World Museum

World Museum stands on William Brown Street in Liverpool, England, in the city's cultural quarter next to St George's Hall and the Walker Art Gallery, and is part of National Museums Liverpool. Its origins lie in the natural history collection bequeathed to the city by the 13th Earl of Derby in 1851, which was displayed in the William Brown Library and Museum building, opened in 1860 in a neoclassical style with a grand portico. The building was badly damaged by bombing in the May Blitz of 1941, and the museum was rebuilt and reopened in stages after the war. It was renamed World Museum in 2005 after a major redevelopment. The collections span natural history, archaeology, ethnology, physical sciences and astronomy. The Ancient Egypt gallery houses mummies and artefacts, the Weston Discovery Centre has hands-on specimens, and the Natural History Centre and Bug House present insects, fossils and animals from around the world. A Planetarium and the Aquarium add scientific displays, and there are world cultures galleries showing objects from the Americas, Africa, Asia and Oceania. The museum uses a thematic approach, mixing real specimens with interactive exhibits, so that it works for families as much as for adult learners. The building was modernised over time and has stone steps and a large atrium that reflect the city's Victorian civic ambition. Admission is free, but the Planetarium and some special exhibitions are ticketed. Most visitors spend two to three hours, although families and enthusiasts often stay much longer, and it is easy to pair with the neighbouring Walker Art Gallery and St George's Hall.