King George Lays Foundation Stone Mumbai – Old Print 1905
This page is from the Black & White journal dating to 9th December 1905. Measures 14 x 11 in. The title reads- The Royal Visit To India: The Prince Of Wales Lays The Foundation-Stone Of The New Museum, Bombay. King George V (Prince of Wales) and Queen Mary in 1905-06 had a four-month busy tour of India.
Despite the hectic tour, their itinerary included the laying of the foundation stone of a new museum in Bombay or Mumbai. As shown in the image of this antique print. The Museum would be named The Prince Of Wales Museum. The museum was intended to be a permanent memorial on the King’s visit to India.
Completed in 1914, the Museum was converted into a military hospital in WW1 up till the end of the war. By 1920 the Governor’s wife, Lady Lloyd, formally opened the Museum. George Wittet the British architect designed the building in the Indo-Saracenic style. See my post- Vintage Postcard Bombay Prince of Wales Museum. Read also- Mumbai History.
Did you know- the construction of the Gateway of India commenced in 1913 and completed in 1924 in recognition on King George V’s arrival.
From the collection- Antique Stereo Photo British Era Postman., Old Book – From Lisbon To Calicut 1956., Vintage Raja Ravi Varma “Saraswati” Oleograph., Antique Print Madras Railway Goods Engine.
