A Brief History of the British Museum
The British Museum's central London home has a 272-year-long history.
In 1778, Michael Angelo Rooker drew the gateway of Montagu House, the first site of the British Museum.
Armed with “enormous torchlights”, the art historian and the sculptor spotlit the megalithic stone moai from Rapa Nui (Easter Island), some monumental Egyptian treasures and the Parthenon Sculptures.
In March 1958, Kenneth Clark and Henry Moore took a midnight tour of the British Museum, highlighting its notable objects with torchlights.
This article is part of a special report on the past, present, and future of the British Museum.
Author's summary: The British Museum has a rich 272-year history.