The Horniman Museum has a Natural History gallery of the old school, with wood and glass cases full of stuffed animals and a display structure untouched since the 1950’s. Committed now to refurbishing and restructuring, the Museum consulted its local audiences to find out how they felt about Natural History. What did they know, what was the shape of the subject in their minds, what were they looking for? Would anything be left of the old Victorian gallery? This paper explores the tightrope walk between preserving the old, introducing the new and leaving the visitor delighted, thoughtful and informed about Natural History.
