Natural History Museum, London
Scientific Name: N/A
Category: other
Brief Description
A prominent museum exhibiting a vast range of specimens of natural history, housed in a famous Romanesque-style building.
Characteristics
Ornate terracotta facade, Romanesque architectural style, twin towers, and intricate animal and plant motifs integrated into the stonework.
Habitat
Urban environment, located in South Kensington, London, UK.
When to Find It
N/A
Conservation Status
N/A
Ecological Role
Serves as a world-renowned center of research, education, and conservation, housing over 80 million specimens.
Easily Confused With
Other Victorian Gothic or Romanesque public buildings in London, such as the Palace of Westminster.
Observation Tips
Visit early in the morning to avoid large crowds and examine the exterior terracotta details which depict extinct and extant species.
Interesting Facts
The museum building was designed by Alfred Waterhouse and opened in 1881; the east wing features terracotta reliefs of extinct species while the west wing features extant ones.