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Whipple Museum of the History of Science

Whipple Museum of the History of Science

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Exhibitions and Displays

Exhibitions and Displays overview
The Art of Deception
Physics and Glass
The Parlour of Dr Auzoux
+FRANKLIN: Rosalind Franklin and DNA
Case Studies

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Special Collections overview
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Image Requests overview
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Explore

Explore overview

Acoustics

Acoustics overview
Historical Notes: a Brief Chronicle of the Tuning Fork
Ernst Chladni: Physicist, Musician and Musical Instrument Maker
Lissajous Tuning Forks: the Standardisation of Musical Sound
Monochord
Parabolic Sound Mirrors
The Siren
Stroh's Automatic Phonograph
Wheatstone's Symphonium

Herman von Helmholtz

Herman von Helmholtz overview
Helmholtz Resonators: Tools for the Analysis of Sound
Helmholtz's Apparatus for the Synthesis of Sound

Rudolph Koenig: the Pursuit of Acoustic Perfection

Rudolph Koenig: the Pursuit of Acoustic Perfection overview
Koenig's Apparatus for the Analysis of Sound
Trombone de Koenig

Astronomy

Astronomy overview
Astronomical Compendia
Two Telescopes
The 'Grand' Orrery
A Projecting Planetarium
Armillary Spheres and Teaching Astronomy
The King's Astronomer
A Ship-Shaped Sundial
Short's Telescope
Glass Monograph

A Medieval Astrolabe

A Medieval Astrolabe overview
The Parts of an Astrolabe

The 'Incomparable' Mr. Sutton

The 'Incomparable' Mr. Sutton overview
The Sutton-Type Quadrant

Art and Astronomy: Cornelius Varley

Art and Astronomy: Cornelius Varley overview
The Graphic Telescope and Varley's Artwork

Maps of the Heavens

Maps of the Heavens overview
Images of Stereographic Projections
The Gunter Quadrant and Practical Knowledge

Astronomy and Empire

Astronomy and Empire overview
The Stolen Quadrant
Astronomy at Sea
Navigational Arts
Encounter and Exchange
Famine and Astronomy
Instrument Breakage and Repair
Charles Piazzi Smyth and His Imperial Measures

Science in the Field

Science in the Field overview
Survey Instruments in India

The Sun Worshippers

The Sun Worshippers overview
Eclipse Teamwork
Forgotten Instruments from an Eclipse Expedition

Local knowledge

Local knowledge overview
Copycat sundials?
Pundits and The Great Game

Calculating Devices

Calculating Devices overview
A Brief History of Calculating Devices
Tables
The Sector
John Napier's Calculating Tools
Mechanical Calculation
Charles Babbage's Difference Engine
Pocket Calculating Devices
The EDSAC and Computing in Cambridge

Slide Rules

Slide Rules overview
Specialist Slide Rules
A Universal Slide Rule?

Handheld Electronic Calculators

Handheld Electronic Calculators overview
Pocket Programming
The Aesthetics of Calculation

Frogs

Frogs overview
Why Frogs?
Frogs in the Classroom
Frogs and Animal Electricity
Frogs and Physiological Instruments in 20th Century Cambridge
Frogs in the Foster Collection

Frog-plates

Frog-plates overview
Projecting the Wonder of Life
Seeing Life Through the Microscope

Ziegler's Wax Models

Ziegler's Wax Models overview
Frog Models, Artisans, and Academic Controversy
Techniques of Observing and Modelling

Globes

Globes overview
A Brief History of Globes
An Immobile Globe
Dissectable Paper Globes
A Jigsaw Puzzle Globe
Japanese Star Globe
Pocket-sized Globes
A Celebration of Navigation
A Geographical Lottery Game
An Early Italian Globe?
Identifying Stars at Sea
Portable 'Umbrella' Globe
A Spanish 'Encyglobedia'

Meteorology

Meteorology overview
What is Meteorology?
Measuring Air Humidity
Weather Forecasting
Cloud Studies
Mapping Weather and Modern Meteorology

Barometers

Barometers overview
Types of Barometer
Design Concerns and Solutions

Early Thermometers and Temperature Scales

Early Thermometers and Temperature Scales overview
Thermometer Designs

Microscopes

Microscopes overview
A Brief History of the Microscope
Parts of the Microscope
Charles Darwin's Microscopes
Fish and Frogs
Public Shows
Faraday's Slide
Measuring the Microscopic
The Problems with Lenses
Amici & Robinson
Cambridge Botanists
Microphotographs
Elcock: Scientist or Craftsman?

Three Microscope Makers

Three Microscope Makers overview
John Cuff and the 'New-Constructed' Microscope
George Lindsay's Royal Microscope
Benjamin Martin and Microscope Compendia

A Dutch Pioneer

A Dutch Pioneer overview
Leeuwenhoek Replicas
Mayall's Microscope Reproductions

Models

Models overview
A Japanese Earthquake Model
Geological Models
Geometric Models
Knitted Interpenetrating Surfaces
Glass Models of Fungi

Modelling Chemistry

Modelling Chemistry overview
Types of Molecular Models

Dr. Auzoux's Models

Dr. Auzoux's Models overview
Dr. Auzoux
Inside Auzoux's Models
Human Models
Animal Models
Plant Models
Foetus Models

Wave Machines

Wave Machines overview
Wave Theory
Thomas Young's Wave Experiments

Job Opportunities

Job Opportunities overview
Visitor Experience Assistants

Home
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What's on overview
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Explore
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Job Opportunities overview
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Job Opportunities

Job Opportunities

Job Opportunities overview
Visitor Experience Assistants

Job Opportunities

Come and work at the Whipple Museum!

Current Opportunities

Visitor Experience Assistants

Opening Times

Open five days a week, plus the third Saturday of every month!

Monday 12.30 - 16:30

Tuesday 12.30 - 16:30

Wednesday 12.30 - 16:30

Thursday 12.30 - 16:30

Friday 12.30 - 16:30

Selected Saturdays 10.00 - 16.00

Museum Closure
Due to University-wide industrial action over pay, the Whipple Museum will be closed from 20–22 May and 26–29 May.

May Bank Holiday Opening Hours 2026
The museum will be closed on Monday 25 May 2026.

Whipple Museum of the History of Science

Contact Information

Free School Lane CB2 3RH

enquiries@whipplemuseum.cam.ac.uk

01223 330906

University of Cambridge

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