History
The Victoria Memorial is a massive building made of marble located in Kolkata, India. It was built from 1906 to 1921. Construction was funded by many India states, people of the British Raj, and the British government in London. In total, it cost about ten million dollars. It was later turned into a museum.
Who built it?
The Victoria Memorial was built by William Emmerson and the gardens were designed by Lord Redesdale and David Prain. The design includes a mixture of British, Mughal, Venetian, Egyptian, and Islamic architectural influences. The building itself is made of white Makrana marble.
Why was it built?
The Victoria Memorial was built as a dedication to the memory of Queen Victoria.
How big is it?
The building is 338 ft. by 228 ft. and has a height of 184 ft. On top of the central dome there is a a figure of the Angel of Victory which is 16 ft tall. In total the memorial has 25 galleries, such as the he Royal gallery, the National Leaders gallery, the Portrait gallery, Central hall, the Sculpture gallery, the Arms and Armoury gallery, and Calcutta gallery.
The Royal gallery contains contains portraits of Queen Victoria and and her husband Prince Albert.The museum contains many different illustrations showing Queen Victoria's life.
Fun Facts
- The memorial was first opened to the public on December 21, 1921 by the Duke of Windsor.
- Soon after India gained independence in 1947, a National Leaders Gallery consisting of portraits and relics of the freedom fighters was added to the memorial to try and preserve national pride.
Connections
Queen Victoria is connected to the memorial because it was built for her.
Sources
- http://mocomi.com/victoria-memorial-facts/
- http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-monuments/victoria-memorial.html
- http://www.victoriamemorial-cal.org
- http://www.culturalindia.net/monuments/victoria-memorial.html
- http://www.aviewoncities.com/london/victoriamemorial.htm