Address
Downing Street
CB2 3EQ
Cambridge
United KingdomTelephone: +44 (1223) 333456
Fax: +44 (1223) 333450
Websites
- Official Homepage
- Hotels nearby
Description
The Sedgwick Museum is one of the museums attached to the University of Cambridge and is devoted to geology and the fossil record. It is named after
[more]The Sedgwick Museum is one of the museums attached to the University of Cambridge and is devoted to geology and the fossil record. It is named after Adam Sedgwick, a 19th century professor of geology who defined and named the Devonian and Cambrian periods. The museum opened in 1904, initially with a fossil collection dating from 1728, but has vastly expanded and now has more than 1 million items. These include minerals collected by Darwin during the Beagle voyage, and fossils found and donated by Mary Anning.
There is a range of galleries displaying a selection of the collection. Three galleries (Ancient Life, Life in the Jurassic Seas and Origins of Modern Life) trace the fossil record from earliest times up to recognisable life forms. Other galleries focus on specific subjects such as minerals, the composition of the planet and local geology. The dinosaurs have their own gallery, as does Darwin’s collection of minerals.
The museum has an active role in education and research. Events are organised and a newsletter is produced. It is open from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 4pm on Saturdays. Admission is free, although donations are appreciated.
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