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United Kingdom Cambridge Cambridgeshire Museum

Whipple Museum of the History of Science

About

The Whipple Museum of the History of Science, part of the University of Cambridge, offers a fascinating journey through centuries of scientific discovery. Founded in 1944 with the donation of Robert Whipple’s remarkable collection, it is housed in the former Perse School on Free School Lane. The museum’s holdings span from the medieval period to the present, with particular strength in 17th- to 19th-century instruments made by leading English craftsmen. Visitors can explore historic telescopes, globes, astrolabes, microscopes, and intricate orreries, alongside early electrical apparatus and mathematical tools. Many objects once served in Cambridge’s own laboratories and lecture halls, linking the city’s academic heritage to global scientific progress. As part of the Department of History and Philosophy of Science, the museum supports research, teaching, and public engagement, offering free admission and regularly changing exhibitions. Its intimate galleries invite close encounters with the tools and ideas that have shaped our understanding of the world.

Cambridge United Kingdom
Whipple Museum of the History of Science
Location

The Whipple Museum of the History of Science is located on Free School Lane, Cambridge CB2 3RH, within the University of Cambridge. It is situated on the New Museums Site, accessible through the Pembroke archway on Pembroke Street, with another entrance on Free School Lane. Nearby, visitors can find several other university museums such as the Fitzwilliam Museum, the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, and the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences. The museum is also close to the city centre, with its shops, cafes, and historic landmarks, as well as green spaces like Christ’s Pieces and easy access to public transport and parking facilities at the Grand Arcade car park.

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