The Royal Institution: "Science Lives Here"

Today we went to the Royal Institution of Great Britain! 

The Royal Institution is a museum of science, "dedicated to connecting people with the world of science." The Ri emphasizes public engagement with the history of science in Britain.

Michael Faraday, striking a pose with an induction ring

Though definitely not a library, I found this site interesting due to the specific scope of the institution. The Ri was founded in 1799 at the home of Joseph Banks and the building on Albemarle Street was purchased shortly after. The Ri has remained in this location ever since. Consequently, Ri focuses primarily on the science conducted by a tight-knit group of people working in and around the area.

I loved the sheer age of the institution. The dramatic staircase at the heart of the building is the eighteenth-century structure and the paint has been retouched to match the original colours. It was small homages like this -- as well as larger homages, such as the statue of Michael Faraday -- that emphasized the significance of the building itself. This brought home the Ri's long history in a tangible way!

For more information on the Royal Institution, see the full website at http://www.rigb.org/