The Fort Museum is a building in the premise of the Fort St. George in Chennai. The building was opened to public on 31st January 1948. In the initial years the museum only comprised a small collection of the objects of British raj which was donated by the Madras Presidency Government of that time. With the passage of time the museum has managed to collect many objects from different means.
At present the Fort Museum comprises 3661 registered antiquities collected from various sources. The best among these collections are kept on display in ten galleries. Fort Museum housed in the Fort St. George, is one of the oldest surviving buildings built within the fort. The construction of the building was completed in 1795 and at present it serves as the location for Madras Bank. The museum building boasts of a history of its own.
All the collections are displayed in the ten galleries and are spread over three floors. Among its collections one beautiful marble statue of Lord Cornwallis attracts the visitors coming to the museum. Other attractions include a statue carved by Thomas Banks and financed by public raised funds. What is special about this statue is that it depicts the picture of surrender of two sons of Tipu as hostages. The lobby of the Fort Museum contains drawings showing the stages of constructions and renovations from 1640 onwards.
Several other collections in the museum include swords, daggers, petard, rifles and pistols, mortars, cannon shots, helmets, breast plates, baton, and fragments of shells fired in defence of Madras preventing against the attack during the World Wars. Other than these the museum also comprises native weapons like bow and arrow.
Visiting the Fort Museum the tourists also enjoy viewing the uniforms of different levels of the British Army, the Under Secretary of Madras Government and ceremonial clothes of Madras Governor's Bodyguards regimental colors of various units and cushions used in the official inauguration functions.
Among the collections of the fort museum, the porcelain products also gather attention of visitors. The portrait gallery in fort museum holds an extensive collection of oil paintings on canvas including those of George III, Queen Victoria and Robert Clive, Sir Arthur Havelock and others. Paintings from 1738 also attract attention of the visitors.
The Indo-French Gallery section of the museum exhibits clocks, fine, decorated porcelain, stamps and coins issued by the French in India, ancient furnitures, lampshades and clocks.
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