In 1867 an institute was formed with one central objective: ‘the promotion of art, science and literature by means of a museum and library’.

Come and learn more about Auckland Museum Institute’s forward-thinking founders and their pivotal role in laying the foundations for this Museum and its world-class collections in this display celebrating the Institute's 150th anniversary.

Delve into the connections between Charles Darwin and the Museum’s earliest curator and botanist Thomas Cheeseman - a rare chance to see their correspondence first-hand.