Blue whale skeleton named Hope, Natural History Museum, London, England

© Bailey-Cooper Photography/Alam

Tail of the whale. International Museum Day

In the grand Hintze Hall of the Natural History Museum in London, a skeleton named Hope soars overhead—a blue whale caught mid-dive above the heads of awestruck visitors. As we mark International Museum Day, there's no better time to celebrate our world's repositories of history, art and science. This day was established in 1977 by the International Council of Museums. It emphasises the importance of museums as a means of cultural exchange, the development of mutual understanding and cooperation among people. The theme of the International Museum Day in 2024 is 'Museums for Education and Research.'

Museums offer us a space where the past converses with the present. The Natural History Museum, the one housing Hope, was established in 1881. This museum boasts 80 million specimens, including fossils, minerals and taxidermy exhibits. Hope's 25-metre-long frame is the entrance hall's centrepiece. Let Hope inspire a visit to your local museum this International Museum Day, reignite curiosity and spark wonder in your heart.