The Pitt Rivers Museum holds one of the world’s finest collections of ethnographic and archaeological objects from across the globe. It was founded in 1884 when General Pitt Rivers, an influential figure in the development of archaeology and evolutionary anthropology, gave his collection to the University of Oxford. The General's founding gift contained more than 18,000 objects but there are now over half a million. In addition to objects the collection includes extensive photographic and sound archives, which contain early records of great importance. The Museum continues to collect through donations, bequests, special purchases and through its staff and students, in the course of their fieldwork. Only a small number of pictures are on display at the Museum at any one time. Please check with the Museum before planning your visit to check if the painting you are interested in is on display. See the Museum website for information on research visits. There is free admission. The opening times are 10am–4.30pm, Tuesday to Sunday and bank holiday Mondays, 12pm–4.30pm.