History of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

Opened in 1885, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery contains over forty galleries and two major exhibition spaces. The whole building is listed Grade II*.

The first building of 1885, designed by Yeoville Thomason (1826-1901), was purpose built and formed part of the Council House. The original designs are held in the Yeoville Archive in Birmingham Central Library. The second larger building, formed part of the Council House Extension of 1911 1919. The extension increased the number of galleries from four to over forty!

Birmingham Museum and the Town Hall

The building was bomb damaged in 1940, during repair work, original roofs and structures were concealed. During the1950s some of the building was adapted for other purposes reducing gallery space. Between 1980 and 1986, galleries were reinstated, original fittings and interiors were exposed and restored.

Opened in 1993, the Gas Hall was previously part of the Gas Department. Now refurbished and developed as the Museum and Art Gallery's major exhibition gallery. In 2001, the Waterhall, once part of the Water Department was refurbished, creating another major exhibition gallery.

Major projects of restoration and new development are planned over the next few years. BMAG looks forward to a future of creating new and exciting galleries to show more of the collections. To find out more please vist the Birmingham History Galleries page.

An illustrated account of the first 100 years of the Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery can be found in -
Davies, S., By the Gains of Industry, Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery 1885-1985, ISBN 0709301316