Manchester Museum is part of the University of Manchester. Its collections include more than six million artifacts, and the Museum performs functions as a research center and Museum, open to the public.

The origins of the Museum formed the collections of the Manchester Natural History Society and the Manchester Geological society, collected in the nineteenth century. In 1867 due to financial difficulties the company has transferred these collections Owen College (now University of Manchester). For the construction of the new building of the Museum of the College was invited by Alfred Waterhouse, the author of the architectural project of the London Natural History Museum.

In 1912, the exposition of the Museum has expanded considerably due to the "Egyptian collection", donated to the Museum by local industrialist Jesse Howarth, who has sponsored archaeological excavations and studies.

The Museum is constantly expanding, acquiring new exhibits and increasing its area. In 1997, the Museum received a grant in 12, £ 5 million, and in 2003 opened after extensive renovations. Recent high-profile acquisition of the Museum - a replica of the skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, nicknamed Stan.

The Museum is famous for its entomological and mineralogical collections, and the collection of shellfish is the most extensive in the UK.

Of particular interest is the collection dedicated to the art of archery and with more than 2,000 exhibits from Europe, Asia and Africa.