Musetim Statistics 



385 



There are, exclusive of the great National Museums, but 

 three which, according to the Directory, are visited by half 

 a million or more people annually, viz. : — 



Glasgow Art Gallery, 1,440,000. 



Birmingham Museum, 750,000. 



People's Palace at Glasgow, 500,000. 



The number of visitors to the Free Public Museums at 

 Liverpool was 498,000 in 1903; it is probably in excess of 

 half a million now. It should also be noted that the White- 

 chapel Art Gallery during the seventeen weeks it was open in 

 1903 was visited by 360,000 people. 



Twenty-seven museums, other than the National Museums, 

 have an average attendance in excess of 100,000, and less than 

 500,000, whilst twenty-two register an attendance in excess of 

 50,000, but less than 100,000. 



It is probable that some of the statistics are not to be 

 relied upon, but at Birmingham (700,000 to 800,000), Brad- 

 ford (360,000), and Bolton (275,000), the attendances are 

 registered by turnstiles. 



The three museums at Glasgow, viz., the Art Gallery, the 

 People's Palace, and the Camphill Gallery are together visited 

 annually by more than two millions ! 



The Belfast Museum of Natural History, belonging to the 

 Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society, is visited by 

 4,000 to 5,000 people yearly. Its collections illustrate for the 

 most part local natural history, ethnology, and archaeology. 



The Belfast Corporation Art Gallery and Museum, con- 

 taining pictures, minerals, shells, glass, pottery, &c, and Irish 

 prehistoric antiquities, is visited by about 350,000 people 

 annually. 



At Chester the visitors are about 10,000 to 12,000 annually. 

 " The visits of students amount to 100,000." 



At Ilkley a separate register has apparently been kept of 

 local attendances. It is stated in 1902 that 3,999 people 

 visited the museum, " of these 593 were local people." 



The following items are not cheering : — 



