April 2nd 2010 - World Museum

The snow melted as quickly as it arrived(!) A wet and dismal day in Liverpool - this photograph was taken outside the World Museum's original entrance. The museum was first started as Lord Derby's Museum, which opened in 1851, sharing two rooms on Duke Street with a library. The museum proved extremely popular and a new, purpose-built building was required. Land for the new museum was donated by Merchant William Brown on then known Shaw Street. Around 400,000 people attended the opening of the new building in 1860. The museum was expanded in 1901 to house its ever growing collection. In 2000 the museum was again expanded, taking over the lower half of the extension, which was then owned by Liverpool John Moores University, and renamed World Museum Liverpool.