| World Museum Liverpool | The redevelopment project has cost £35m, mainly funded by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Loyd Grossman has recently been appointed Chair of National Museums Liverpool. The Museum was burnt out by an incendiary bomb in May 1941. As a result of the damage the Museum was shut for 15 years after the war. The first aquarium in the museum opened in 1857. In 1986 the government took over the running of the museum and National Museum and Galleries on Merseyside (now National Museums Liverpool) was set up. |
Liverpool Museum, renamed World Museum Liverpool is now open to visitors after a £35m facelift. The expanded museum showcases collections that have been locked away for decades. The museum has expanded to twice its size and includes a World Culture Gallery, Bug House, a Natural History Centre and Aquarium. The World Culture’s area is in the Upper Horseshoe Gallery which has not been open to the public since the museum was bombed in the 1941 May Blitz.
 | | The new Atrium of World Museum Liverpool |
A treasure trove of Liverpool’s cultural riches are on display to the public for the first time in decades. John Millard the Keeper of World Museum Liverpool says “Visitors will find the new World Museum Liverpool awesome and exciting. It has exhibits covering millions of years, around the world and into space.” Liverpool Museum started life as the collection of the 13th Earl of Derby, opening in Duke Street in 1853, it moved to its current home in the World Heritage Site, William Brown Street in 1860. The Museum purchased the neighbouring Technical School building in 1998, the new World Museum Liverpool occupies this space as well as parts of the original museum that have been closed to the public since the Second World War. Liverpool’s history as a port means the museum has a rich legacy of diverse collections from around the world. The World Cultures gallery covers four themes based on the Americas, Africa, Asia and Oceania. Visitors are welcomed by a video presentation from Liverpool poet Levi Tafari. The gallery displays many of the museum’s cultural riches from across the world. Exhibits include a Vancouver Island Totem Pole, a Royal mask from Congo, a Burmese carved ivory chair and a Nigerian headdress shaped like a crocodile.
 | | The sight that greets museum visitors |
Many of the new areas of the museum have ‘hands-on’ exhibits, The Weston Discovery centre features 700 objects reflecting human history through the ages. 50 handling boxes contain objects that visitors can handle from ornate puppets to textiles. A separate learning area can host school groups and public workshops. Large spiders and flies greet visitors to The Bug House, which reveals that 95% of all animal species known to science are smaller than a thumb. The world of marine creatures is featured in The Aquarium. Colourful tropical fish live in displays representing coral reefs while closer to home displays illustrate the diverse lives of many creatures which can be found in and around Liverpool Bay and the North Wales coast.
 | | Exhibits have been unseen for decades |
The launch of World Museum Liverpool is the final stage in a £45m development programme across three of National Museums Liverpool’s venues. Called ‘Into the Future; the programme has been funded by a £32 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Liz Forgan, Chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund says “We have worked hard to revitalise and rejuvenate the museum sector in the last 10 years, investing over £1 billion. The fact that Liverpool has been able to develop a new and exciting national museum is a reflection of that commitment and enthusiasm and one of which we are very proud.” World Museum Liverpool is open from 10am - 5pm every day, for information call 0151 478 4398. | 
