Mansfield Museum was the brainchild of William Edward Baily, a wealthy local collector and natural historian. In 1903 Baily offered his collection and a building - the 'Tin Tabernacle' in which to house it, to Mansfield. The Museum opened the following year.
Important new collections donated by local men, such as those of naturalist Joseph Whitaker and artist Albert Sorby Buxton, soon required a move from the deteriorating Tabernacle and the present building opened in 1938.
In the mid Sixties a fourth gallery was added and in 1989 the 'Arcade' extension took the Museum 'out to the road', raising its public profile. A major 1990's development provided state-of-the-art storage facilities and an education room.
The most recent addition to the Museum has been the XplorActive hands-on environmental gallery.
Today. The Museum is very much focused on working with groups across the community, from local schools to Cub troops, via reminiscence groups, artists' societies, archaeological associations and many others.
A child-friendly atmosphere encourages visits by younger people and their carers. Changing exhibitions aimed at all sectors of local society aim to keep the Museum a relevant player in Mansfield's cultural life.
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Every effort is made to make sure that all the information is correct but we strongly recommend that you call Mansfield Museum before you set off on your day out to confirm opening times and admission prices.
Please also note that the position on Google maps for Mansfield Museum is a rough estimate using their postcode in the database and might be slightly out.
It may also be worth clicking the web link for Mansfield Museum to see if there are any special events coming up or currently on.