The Government Museum at Chennai
The Government Museum is a popular destination in the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu. It is a state museum with various galleries: Archeology, Zoology, Botany, Geology, Numismatics, Anthropology, Chemical Conversation, Children’s Museum, National Art Gallery, and Contemporary Art Gallery. Government Museum is one of the oldest museums of India, established during colonial rule. Some of the notable collections of the museum include the world famous South Indian Bronzes, the Tanjavur armory, the Amaravati sculptures, inscribed copper and stone plates, the Chengam collection of copper coins, the Dowleshwaram gold coin collection of Kulothunga I and Raja Raja I, the Bruce Foote Collection, artifacts from the Megaliths of Adichanallur, and the skeleton of the whale that washed ashore in Mangalore.
The Museum was originally established in 1851 by Dr. Edward Balfour, the First Officer of the Government Museum. It was initially established in the College of Fort St. George, on College Road, at the site of current office of the Director of Public Instruction. The Museum was housed on the first floor, and began with 1100 geological specimens of the Madras Literary Society.
In December 1854, the museum was moved to the assembly rooms of the Pantheon building. The building belonged to a group of eminent British citizens known as the Pantheon, who were in charge of improving the social life of British people in Madras (Chennai).
In the same year, a young cheetah and a tiger were kept in the museum, which attracted visitors from far and wide. As the number of visitors increased, Dr. Balfour requested the Nawab of Carnatic to send his animals to the museum. Notices were also sent asking for wild animals. By the first half of 1856, the museum had a zoological garden with 360 animals. The zoological garden was taken over by the city municipality in 1863 and developed separately after that.
The centennial of the museum was celebrated on November 27, 1951. The celebration was inaugurated by then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru.
Attractions:
The Government Museum complex includes six buildings and 46 galleries. The museum houses one of the finest bronze collections in the world. It has a variety of rare coins, Stone Age and Iron Age artifacts, antiques, musical instruments of South India, arms, jewelry, and vintage stamps.
Archeology: This section displays artifacts such as sculptures, stone and metal inscriptions, and archeological pieces that displays the history and the social life of the people. Some artisan works for which South India is famous are also featured in this section, such as wooden carvings, metalware, ivory work, and inlay.
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