Thread by @maxwellmuseums, the @britishmuseum’s been closed to visitors for 4 and a half months [...]

the @britishmuseum’s been closed to visitors for 4 and a half months due to coronavirus

yet the museum’s work has continued

tonight is definitely good time to look back at some of the top stories about the Museum’s work during lockdown. so here’s a THREAD of 11 for you

waaaayyyy back in March we were asked how being closed affected our online visits. so we looked, and there was a massive increase

“British Museum sees spike in online visitors and virtual tour 'guests' as website traffic doubles” via @MetroUK https://metro.co.uk/2020/03/20/british-museum-may-closed-can-virtually-explore-venue-comfort-home-12432145/

The British Museum sees spike in online visitors trying 'virtual tours'

The capital's culture is at your fingertips.

https://metro.co.uk/2020/03/20/british-museum-may-closed-can-virtually-explore-venue-comfort-home-12432145/

in May, the @britishmuseum’s ongoing work with the UK Border Force saw a major seizure of fake ‘ancient’ tablets which were trying to be smuggled into the county

“Heathrow Border Force seizure turns out to be a right Mesopotamia!” via @thetimes https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/heathrow-border-force-seizure-turns-out-to-be-a-right-mesopotamia-0vmt0z8pj

Heathrow Border Force seizure turns out to be a right Mesopotamia!

The Border Force officers had struck gold, it seemed. Or at least extremely valuable clay.Two metal trunks stuffed with cuneiform tablets apparently shedding light on the ancient world had been seized

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/heathrow-border-force-seizure-turns-out-to-be-a-right-mesopotamia-0vmt0z8pj

later in the month, the most popular exhibition of the last decade at the @britishmuseum came to streaming

Pompeii Live

premiered on YouTube, and the news was revealed exclusively by the @EveningStandard https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.standard.co.uk/go/london/arts/british-museum-pompeii-live-exhibition-a4440866.html%3famp

British Museum brings back popular Pompeii exhibition in digital form

The British Museum’s most popular exhibition of the last decade is set to return, in the form of an online broadcast. Pompeii Live was the museum’s first live cinema event, giving an insight into the

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.standard.co.uk/go/london/arts/british-museum-pompeii-live-exhibition-a4440866.html%3famp

and the @guardian used our Pompeii Live broadcast to look at the similarities between that disaster and the current pandemic

“Pompeii Live: they didn't see catastrophe coming – and neither did we” https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/may/18/british-museum-pompeii-live-coronavirus-catastrophe-blockbuster

Pompeii Live: they didn't see catastrophe coming – and neither did we

Available onlineThe British Museum has resurrected its blockbuster show about the deadly volcanic eruption. In the age of coronavirus, it’s more chilling and vital than ever

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/may/18/british-museum-pompeii-live-coronavirus-catastrophe-blockbuster

throughout the lockdown, the @britishmuseum has been publishing travel guides to some of the most famous ancient cities

the @TheNationalUAE wrote about a couple of them here

https://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/art/from-nineveh-to-kulubnarti-british-museum-offers-fictional-travel-guides-to-ancient-cities-1.1024017

From Nineveh to Kulubnarti: British Museum offers fictional travel guides to ancient cities

Curators are inviting visitors to take a trip back in time

https://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/art/from-nineveh-to-kulubnarti-british-museum-offers-fictional-travel-guides-to-ancient-cities-1.1024017

because people around the world were at home, we brought forward the launch of our collections online revamp. 4m objects became easier to see than ever

“Half British Museum collection now online with close-up of Easter Island statue” via @irish_news https://www.irishnews.com/magazine/entertainment/2020/04/28/news/half-british-museum-collection-now-online-with-close-up-of-easter-island-statue-1918643/

Half British Museum collection now online with close-up of Easter Island statue

The attraction decided to bring forward its plans during the lockdown.

https://www.irishnews.com/magazine/entertainment/2020/04/28/news/half-british-museum-collection-now-online-with-close-up-of-easter-island-statue-1918643/

then @thetimes looked at some of the most surprising - and bizarre - objects in the BM collection that you could now see on the revamped collections online

“From mermen to melted coins: see the @britishmuseum’s strangest treasures online”

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/from-mermen-to-melted-coins-see-the-british-museums-strangest-treasures-online-zkj3q8k2g

From mermen to melted coins: see the British Museum’s strangest treasures online

In a bid to keep culture lovers busy in lockdown, the British Museum, which houses one of the biggest collections in the world, has revamped their website — adding more than four million objects to

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/from-mermen-to-melted-coins-see-the-british-museums-strangest-treasures-online-zkj3q8k2g

in June, we revealed that we were adding 5 new LGBTQ+ objects to our permanent display. @gaytimesmag had the exclusive first look

https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/take-a-look-at-the-5-new-lgbtq-objects-added-to-the-british-museum-permanent-display/amp/

Here's the 5 new LGBTQ+ objects added to the British Museum display

These objects will also be added to future physical tours of the museum when it reopens, continuing the British Museum's successful regular LGBTQ+ tours over the past year.

https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/take-a-look-at-the-5-new-lgbtq-objects-added-to-the-british-museum-permanent-display/amp/

and then the @guardian exclusively revealed that the Rosetta Stone was to be added to @britishmuseum LGBTQ+ tours when we reopen

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/jun/25/rosetta-stone-to-be-added-to-british-museum-lgbtq-tours

Rosetta Stone to be added to British Museum LGBTQ+ tours

Male Egyptologist who helped decipher hieroglyphs had to flee UK after having gay sex

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/jun/25/rosetta-stone-to-be-added-to-british-museum-lgbtq-tours

then in July we hit an incredible milestone as the number of treasures found by the public and recorded on the BM’s @findsorguk scheme hit 1.5 MILLION

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8504471/Discovery-750-year-old-seal-medieval-pope-Shropshire-1-5millionth-British-public.html

750-year-old seal of medieval pope is found in Shropshire

The medieval find, which is more than 750 years old, was a seal of Pope Innocent IV and may have links to an English monarch. It was found by a metal detectorist in Shropshire.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8504471/Discovery-750-year-old-seal-medieval-pope-Shropshire-1-5millionth-British-public.html

and just a couple of weeks ago, it was announced that in 2019 the @britishmuseum was once again the UK’s most visited attraction - with our Manga exhibition helping us get to the top

“Japanese Manga makes British Museum UK's top attraction” via @Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/07/14/japanese-manga-makes-british-museum-uks-top-attraction/

Japanese Manga makes British Museum UK's top attraction

The top ten attractions of 2019 were all in London, which drew more than 70 million visitors

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/07/14/japanese-manga-makes-british-museum-uks-top-attraction/

phew. what a few months it’s been

BUT! even more exciting times are coming REALLY soon

@britishmuseum fans: keep those eyes peeled

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