Bristol Museum and Art Gallery
Bristol’s premier museum and art gallery houses important collections of minerals and fossils, natural history, eastern art, world wildlife, Egyptology, archaeology and fine and applied art.
Venue Type:
Museum, Gallery
Additional info
For a reminder of your visit, the Museum shop contains award-winning merchandise, including reproduction prints from the Art Gallery's collections, greetings cards, a wide range of books for all ages and interests, unusual gifts and Bristol-branded gifts to name just a few. To view the stock and for more information, visit the Museum Shop web page.
The Geology, Applied Art and Eastern Art collections at Bristol's City Museum & Art Gallery are Designated Collections of national importance.
Among the Designated applied art collections with a strong Bristol connection are important collections of delftware and glass. Also designated are Bristol's geology collections and fine and applied arts from the Far East, including the celebrated Schiller Collection.
Part of Bristol Museums’ Designated Collections related to Bristol’s role as a manufacturing city and major seaport is on display here. Other parts of these collections can be seen at Georgian House, Red Lodge, and Blaise Castle House Museum. Please contact Bristol Museums for more information if you wish to see a specific item.
At Bristol's City Museum & Art Gallery there is a choice of galleries situated upstairs full of artworks: Old Masters, French School, British Collection, Modern Art and the Bristol School.
Alongside in the adjoining galleries, the decorative arts collections can be found: Eastern Art, Ceramics, Silverware and Glassware. On the lower floors - a fine collection of glittering minerals, ancient fossils and a large archaeology gallery showing the South West's geographic formation. Close by is the World Wildlife Gallery containing many examples of endangered or extinct animals, including the much-loved Alfred the Gorilla.
The popular Egyptology gallery contains real mummies besides other items and situated next door is the hugely impressive wall decoration made over 3,000 years ago - the Assyrian Reliefs. A natural history gallery contains examples of aquatic habitats in the south west of England and an interactive map of local wildlife sites and a freshwater aquarium containing fish typical of the region. Throughout the Museum and Art Gallery material from other countries can be seen, including pottery and clothing.
Collection details
Science and Technology, Religion, Photography, Natural Sciences, Fine Art, Decorative and Applied Art, Costume and Textiles, Coins and Medals, Aviation, Archaeology
Key artists and exhibits
- Old Masters, French School, British Collection, Modern Art and the Bristol School
- Eastern Art, Ceramics, Silverware and Glassware
- Archaelogy / fossils
- Egyptology / mummies
- Assyrian Reliefs
- Pottery and clothing
- Natural history
- Endangered or extinct animals, including the much-loved Alfred the Gorilla
- Designated Collection
Stone Age to Iron Age
- 17 September 2016 — 25 June 2017 *on now
Explore highlights from Bristol’s archaeology collections in a brand new Stone Age to Iron Age display.
Prehistoric people were resourceful, inventive and skilled. Find out about the sites they left behind and be amazed by objects including 300,000 year old stone tools, Bronze Age swords and beautifully decorated Iron Age jewellery.
Recent archaeological discoveries found locally will also be displayed for the first time. Discover the antiquarians, archaeologists and scientists who have helped shape our understanding of prehistoric Bristol, learn about local places to visit and get ‘hands on’ with our Stone Age to Iron Age timeline.Explore highlights from Bristol’s archaeology collections in a brand new Stone Age to Iron Age display.
Prehistoric people were resourceful, inventive and skilled. Find out about the sites they left behind and be amazed by objects including 300,000 year old stone tools, Bronze Age swords and beautifully decorated Iron Age jewellery.
Recent archaeological discoveries found locally will also be displayed for the first time. Discover the antiquarians, archaeologists and scientists who have helped shape our understanding of prehistoric Bristol, learn about local places to visit and get ‘hands on’ with our Stone Age to Iron Age timeline.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
Admission
Pay what you think
Website
http://www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/bristol-museum-and-art-gallery/whats-on/stone-age-to-iron-age/
Pliosaurus!
- 17 June 2017 — 7 January 2018 *on now
Let’s take you back in time, 150 million years ago to be precise…
Bristol is now a Jurassic ocean teeming with extraordinary creatures! The biggest and fiercest of all was the huge marine reptile, the pliosaur (Pliosaurus carpenteri).
The length of a bus with sharp teeth the size of bananas, four huge flippers and crushingly powerful jaws, the pliosaur was the ultimate predator and would have swam over our city – perhaps where you’re standing right now. There is nothing alive like them today.
Dive into the Jurassic deep this summer and come face to face with a giant who was anything but gentle. Will you dare to look inside her mouth or listen to her heartbeat?
After going back in time and meeting the beast, we’ll bring you back to the present day to see one of the world’s most complete pliosaur fossils.
Discovered in Westbury, Wiltshire in 1994, our internationally significant specimen is the world’s only example of a new species of pliosaur and will be on public display for the first time. Pliosaurs are so big that it took ten years to prepare all the fossils that were found.
Aimed at 3-11 year olds, this exhibition offers a range of activities to investigate how this special creature lived and died.
With thanks to exhibition sponsors Clifton High School.
Name the beast
Like all unique museum beasts, our pliosaur needs a name! Could you help us name her? You can vote for your favourite name on our blog. Voting closes on Sunday 12 March 2017.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
- Any age
Admission
Pay what you think
Website
https://www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/bristol-museum-and-art-gallery/whats-on/pliosaurus/
Bristol Museum and Art Gallery
Queen's Road
Bristol
City of Bristol
BS8 1RL
England
Website
www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/bristol-museum-and-art-gallery/
Telephone
0117 922 3571
Fax
0117 922 2047
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