Fort Museum In Chennai

Fort Museum is one of the most charming places in our city. On this site originally stood the house of Peter Massey Cassin, a free merchant a term which meant that he was not in the employment of the East India Company but was actively running a probably illegal trade from which he and the Company employees benefited.

About Fort Museum :

Fort Museum, established in 1948, is situated within the ramparts of the St George Fort in Chennai. It is under the management of Archeological Survey of India (ASI). The Museum showcases collections of archeologically valued materials. The Fort Museum has a fascinating collection of memorabilia from the British and French East India companies as well as the Raj and Muslim period. The museum showcases arms, uniforms, medals, porcelains, coins, manuscripts.

Attraction Fort Museum In Chennai :

Features Fort Museum In Chennai :

The Fort St. George Museum was organised and opened to the public from 31st January 1948. The museum began with a small collection of objects of the British Raj donated by the then Madras Presidency Government, the St. Mary’s Church authorities, the disbanded army units and others. Over the years many objects were acquired by various means and there are now 3661 registered antiquities in the collection. Best among them (602) are on display in ten galleries.
Arms like swords, daggers, rifles and pistols, mortars, petard, cannon shots, breast plates, helmets, baton, and fragments of shells fired at and in defence of Madras during the freak attacks during the World Wars, besides native weapons like bow and arrow.
The uniforms of various ranks of the British Army, ceremonial dress of Madras Governor’s Bodyguards and the Under Secretary of Madras Government, regimental colours of various units and cushions used in the official investiture ceremony and about 64 medals and medallions issued by the British Government for honouring its soldiers in various battles they fought in the Indian sub-continent are displayed in the Uniform and Medals Gallery.The building housing the museum is one of the oldest surviving buildings built within the fort. The building was completed in 1795 and served as the location for Madras Bank. The museum building has a history of its own.
The antiquities are displayed in ten galleries spread over three floors. An imposing marble statue of Lord Cornwallis (1738-1805) greets the visitors. The statue, carved by Thomas Banks, was financed by funds raised from the public, depicts the scene of surrender of two sons of Tippu as hostages The lobby contains drawings showing the stages of constructions and renovations from 1640 onwards.

History Fort Museum :

The museum at Fort St. George contains some fascinating items belonging to the early days of the British East India company and the colonial period. It was established on January 1948, with a collection of objects of the British era received from the then Madras Presidency Government, the Madras Government Museum, St. Mary’s Church and disbanded army units. It has 10 galleries displaying historic and artistic pieces over 3600 in number. A tall marble statue of Lord Cornwallis with the two captive sons of Tipu Sultan graces the entrance. The old uniforms, weapons, coins, padlocks, old prints and palanquins are displayed here. The banquet hall upstairs has a collection of paintings of the governors and officials of the British regime. It is now maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. The Museum opens from10am to 5pm on Saturday to Thursday.

Timings :

10 AM to 5 PM ; Weekly Holiday: Friday

Contact :

Fort Museum,
Fort St.George, Chennai – 600009
Phone :+91-44-2567 1127