Watson Museum

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Watson Museum
Established 1888
Location Jubilee Garden, Rajkot
Coordinates 22°18′02″N 70°48′06″E / 22.300532°N 70.801762°E / 22.300532; 70.801762
Type Multi Purpose [1]
Visitors 78,000 (2007-2008)
Curator S. M. Dalal

The Watson Museum in Rajkot, India is a museum of human history and culture. Its collections precious objects of colonial period of India and History of Rajkot. It is amongst the largest and most comprehensive museum in State of Gujarat. Watson Museum is considered to be the finest amongst 7 such museums located across Saurashtra (region) and run by the State Government because it holds invaluable articles and state-of-the-art facilities like photography, guide service, reference library and sales counter of the museum's publication.

History

The museum is set up in the Queen Victoria memorial institute buildings located in Jubilee Garden, Rajkot. The Watson Museum was named in fond memory of Colonel John Watson in 1888. Colonel John Watson was political agent of Kathiawar Agency form 1881 to 1889. Watson Museum is the second most important museum in Gujarat, after the Museum of Baroda and is the oldest museum in Saurashtra (region). Colonel Watson was fond of his history and archeology and used to collect information on Rajkot. Most of his collections and other artifacts are preserved here. The museum building was completed in 1893, when it opened to the public by Governor Lord George Harris of Bombay Presidency.[2]

The Watson Museum exhibits copies of artifacts from Mohenjodaro, natural history, 13th century carvings, temple statues, costumes and design of the houses of the local tribal people. The Watson Museum also houses an excellent collection of traditional, archaeological items and coins.

While the museum's archeology gallery also boasts of artifacts of prehistoric period and the Harappan civilization in the archeology gallery, a treasure of sculptures belonging to erstwhile Ghumali - a capital of Jethwa - grace the sculpture gallery.

Sections

The statue of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen Victoria, unveiled by H.E. the Lord Curzon of Kedleston in 1897
  • Sculptures
  • Paintings and Manuscripts
  • Textile
  • Inscription
  • Coins [3]
  • Anthropology
  • Folk Embroidery
  • Handicraft
  • Musical Instruments
  • Wood Work
  • Natural History
  • Rocks and Minerals

Annual events

  1. Bhartiya Shilp Samruddhi : It is week long celebration organized every year in the second week of January.

References

  1. ↑ "Watson Museum", Retrieved on December 5, 2008
  2. ↑ "Visit Rajkot", Retrieved on December 5, 2008
  3. ↑ "Gets Rare Coins", Retrieved on January 11, 2008


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