MShed: your museum, your story

Located on Prince's Wharf beside the Floating Harbour, the MShed is a museum to explore about the city which was opened in 2011. The museum's name comes from the way the port identified each of the sheds. 

The museum is closed on Mondays, and opens from Tuesday to Friday between 10am-5pm and 10am-6pm on weekends. The entrance is free yet there is a £2 suggested donation.

The permanent exhibition is divided into three galleries:

BRISTOL PLACES

This gallery on the ground floor focuses on the history of Bristol as a city, as well as on the importance of each the districts in Bristol. They show pictures of the diverse neighbourhood of St Pauls, the different cultures and exotic food in Easton, Southmead Hospital's history, great pictures of River Trym in Westbury, smart buildings and nice shops in Clifton and Hotwells, St Mary of Redcliffe's Church... Very interesting gallery to see if you are not fully familiarised with all areas in Bristol.

BRISTOL PEOPLE

There are iconic people who has shaped Bristol over the years. and had converted Bristol into the city that we nowadays know. Personalities such as the bare-knuckle boxer Tom Cribbs, contralto singer Dame Clara Butt, saxophonist and composer Andy Sheppard, barefoot dancer (and singer) Billy Button, pioneering paediatrician Beryl Corner and Flora Bamberger, who worked at the scene of bombing raids.
There is, of course, a blurry picture of the graffiti maker Banksy, and two animals from Bristol Zoom apparently very famous: Jasmina the Red Panda, voted the most popular animal in Bristol Zoo in 2010, and Rosie the Elefant, who died 1961 after 80,000 rides a year to children.

BRISTOL LIFE
This gallery next to Bristol People gallery focuses on people's experiences. You will be able to enjoy stories and experiences of how Bristolians live their lifes. Boicotts, riots, politics, sports, parties... 

How do Bristolians like it at school? What are Bristolian workers like? And Bristolian bosses? Have you ever fallen in love in Bristol? Those questions are answered in this gallery.

There is another gallery at the top floor called the ART EXHIBITION GALLERY, which hosts a wide-range programme of events and exhibitions. Until 3rd November, this gallery hosts an exhibition organized by the National Portraid Gallery (London) by Taylor Wessing. As stated in the website, "the very best contemporary portrait photographs from around the world, capturing famous faces and intimate moments". I did not visit this area this time so I cannot give you any feedback about it yet. You have the choice to pay what you think the exhibition is worth to you (payment discretionary) and the last entry is 30 minutes before closing. 

However, I have visited the L Shed and saw the live build of the Bristol Dinosaur. The L Shed adjoins MShed and is the primary store for Bristol Museum's Industrial and Maritime History collection (and other large objects). From Tuesday to Sunday between 9.30am and 5pm you can drop into the LShed to see a model of the Bristol Dinosaur being built there based on scientists' discoveries. The exhibition will be on until 30th November.


I would like to highlight it is the second time I go to this museum. I went there over a year ago, when I didn't know the city very much. I suggest you go to this museum once you know a little bit about Bristol's areas, personality, culture and life, otherwise there is too much information to take in.

When I visited the museum both times, it was full of kids. The MShed is the perfect museum for a family day. There are loads of interactive activities kids can do to learn about Bristol in a more playful way. If you want to see the museum in a more quieter way, try to avoid afternoons and weekends.

I post a very beautiful sentence I read in the exhibition:

"If you choose to dance with a crocodile, you must be prepared for when the music stops"

Have a nice day!

LINKS

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MShed: http://mshed.org/