n
n
– 1683
– 1683n
n
nAnnEnglish archeologist named Elias Ashmole cleaned out his attic. Therenwere all sorts of interesting items and “curiosities” that he hadncollected in his life…What to do with it all?
n
n
n
n
n
n
Ashmolendecided to donate his stuff to Oxford University.
Ashmolendecided to donate his stuff to Oxford University.n
n
n
n
n
nUniversitynpersonnel hired the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren to design anbuilding to house the collection, and on this date in 1683, thenbuilding was finished, the exhibits installed, and the museum openednto the public.
n
n
n
n
n
nItnwas the world’s first university museum, and even the word museumnwas new to English!
n
n
n
n
n
nExhibits…thennand now…
n
n
n
n
n
n
Ashmolendonated antique coins, books, engravings, rocks and minerals, andnstuffed (or taxidermied) animals, including the last Dodo bird evernseen in Europe. (Unfortunately, the Dodo was eaten by moths, and onlynthe head and one claw are still around today.) The museum nowncontains fine art and archeological specimens: Pre-Raphaelitenpaintings, English silver, Greek and Minoan pottery, Egyptiannantiquities, the ceremonial cloak of Pocahontas’s father, the deathnmask of military leader/villain-and-hero Oliver Cromwell, ceremonialnclothes owned by Lawrence of Arabia, and much, much more. n
Ashmolendonated antique coins, books, engravings, rocks and minerals, andnstuffed (or taxidermied) animals, including the last Dodo bird evernseen in Europe. (Unfortunately, the Dodo was eaten by moths, and onlynthe head and one claw are still around today.) The museum nowncontains fine art and archeological specimens: Pre-Raphaelitenpaintings, English silver, Greek and Minoan pottery, Egyptiannantiquities, the ceremonial cloak of Pocahontas’s father, the deathnmask of military leader/villain-and-hero Oliver Cromwell, ceremonialnclothes owned by Lawrence of Arabia, and much, much more. nn
n
n
n
n
n
n
nCelebrate!
n
nIfnthere is a college or university near you, check out the campus.nThere may well be a musuem somewhere on the grounds! Enjoy!
n
n
n
n
n
nAlsonon this date:
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nAnniversary of the opening of the first drive-in movie theater
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nAnniversary of the volcanic eruption of its century
