Powell-Cotton Museum, Natural history museum in Birchington-on-Sea, England
The Powell-Cotton Museum displays specimens of African and Asian wildlife across nine galleries within a Victorian mansion at Quex Park. The rooms present taxidermied animals alongside ethnographic objects from different regions and periods.
Percy Powell-Cotton founded the museum in 1896 to display his collections from expeditions through Africa and Asia in the early 1900s. The assembly grew over several decades through systematic collecting journeys that spanned multiple regions and communities.
The exhibits display objects from communities across Africa and Asia, including tools, jewelry, and clothing collected during travels. Visitors can observe how these everyday items reflect the skills and daily lives of the people who made and used them.
The museum sits in a country house with extensive grounds that visitors can also explore as part of the experience. Comfortable shoes are recommended since the estate and galleries require considerable walking.
One of the most striking displays features a lion that attacked Powell-Cotton during his African adventures, taxidermied and arranged in a dramatic scene with other wildlife. This exhibit directly connects the collection to the founder's personal experiences and fieldwork.
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