Opened in 1881, this building was designed as "cathedral to nature", completed in a gothic-inspired style it definitely gives that feeling of awe. Animals-gargoyles line the roof edges in extraordinary detail.
Filling your view on entry is the magnificent suspended skeleton of a blue whale, called "Hope". Up the stairs straight ahead is a statue of Charles Darwin in marble, much the same as memorial statues found in Westminster, and other notaries are found about the upper levels. With its soaring animal-carved columns, painted plant panelled ceiling, and stained glass windows, I could happily call this my place of worship.
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| Big man Charlie D. himself |
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| Transection of stalactite, demonstrating layers of formation |
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| Emerald in various states - while it does grow large crystals they frequently have imperfections, so getting clear cut stones from them is more difficult |
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| I like opals |
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| Nearly 300 cut diamonds of various natural colours, click for full image and zoom. Below are the same diamonds lit by UV light, demonstrating the change in colour flourescence |
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