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!
Giant deer, fossil fish teeth, the rocks that built Cambridge... just some of the specimens on display that our staff can't wait to discuss with you. Beware, their enthusiasm is infectious!
Ages 12+, drop into our shop to reserve your free place on the tour.
FREE, drop-in.
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
Giant deer, fossil fish teeth, the rocks that built Cambridge... just some of the specimens on display that our staff can't wait to discuss with you. Beware, their enthusiasm is infectious!
Ages 12+, drop into our shop to reserve your free place on the tour.
FREE, drop-in.
Giant deer, fossil fish teeth, the rocks that built Cambridge... just some of the specimens on display that our staff can't wait to discuss with you. Beware, their enthusiasm is infectious!
Ages 12+, drop into our shop to reserve your free place on the tour.
FREE, drop-in.
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.
Discover more about our current exhibition Handpicked: Painting Flowers from 1900 to Today.
