Imperial War Museum
Established	1917
Location	Lambeth Road, London SE1, England
Visitor figures	712,000 (2006) [1]
Director	Sir Robert Crawford, CBE
Nearest tube station(s)	Lambeth North, Waterloo, Southwark, Elephant & Castle
Website	www.iwm.org.uk
Imperial War Museum network Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms · HMS Belfast · Imperial War Museum Duxford · Imperial War Museum North

The Imperial War Museum is a museum in London, England featuring military vehicles, weapons, war memorabilia, an extensive library open to the public Monday to Saturday, a photographic archive, and an art collection of 20th century and later conflicts, especially those involving Britain, and the British Empire. Year 1917 ( MCMXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Lambeth Road is a road in Lambeth (to the west and Southwark (to the east London SE1 running between Lambeth Bridge over the River SE1 is a postcode district in the SE postcode area of London England England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland This article refers to the the military historian for other Robert Crawfords see Disambiguation Sir Robert Crawford Lambeth North tube station is a London Underground station in the neighbourhood of Lambeth, at the junction of Westminster Bridge Road and Baylis Southwark tube station is a London Underground station on the corner of Blackfriars Road and The Cut in the London Borough of Southwark. Elephant & Castle tube station, is a station on the London Underground system The Cabinet War Rooms now known as the Churchill Museum, were constructed in 1938 and were heavily used by Winston Churchill during World War II. Early history The Town class cruisers were constrained to less than 10000 tons by the Washington Naval Treaty. The Imperial War Museum Duxford in Cambridgeshire, England, commonly referred to simply as 'Duxford', houses the Imperial War Museum 's The Imperial War Museum North is a War museum at The Quays Trafford Wharf Trafford Park, Greater Manchester M17 1TZ England, a part of A museum is a "permanent institution in the service of society and of its development open to the public which acquires conserves researches communicates and exhibits the London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power. The museum serves as headquarters of a 5-branch system of related facilities. Funding comes partially from government grants as well as individual contributions and revenue generation through retailing, licensing income and other commercial activity.

In addition to material artifact holdings, the Imperial War Museum archives houses a large collection of oral recordings of interviews with people who were affected by war in the 20th Century. The twentieth century of the Common Era began on The sound archive has been used for a series of radio programmes and books, called Forgotten Voices, about war in the 20th century, including Forgotten Voices of the Great War and Forgotten Voices of the Holocaust. Radio is the transmission of signals by Modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible Light. A series of audio tapes and books put together by the Imperial War Museum, the Forgotten Voices series brings the IWM 's sound archive to life The twentieth century of the Common Era began on Forgotten Voices of the Great War is a collection of interviews with people who lived through the first World War Forgotten Voices of the Holocaust is a collection of interviews with victims of the Holocaust as well as people who collaborated with or worked directly for the

Since 1995, the museum's Director General has been Sir Robert Crawford, CBE. This article refers to the the military historian for other Robert Crawfords see Disambiguation Sir Robert Crawford The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V.

History

Originally located inside the Imperial Institute (now Imperial College), the Imperial War Museum was moved temporarily to the Crystal Palace, located atop Sydenham Hill. The Commonwealth Institute is an educational charity loosely connected with the Commonwealth of Nations, and the name of a building in West London formerly owned by the Institute Imperial College London (officially The Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine as given in its Royal Charter It is one of only three universities to have reached The Crystal Palace was a cast-iron and Glass building originally erected in Hyde Park, London, England, to house the Sydenham Hill is a hill locality and road situated on the boundary of the London Borough of Southwark and the London Borough of Lewisham, with the road marking The Museum was founded there in 1917 to commemorate those who had died in the First World War, even though the war had not yet been concluded. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All When that building burned down on 30 November 1936, a new location was found in Lambeth Road, Southwark. Events 1700 - Battle of Narva — A Swedish army of 8500 men under Charles XII defeats Year 1936 ( MCMXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. That building, designed by Sydney Smirke, had originally been a psychiatric hospital, Bethlem Royal Hospital (otherwise known as "Bedlam"), located in St. George's Fields. Sydney Smirke ( 1798 - 8 December[[ 877]] was London born English Architect during the 19th century A psychiatric hospital (previously called insane asylum, mental hospital; or derogatorily looney bin, nut house or Funny Farm) is The Bethlem Royal Hospital of London, which has been variously known as St St George's Fields was an area of Southwark in South London. Originally the area was an undifferentiated part of the south-side of the Thames which was low In 1939, the Museum began including displays relating to the Second World War, and then finally in 1953 it began its current policy of including memorabilia from all modern British conflicts. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including

Visiting the museum

Entrance is free, though there may be charges for special exhibits. Donations are encouraged. It is open daily, 10. 00 am – 6. 00 pm.

Other branches

The Museum serves as headquarters of a five-branch series of inter-related museums located throughout the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The other branches include:

• The Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms [2]

Located in the bunker which was operational nerve centre of the British government during World War 2. The Cabinet War Rooms now known as the Churchill Museum, were constructed in 1938 and were heavily used by Winston Churchill during World War II. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including

• HMS Belfast [3]

A light cruiser moored in the Thames. Early history The Town class cruisers were constrained to less than 10000 tons by the Washington Naval Treaty. A cruiser is a large type of Warship, which had its prime period from the late 19th century to the end of the Cold War. The Thames ( is a major River flowing through southern England.

• The Imperial War Museum Duxford, Cambridge [4]

An aerospace museum, including many military aircraft. The Imperial War Museum Duxford in Cambridgeshire, England, commonly referred to simply as 'Duxford', houses the Imperial War Museum 's The city of Cambridge (ˈkeɪmbrɪdʒ is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England This article is about the field of research and industry for the corporation see The Aerospace Corporation Aerospace comprises the

• The Imperial War Museum North (Manchester) [5]

Opened in 2002 to provide access to the people of the North to the museum's collections. The Imperial War Museum North is a War museum at The Quays Trafford Wharf Trafford Park, Greater Manchester M17 1TZ England, a part of

Selected exhibition items

Fragment of the Berlin Wall	A replica of the Colditz "Cock" Glider	P-51 Mustang	Sherman III tank
Heinkel He 162A-1	Jagdpanther tank destroyer, frontal view	An exhibit on espionage	A Korean war exhibit
"Ole Bill", a LGOC B-type bus

See also

• Forgotten Voices of the Great War
• Forgotten Voices of the Holocaust
• Forgotten Voices of the Second World War
• Forgotten Voices of the Blitz and the Battle of Britain
• Forgotten Voices of the Falklands

External links

• Official website of the Imperial War Museum
• Location map from streetmap.co.uk
• Historical picture of Bethlem Royal Hospital (current location of the IWM)
• 1999 - Mario Petrucci becomes the Museum's first poet in residence
• Information on the 15" guns outside the museum's main entrance
• The Forgotten Voices website