geological and zoological specimens.
Henry Acland – the medic and educator who established the museum – enlisted John Ruskin to oversee the design, who in turn asked the members of the newly formed Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood for their advice. The resulting neo-Gothic building is 'a cathedral to nature', and perhaps the purest architectural expression of Pre-Raphaelitism.
In 2014 the museum reopened its doors after a 14 month closure to restore its Victorian iron and glass roof. The £4m project transformed the public space, with new LED lighting illuminating the collection and a major conservation of the suspended whale skeletons. Oxford University Museum of Natural History was one of the finalists for Museum of the Year 2015.
