Learn about a range of queer stories and those who challenged gender expectations throughout history, from trans lichenologist Elke Mackenzie, to the deep love expressed by some expedition members for their companions, to artistic expressions of gender over long polar winters, to the surprising connection between Hunter & Palmers biscuits and the taboos around discussing homosexuality in the 20th century.
Important Information
Learn about a range of queer stories and those who challenged gender expectations throughout history, from trans lichenologist Elke Mackenzie, to the deep love expressed by some expedition members for their companions, to artistic expressions of gender over long polar winters, to the surprising connection between Hunter & Palmers biscuits and the taboos around discussing homosexuality in the 20th century.
Important Information
What is an orrery? Why is the clock chiming 13? Why would you collect and display a set of plaster horses’ teeth, some green spectacles and several hundred pocket calculators?
Join us for a tour of the Whipple’s collection in 10 objects, featuring spectacular instruments, fascinating scientific stories, and links to some of Cambridge’s most famous names.
Meet at the reception point in the Main Gallery.
Book your free tickets here!
Enjoy a bespoke guided walk around the Museum of Classical Archaeology and a unique opportunity to explore ancient pottery sherds and objects from Ancient Rome with Education Coordinator Martha Heemskerk.
How do I book a place on a Touch Tour?
Free, booking required.
To make a booking, please email us: info@museums.cam.ac.uk
Enjoy a bespoke guided walk around the War Craft exhibition at The Fitzwilliam Museum with a handling session of coins and personal objects made in times of war with exhibition curator Dr Richard Kelleher. Hear the stories of soldiers, civilians and prisoners of war who made them.
How do I book a place on a Touch Tour?
Free, booking required.
Enjoy a bespoke guided walk around the Whipple Museum of the History of Science and explore a fascinating selection of sensory objects in the Museum's Learning Gallery with Learning Coordinator Alison Giles.
How do I book a place on a Touch Tour?
Free, booking required.
To make a booking, please email us: info@museums.cam.ac.uk
Ice Age Time Machine
Dr David Waterhouse trained as a palaeontologist and for the past 20 years has been involved in studying the animals that lived during that last Ice Age. He's been the curator of the Polar Museum since 2023 and we're thrilled to be welcoming him for a talk on one of his greatest passions.
From David:
Learn about a range of queer stories and those who challenged gender expectations throughout history, from trans lichenologist Elke Mackenzie, to the deep love expressed by some expedition members for their companions, to artistic expressions of gender over long polar winters, to the surprising connection between Hunter & Palmers biscuits and the taboos around discussing homosexuality in the 20th century.
Important Information
The Sedgwick Museum is proud to present its new LGBTQ+ tour as part of the University of Cambridge Museums' Bridging Binaries programme.
It is hard to say for certain that a 19th century scientist was queer just from their memoirs. It is difficult to know whether they were in a romantic relationship with the ‘secretary’ they lived with, or were they just that – a secretary? In the same era, were the two women who lived together for thirty years really just ‘close friends’? Looking for queerness in museum collections can be challenging.
The Sedgwick Museum is proud to present its new LGBTQ+ tour as part of the University of Cambridge Museums' Bridging Binaries programme.
It is hard to say for certain that a 19th century scientist was queer just from their memoirs. It is difficult to know whether they were in a romantic relationship with the ‘secretary’ they lived with, or were they just that – a secretary? In the same era, were the two women who lived together for thirty years really just ‘close friends’? Looking for queerness in museum collections can be challenging.
