Sep 15·Science
Follow-up 3h ago Major3
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Natural History Museum Reopens Gallery Sealed Since 1943
London's Natural History Museum has reopened a gallery sealed since 1943, featuring 50 objects exploring humanity's relationship with nature. The space will remain open for 18 months before a permanent exhibition planned for 2029, as part of the museum's 150th anniversary transformation project.
Quick Facts
- Gallery sealed since 1943 reopened to public
- Originally osteology gallery, later repurposed as herbarium storage
- Now exhibits 50 specimens and objects in 'Nature and Us' gallery
- Features wooden filing cabinets preserving gallery's historical character
- Only half of gallery currently open; second half to open in 2029
London's Natural History Museum has reopened a gallery that has been closed to the public for 83 years, since 1943. The space, located on the second floor of the museum's Waterhouse building near the main entrance, is now open as the 'Nature and Us' gallery, featuring 50 specimens and objects that explore humanity's evolving relationship with the natural world.
The gallery has a complex history. Originally designed as an osteology (skeleton) gallery favoured by Victorian-era display practices, it was later used as a mammals gallery. After the museum's original herbarium was damaged during World War II, the space was repurposed in 1943 to house botanical collections and closed to the public. The room remains distinctive for its wooden filing cabinets that once contained thousands of pressed, dried plant specimens, which have now been removed but are preserved as part of the gallery's visual character.
The 'Nature and Us' exhibition showcases objects ranging from a 400,000-year-old handaxe to a bryozoan-encrusted Star Wars toy discarded in the sea. Other displays explore themes including whaling, animal vocalisation, domestic dog breeding, and rivers and forests granted legal personhood status. The exhibition is supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
Dr Doug Gurr, director of the museum, described the reopening as "a really special moment for everyone involved in bringing this space back to life." Currently, only half of the gallery is open to the public, with a barrier dividing the space. Visitors will be invited to provide feedback during the initial 18-month opening period, which will inform plans for a permanent gallery opening in 2029.
The reopening forms part of the museum's NHM150 campaign, a wider transformation initiative for the South Kensington site. The campaign aims to open a new or revitalised gallery each year leading up to 2031, when the museum marks its 150th anniversary. Entry to the Nature and Us gallery is free.
Why This Matters
The reopening provides public access to a major institutional collection after an 83-year closure and contributes measurable visitor engagement to the Natural History Museum's infrastructure transformation. Feedback from the 18-month trial period will directly inform the permanent gallery design, affecting exhibition budgets, curatorial scope, and timeline through 2029. The reopening supports the museum's NHM150 campaign, which schedules one new or revitalised gallery per year through 2031, shaping visitor experience and operational capacity at a major London cultural institution.
Timeline & Sources
Jan 1, 1943
WireGallery sealed after repurposing as herbarium following WWII damage to original herbarium
Sep 16, 2026
WireNature and Us gallery opens to public
Jan 1, 2029
WirePermanent exhibition planned to open; second half of gallery to open
Jan 1, 2031
WireNatural History Museum marks 150th anniversary