natural history museum /the pitt rivers This brace of museums are only accessible via the entrance to the Natural History Museum, and contain much the same (weirdy) stuff, so they may as well be considered the same thing. The Natural History Museum founded to unify the various science-y collections spread across the University, and at one played home to most of the departments now making up the rather massive University Science Parks. It most famously features a Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton and the most complete dodo carcass on earth. There’s also the famous swift tower, which, if you recall, was in that episode of Lewis once. However, the Natural History Museum is one of the few museums in the world where an equal weight of nostalgia and import is place on the building as well as the collection. From the air vents to the cat paw prints in the brickwork, it’s all part of the experience. That, and the 4.5 billion year-old asteroid. Meanwhile, at the back of the Natural History Museum, you’ll find the Pitt Rivers Collection. A bit of an Oxford tourist trail staple, the Collection contains half a million items of anthropological and archaeological aspiration. These odd accoutrements include a heart filled with nails and something claiming to be a witch in a jar. A huge contrast to its open and airy neighbour, the Pitt Rivers has a distinctly spooky feel to it. Maybe it’s the dim lighting, maybe it’s the infamous shrunken heads from Ecuador. In any case, be careful as you open the drawers. Both museums are very closely linked with the University, deploying a lecturer each in their respective fields. Luckily for visitors they are open to the public. Students unfortunately receive no special privileges like playing the native drum kits or wearing the triceratops head as a hat. So as is rarely the case in Oxford students are treated as just other townies. There is also usually an exhibit outside the museum, such as the most recent giant Ghanaian tree trunks representing man’s impact on the environment. Whether you are looking to pursue academic interests or just get a wicked Facebook profile picture with a Velociraptor, these museums will welcome you with open arms.
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