The exhibits at the Crystal Palace were described as ‘The Works of Industry of all Nations’. Over a hundred and fifty years ago, items from this exhibition formed the nucleus of the Science Museum's collection when it opened in the London area of South Kensington. It was far from the attractive building it is today. After Queen Victoria’s private viewing, it was opened to the public the following week on Wednesday, June 24, 1857. The Queen may have been too polite to comment, but it was an ugly iron-frame building that was universally disliked. Seventy years later, in 1928, the Science Museum building we know today was formally opened by King George V.
Famous Exhibits at the Science Museum London
The Science Museum now has a collection of over 300,000 items, including dozens of amazing inventions that are now taken for granted. For example, something most vital to the way the world functions today, the computer, was invented in 1822 by an English mathematician, Charles Babbage. He called it a ‘Difference Engine’. It was was the size of a house, powered by steam, and could even print results.
Other famous exhibits are Stephenson's Rocket, the Apollo 10 capsule and the oldest surviving steam locomotive, Puffing Billy, plus hundreds more examples of scientific marvels.
Children's Activities at the Science Museum
The Science Museum is a great place for kids. They love the space galleries and all the hands-on stuff. There is an entire gallery just for children. In the basement there is a whole floor of great things to do and there are five different mini-galleries suitably focused on different age groups.
- Game Scientific
- Oregon Scientific Pv100b
- Activx Biosciences
- Education Health Science
- Renaissance Scientific Advancements