Victorian Voyage, Part II - The Past

At the same time the first modern geologists and biologists were arguing about the meaning of the distant past, Victorian architects were engaging in their own debates about incorporating historical styles into their work. The two controversies collided when an increased interest in natural history led to the construction of several museums showcasing the wonders of the natural world. The results were some of the most spectacular exhibition spaces ever constructed, and we'll explore these and the implications they had for the understanding of the past in Industrial Britain in this second installment of our exploration of the weird world of Victorian architecture.