Fort St. George Museum

The Fort St. George Museum occupies the former Public Exchange building inside Fort St. George on Rajaji Salai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The building dates to 1795 and was originally a merchants' exchange for the East India Company, built in a restrained Georgian style with a colonnaded front, high ceilings and thick lime-plastered walls. It was converted into a museum in the 20th century and now presents the story of the British Madras period, with collections focused on the era of the East India Company between the 17th and 19th centuries. Galleries display coins and medals, portraits and paintings of governors and officials, weapons including swords and cannon fittings, uniforms, maps, documents and artefacts associated with the Robert Clive era. Among the notable objects are portraits of company officials, early printed material and relics linked to the fort's own history and sieges. The curatorial approach is broadly chronological and object-led, with older-style labels and glass cases rather than interactive displays, so the visit rewards patience and a willingness to read. The building itself is part of the exhibit, with a wide staircase, large galleries on several floors and views toward the fort grounds. The Archaeological Survey of India administers the museum, and conservation is basic but adequate, with some galleries showing their age. The museum is a natural pair with a walk around the fort's open grounds and St. Mary's Church, which is a short distance away. Entry is cheap for Indian nationals and higher for foreign nationals, and the museum is generally open from 9:00AM to 5:00PM and closed on Fridays. A typical visit lasts about an hour, and the displays give useful background to the colonial history that shaped the city.