Darwin@the Library info | Exhibit brochure (pdf)

H.M.S. Beagle, 1831–1836
The first books Darwin published resulted from his voyage on H.M.S. Beagle, which sailed around the world from 1831 to 1836. Robert Fitzroy captained this second surveying voyage of the ship with more than 35 sailors aboard. The chief mission of the voyage was to explore the southern portions of South America. A 22-year-old naturalist named Charles Darwin joined the expedition and made it the most noteworthy voyage of exploration of the 19th century.

The Beagle model on display was acquired by the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History for Darwin@the Museum, a joint exhibition held in fall 2009. Through the generosity of the Museum, the ship is now on indefinite loan to the History of Science Collections.

Model of H.M.S. Beagle, History of Science Collections lobby

The original H.M.S. Beagle was built as a 10-gun brig, almost exactly as long and as wide as the combined Roller Reading Room, Exhibit Lobby and Elevator Foyer of the History of Science Collections (approximately 100 x 25 feet). See Keith Stewart Thomson, HMS Beagle: The Story of Darwin’s Ship (Norton, 1995).

Darwin@the Library info | Exhibit brochure (pdf)