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    Crystal Palace museum reopens over a year after nearly being destroyed by fire
    Crystal Palace

    Crystal Palace museum reopens over a year after nearly being destroyed by fire

    A South London museum is finally set to reopen over one year after nearly being destroyed by a fire. Crystal Palace Museum was forced to close its doors after a blaze ravaged the building on January 24.

    The museum, located in Crystal Palace Park, has confirmed that it will be reopening its doors to the public in Spring 2026. It will be reopening under the custodianship of Crystal Palace Park Trust, who say it will be open more regularly and be placed at the centre of its engagement programme.

    “After a year of closure following the fire, a new chapter begins. Over the last 12 months, the Trustees of the Crystal Palace Museum and Crystal Palace Park Trust have worked closely together to develop a new way forward,” said a spokesperson for the trust.

    Two historic and famous Iguanodon dinosaur sculptures on an island in the public Crystal Palace Park in South East London. The dinosaurs were constructed in the park in 1854 when the former 1851 Great Exhibition glass ‘palace’ was moved to Sydenham after the exhibition closed. The new, extensive pleasure gardens contained a collection of around 30 ‘dinosaurs’ and other extinct creatures, which are now known to be anatomically inaccurate. They are, however, a famous and much-loved attraction in South East London. The sculptures were created by one of the 19th-century’s best-known natural history sculptors, Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins (1807-1894). The landscape in which they are set was designed by Joseph Paxton, designer of the Crystal Palace glass building.

    The museum is located in Crystal Palace Park -Credit:Getty Images

    “Custodianship of the museum will transfer to the Trust, placing it at the heart of our learning and engagement programme, and enabling the museum to open more regularly.

    “Looking ahead, we will seek funding to improve accessibility and redisplay the museum’s unique archive celebrating this internationally significant site. We look forward to welcoming visitors and volunteers back as this chapter begins.”

    The fire left the building with significant damage, although no one was injured by the blaze. It was forced to close its doors for more than a year, while work was carried out to repair the site.

    Councillors Ryan Thomson and Ruth McGregor said: “Brilliant news that the Crystal Palace Museum will be reopening this spring. Following last year’s fire and closure, the Trustees of the Museum and Crystal Palace Park Trust have worked together to bring it back into action.

    “This will see the museum open more regularly, improved accessibility, redisplaying the museum’s unique archive and the museum taking centre place within the Trust’s learning and engagement programme. Wishing all involved the best in this new chapter and can’t wait to see it open again!”

    Got a story? Please get in touch at katherine.gray@reachplc.com

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