in 1857, the museum being the first in the world to provide such a facility.
The official opening by Queen Victoria was on 22 June 1857.
In the
following year, late night openings were introduced, made possible by the use
of gas lighting. This was to enable in the words of Cole "to ascertain
practically what hours are most convenient to the working classes"
—this was
linked to the use of the collections of both applied art and science as
educational resources to help boost productive industry.
In these early years
the practical use of the collection was very much emphasised as opposed to
that of "High Art" at the National Gallery and scholarship at the British
Museum.
George Wallis(1811–1891), the first Keeper of Fine Art Collection,
passionately promoted the idea of wide art education through the museum
collections. This led to the transfer to the museum of the School of Design
that had been founded in 1837 at Somerset House, after the transfer it was
referred to as the Art School or Art Training School, later to become
the Royal College of Art which finally achieved full independence in 1949.
From the 1860s to the 1880s the scientific collections had been moved from
the main museum site to various improvised galleries to the west
of Exhibition Road.
In 1893 the "Science Museum" had effectively come into
existence when a separate director was appointed.
The laying of the foundation stone of the Aston Webb building (to the
left of the main entrance) on 17 May 1899
was the last official public
appearance by Queen Victoria. It was during this ceremony that the change of
name from the South Kensington Museum to the
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