Drum roll please… all your votes have been counted, and we are excited to announce that Gerald the Giraffe is your favourite RAMM object!
The striking Samurai armour came second, while the ancient meteorite followed in third place.
This summer we launched Treasures of the Museum, an exciting trail highlighting sixteen of the museum’s most iconic objects. After taking part in the trail or exploring the objects online, we asked you to vote for your favourite.
The iconic giraffe received 102 out of 371 total votes. Standing at 17 feet tall, Gerald has won the hearts of children and adults alike ever since he first took up residency at RAMM over 100 years ago.
Celebrate Gerald with volunteer Alison Neely as she remembers what the giraffe meant to her as a child. Learn more about Gerald’s origins and discover how he was transported to his new home in the museum. Watch the video.
Although Gerald has been crowned the winner, all of RAMM’s collections are equally treasured, each with a unique story to tell about our shared history. Comprising of over one million individual objects and specimens from all over the globe, the collections contain items of local, national and international importance, and many are of outstanding historical or cultural significance.
Julien Parsons, Senior Collections Officer, says:
‘The Treasures of the Museum trail offers a wonderful opportunity for our visitors to discover fascinating objects in person, a real treat after the closures caused by the pandemic. The trail highlights RAMM’s rich and distinctive collections, connecting local people to their shared history and contributing to a greater sense of pride in their city. Gerald the Giraffe is a deserving winner and much loved mascot of our brilliant museum.’
You can still have a go at the Treasures of the Museum trail by downloading it on your smartphone using Time Trail. Download the trail here.
A range of giraffe inspired gifts can be purchased in the Shop at RAMM…and don’t forget that you can enjoy remembering all the Treasures of the Museum on a Treasures tea towel!
Treasures of the Museum is supported by the government’s Culture Recovery Fund.
