The Royal Institution of Cornwall – the organisation that owns and manages the Royal Cornwall Museum and Courtney Library – was founded in 1818 for ‘the promotion of knowledge in natural history, ethnology and the fine and industrial arts, especially in relation to Cornwall’. This is still at the heart of everything we do, from collecting, display, exhibitions, education, publishing and our outreach programmes. For the RIC's 2011-12 Annual Accounts please click here. To view of copy of the RIC Memorandum and Articles please click here

The Royal Cornwall Museum

Over the years generous benefactors have donated an amazing array of objects, broadening the collection so that it covers for example Egyptology (hence our famous unwrapped mummy), fine art and world cultures, as well as classical Greek and Roman objects. The Rashleigh Gallery contains a world-famous collection of minerals, the core of which was amassed by Philip Rashleigh of Menabilly at the end of the 18th century. It includes the largest specimen of liroconite ever found, and a large gold nugget found at Perranarworthal. The Museum’s decorative arts collection and old master drawings are also very strong, the latter chiefly due to Alfred de Pass, another generous benefactor.

Admission Charges apply to enter the museum. Children, RIC Members, Art Fund members, Museum Association members and Cornwall Heritage Volunteers are free, all other adults must pay £4.50 for an annual pass that allows free entry for 12 months.