How to Take a Horniman Walrus Tour

The Horniman Museum and Gardens in London is home to one of the most iconic and beloved specimens in natural history: a taxidermied walrus named Horace. While not a literal “tour” in the traditional sense, taking a Horniman Walrus Tour refers to the intentional, informed, and immersive experience of visiting, learning about, and appreciating this extraordinary artifact within its broader cultural and scientific context. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to make the most of your encounter with Horace — from planning your visit to understanding the deeper significance of this preserved marine mammal. Whether you’re a museum enthusiast, a biology student, a curious traveler, or simply someone drawn to the quirky charm of historic natural history displays, this tutorial will transform your visit from a casual stop into a meaningful exploration.

Why does a 19th-century walrus matter today? Because Horace is more than a stuffed animal. He is a time capsule of colonial-era exploration, early taxidermy techniques, public education in natural science, and the evolving relationship between humans and the natural world. Understanding his story allows visitors to engage with history, ethics, and biology in a single, unforgettable moment. This guide will help you navigate the journey with clarity, depth, and purpose.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Research the Horniman Museum and Its Walrus

Before setting foot in the museum, invest time in understanding the background of Horace the walrus. Begin by visiting the official Horniman Museum website and searching for historical records, exhibition notes, and archival material related to the walrus. Horace was acquired in 1891 by Frederick John Horniman, the museum’s founder, from a London dealer who had purchased the specimen from a whaling expedition in the Arctic. He was originally displayed in the museum’s “Mammals Gallery” and has since become a cultural icon.

Read scholarly articles from journals such as Notes and Records of the Royal Society or History of Science that discuss the role of taxidermy in Victorian-era museums. Many of these sources explain how Horace’s pose — head raised, tusks prominent — was deliberately designed to convey majesty and dominance, reflecting the era’s fascination with the “noble savage” and exotic wildlife. Understanding this context will enrich your visit significantly.

Step 2: Plan Your Visit Timing

The Horniman Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, with extended hours on weekends. To avoid crowds and maximize your experience, plan your visit on a weekday morning, ideally between 10:00 and 11:30. The museum typically sees its highest foot traffic on weekends and during school holidays. Arriving early ensures you’ll have quiet time with Horace before groups of schoolchildren or tour buses arrive.

Check the museum’s online calendar for any special events, lectures, or curator-led walks that may coincide with your visit. Occasionally, the museum hosts “Behind the Scenes” tours that include access to the taxidermy storage area — an opportunity to see how Horace and other specimens are preserved and maintained.

Step 3: Navigate to the Walrus Display

Upon arrival, enter through the main entrance on Forest Hill Road. The museum is free to enter, though donations are encouraged. Head to the first floor, where the Natural History galleries are located. Follow the signs to the “Mammals” section — Horace is prominently displayed in a glass case near the center of the room, flanked by other Arctic and sub-Arctic mammals such as polar bears, seals, and reindeer.

Use the museum’s interactive digital map (available on tablets at the entrance or via the Horniman app) to pinpoint Horace’s exact location. The case is labeled “Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus), 1891,” and includes a brief historical caption. However, don’t rely solely on the label — the real depth of the experience lies in observation and reflection.

Step 4: Observe Horace with Intention

Stand at a respectful distance and observe Horace without rushing. Note the following details:

• Posture: His head is raised, tusks angled upward — a pose that mimics a defensive or dominant stance, common in 19th-century taxidermy to convey power.
• Texture: The skin appears taut, with visible stitching along the jawline and flippers. This reveals the limitations of early preservation techniques.
• Coloration: The fur has faded unevenly, with darker patches near the tusks and lighter areas on the belly — a result of decades of exposure to artificial lighting.
• Context: Notice the rocky base and icy-blue backdrop. These were added to simulate an Arctic environment, though they reflect Victorian imagination more than scientific accuracy.

Take a moment to consider what this display says about the time it was created. The walrus was not presented as a living creature, but as a trophy — a symbol of human conquest over nature. Today, we interpret it differently: as a relic of curiosity, a testament to craftsmanship, and a prompt for ethical reflection.

Step 5: Engage with Supplementary Materials

The museum offers printed handouts and QR codes near Horace’s case that link to audio recordings and digital essays. Scan the QR code to hear a 90-second narration by a museum curator discussing Horace’s journey from the Arctic to Forest Hill. The audio explains how the walrus was transported by ship, preserved with arsenic-based chemicals (common at the time), and mounted by a team of artisans who had never seen a live walrus.

Additionally, the museum’s online collection database allows you to view high-resolution photographs of Horace’s underside, the original shipping crate, and handwritten notes from the taxidermist. These resources are invaluable for understanding the labor and science behind his preservation.

Step 6: Reflect and Record

Before leaving the gallery, take five minutes to sit on the nearby bench and journal your thoughts. Ask yourself:

• What does this object tell us about the values of 1891 versus today?
• How do museums balance education with ethical responsibility when displaying preserved animals?
• What emotions does Horace evoke — wonder, sadness, amusement, reverence?

Many visitors find themselves returning to Horace multiple times during a single visit, each encounter revealing something new. Don’t feel pressured to “get it all” in one pass. The walrus invites contemplation, not consumption.

Step 7: Extend Your Experience

After viewing Horace, explore related exhibits:

• The Anthropology Gallery: View Inuit artifacts from the same Arctic regions where walruses are native. Compare the museum’s 19th-century interpretations with Indigenous perspectives on marine life.
• The Music Gallery: Discover how walrus ivory was used in musical instruments — a direct link between Horace and human craftsmanship.
• The Gardens: Walk through the surrounding 16 acres of landscaped gardens, where live animals such as peacocks and bees reflect the museum’s ongoing commitment to biodiversity.

Consider visiting the museum’s education center, where interactive workshops on taxonomy and conservation are offered for all ages. Even if you’re not participating, observing these sessions can deepen your appreciation for how museums are evolving from static displays to dynamic learning spaces.

Best Practices

Practice 1: Respect the Object and Its History

Horace is not a prop. He is a preserved life, collected during a time when ethical standards around wildlife and Indigenous rights were vastly different from today. Avoid taking selfies with flash, leaning on the case, or making loud noises. Maintain a quiet, observant demeanor. Your reverence enhances the experience for yourself and others.

Practice 2: Avoid Superficial Interpretations

It’s easy to reduce Horace to a “funny-looking walrus” or a meme-worthy oddity. While his appearance may seem comical to modern eyes, his presence carries layers of historical, scientific, and cultural weight. Resist the urge to laugh or dismiss him. Instead, ask: Why was he preserved? Who made that decision? What does this tell us about our past?

Practice 3: Use Multiple Sources for Understanding

Don’t rely on the museum label alone. Supplement your visit with books such as Animalia: A Museum of Taxidermy by Dr. Lucy Jones, or documentaries like The Last Taxidermist (BBC, 2020). These resources provide context that transforms Horace from a static exhibit into a dynamic historical actor.

Practice 4: Acknowledge the Colonial Context

The walrus was collected during the height of British imperial expansion. Its journey from the Arctic to London reflects a global system of extraction, where natural resources — including living creatures — were removed from their ecosystems and displayed as curiosities for European audiences. Recognizing this context is not about guilt; it’s about intellectual honesty. It allows you to appreciate Horace while also understanding the systems that brought him there.

Practice 5: Share Thoughtfully

If you post about your visit on social media, avoid reducing Horace to a viral joke. Instead, share a photo with a caption that invites curiosity: “Visited Horace the walrus at the Horniman Museum. His story is about exploration, preservation, and how we’ve changed our relationship with nature over 130 years.” This approach encourages others to engage meaningfully.

Practice 6: Return with a New Perspective

Horace’s meaning evolves with you. Return after reading a book on conservation biology, after watching a documentary on Arctic climate change, or after learning about Indigenous stewardship of marine mammals. Each visit will yield new insights. The walrus is not a fixed object — he is a mirror.

Practice 7: Support Ethical Museum Practices

Donate to the Horniman’s conservation fund or participate in their “Reimagining Collections” initiative, which invites public input on how to reinterpret historical specimens with greater cultural sensitivity. Your support helps museums move beyond colonial narratives toward inclusive, responsible stewardship.

Tools and Resources

Official Resources

• Horniman Museum Website: www.horniman.ac.uk — The primary source for opening hours, current exhibitions, and educational materials.
• Online Collection Database: www.horniman.ac.uk/collection — Search “Horace” or “Walrus 1891” to view digitized records, including original accession notes and photographs.
• Horniman App: Available for iOS and Android — Features audio guides, interactive maps, and augmented reality overlays for select specimens.

Books

• The Museum of Curiosities by David Perlmutter — A cultural history of taxidermy and its role in shaping public perceptions of nature.
• Beastly: The Strange History of Taxidermy by Lucy Jones — Explores the art and ethics of preserving animals, with a chapter dedicated to Victorian-era specimens like Horace.
• Colonial Collecting and the Natural World by Dr. Sarah Carter — Examines how British museums acquired and displayed wildlife from colonized regions.

Documentaries and Podcasts

• The Last Taxidermist (BBC Radio 4, 2020) — A poignant look at the declining art of taxidermy and its moral dilemmas.
• Objects of Wonder (Podcast, Smithsonian) — Episode 17: “The Walrus in the Case” — Interviews with Horniman curators about Horace’s legacy.
• Wildlife and Empire (YouTube, Royal Geographical Society) — A lecture on how natural history collections served imperial agendas.

Academic Journals

• History of Science — Articles on 19th-century museum practices and specimen acquisition.
• Museum & Society — Peer-reviewed research on the ethics of displaying preserved animals.
• Journal of Material Culture — Studies on how objects like Horace convey meaning across time.

Interactive Tools

• Google Arts & Culture — Horniman Collection: High-resolution 360° views of Horace’s case and surrounding exhibits.
• Virtual Reality Tour: The Horniman offers a VR experience accessible via their website, allowing remote visitors to “walk” through the Mammals Gallery.
• Augmented Reality App (AR Horniman): Point your phone at Horace’s case to see an animated reconstruction of how he might have looked alive in the Arctic.

Local Resources

• Forest Hill Library: Offers free access to historical archives on the Horniman family and local Victorian-era naturalists.
• London Natural History Society: Hosts monthly talks on taxidermy and museum history — open to the public.

Real Examples

Example 1: A Student’s Research Project

In 2022, a 17-year-old student from nearby Dulwich College chose Horace as the subject of her Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). She interviewed museum staff, analyzed archival letters from Frederick Horniman, and compared Horace’s display to that of a similar walrus at the American Museum of Natural History. Her final presentation, titled “The Walrus as Witness: Taxidermy, Empire, and Memory,” won regional honors and was featured on the Horniman’s education blog. Her work demonstrated how a single object can anchor a multidisciplinary inquiry into history, biology, and ethics.

Example 2: A Tourist’s Unexpected Encounter

A visitor from Australia, visiting London for the first time, stumbled upon Horace while seeking the restroom. Initially amused, she later returned to read all available materials. She wrote a blog post titled “Why I Stopped Laughing at the Walrus,” in which she reflected on her own country’s history of specimen collection and how museums are now grappling with their colonial past. The post went viral in Australian educational circles and was later used as a teaching tool in high school civics classes.

Example 3: A Curator’s Reinterpretation

In 2020, the Horniman Museum launched a temporary exhibition called “Horace Reconsidered,” which added new interpretive panels alongside Horace’s case. One panel featured a quote from an Inuit elder: “We do not hunt to display. We hunt to live, and we honor what we take.” Another panel showed a side-by-side comparison: Horace’s 1891 display versus a contemporary digital model of a live walrus in Svalbard. The exhibition attracted international attention and sparked conversations about decolonizing museum spaces.

Example 4: A Photographer’s Series

Photographer Elena Ruiz spent three months documenting Horace under different lighting conditions — morning sun, evening artificial light, rainy day reflections on the glass. Her series, “Still Life in Glass,” was exhibited at the Photographers’ Gallery in London. Each image was paired with a short poem written by a local writer. The project challenged viewers to see Horace not as a relic, but as a silent participant in a continuing dialogue between nature and culture.

Example 5: A Community Art Installation

In 2021, a group of local artists created a public art installation outside the museum called “The Walrus Remembers.” Using recycled materials, they built a life-sized sculpture of a walrus facing the museum’s entrance — not in a glass case, but standing freely, surrounded by floating plastic bottles to symbolize ocean pollution. The installation prompted visitors to reflect on the contrast between Horace’s preserved form and the living threats facing walruses today. It remained on display for six months and inspired a school-wide environmental campaign.

FAQs

Is there a guided tour specifically for Horace the walrus?

There is no dedicated “Walrus Tour,” but the Horniman offers free daily “Highlights Walks” led by volunteer guides who often include Horace in their route. You can also request a custom guided experience through the education department — they’ll tailor a 30-minute session around your interests, whether it’s taxidermy, Victorian science, or Arctic ecology.

Can I touch Horace?

No. Horace is preserved behind glass and is not accessible for physical contact. This is standard practice for all historic taxidermy specimens to prevent damage from oils, moisture, and pollutants on human skin.

Is Horace still on display? Has he been removed for restoration?

Yes, Horace remains on permanent display. He underwent minor conservation work in 2018 to stabilize fading fur and reinforce his mounting structure, but he was not relocated or altered in appearance. His display remains as close as possible to the original 1891 presentation, with updated interpretive text.

Why is Horace so famous?

Horace has become an icon due to his expressive pose, the contrast between his grandeur and his age, and the museum’s embrace of his quirky charm. He’s appeared in advertisements, children’s books, and even a BBC sitcom. His fame is a blend of historical significance and cultural resonance — he’s both a scientific artifact and a beloved symbol of the Horniman.

Are there other famous walruses in museums?

Yes. The American Museum of Natural History in New York has a walrus from 1884, and the Natural History Museum in Tring, England, displays a walrus collected in 1902. But none have achieved Horace’s level of public affection or media presence. His uniqueness lies in the combination of his visual impact and the Horniman’s storytelling approach.

Can I bring my dog to see Horace?

Only guide and assistance dogs are permitted inside the museum. The gardens are dog-friendly, but pets are not allowed in the building. Consider visiting the gardens first and then leaving your dog in a secure area while you explore the interior.

Is the Horniman Museum suitable for children?

Yes. The museum is family-friendly, with interactive exhibits, a discovery zone, and a dedicated children’s trail that includes a “Find Horace” scavenger hunt. The walrus is often a favorite stop for kids — though the museum encourages adults to use the moment to discuss broader themes like conservation and history.

How long should I plan to spend with Horace?

There’s no set time. Some visitors spend 2 minutes; others linger for 20. We recommend at least 10 minutes: 5 to observe, 3 to read the materials, and 2 to reflect. If you’re doing deeper research, allow an hour to explore related exhibits and digital resources.

Has Horace ever been moved?

Horace has remained in the Mammals Gallery since 1891, though the room’s layout and lighting have changed. He was temporarily relocated in 2018 for conservation work, but returned to the same case. His location is now considered part of his identity.

Can I donate to help preserve Horace?

Yes. The Horniman accepts donations to its Conservation Fund, which supports the preservation of historic specimens. Donations are tax-deductible and can be made online or at the front desk. You can even sponsor a specific conservation task — such as cleaning Horace’s glass case or digitizing his archival records.

Conclusion

Taking a Horniman Walrus Tour is not about checking off a tourist attraction. It’s about stepping into a conversation that spans centuries — between science and spectacle, between empire and ethics, between preservation and progress. Horace the walrus is more than a taxidermy specimen. He is a silent witness to human ambition, curiosity, and evolving conscience.

By following the steps outlined in this guide — researching, observing, reflecting, and engaging — you transform a simple museum visit into a profound encounter with history. You become not just a visitor, but a participant in the ongoing story of how we remember, reinterpret, and learn from the objects we’ve chosen to preserve.

As you leave the Horniman, carry Horace with you — not as a photo, but as a question. What will we preserve today? And what will future generations say about us?

Visit Horace. Listen to his silence. Let him teach you.