Horniman Museum is a museum in
Forest Hill, South London. It was founded by Victorian tea merchant Frederick John Horniman to display his collection of natural history, cultural artefacts and musical instruments. The museum was commissioned in 1898. The building was designed by famous turn-of-the-century English architect Charles Harrison Townsond in the Arts and Crafts style, and opened in 1901.
In 1911, an annex building was donated by Frederick Horniman's son, Emslie Horniman. It was also designed by Townsend. The museum closed for redevelopment in 1999 and reopened on 14 June 2002.
The Horniman Museum has the largest collection of stuffed animals in the northern hemisphere. Its ethnography and music collections have received the Designated status awarded to collections of great importance by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. It also has an aquarium celebrated for its unique layout. In all, the Horniman's collection totals some 350,000 objects.
The Horniman Museum is set on a 16-acre garden with several noted features including a Grade II listed conservatory from 1894, a bandstand from 1912, a nature trail and an ornamental garden. There is a 20-foot red cedar totem pole from America at its entrance.
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