The British Museum is one of London’s most recognizable cultural landmarks, drawing millions of visitors yearly who come to see centuries of human history under one massive glass roof.
This quiz covers its 1753 founding, famous pieces like the Rosetta Stone, and the ongoing international custody disputes over some of its highly valued antiquities.
After finishing, visit our guides on museums and galleries, explore the world’s most famous historic places, or read about stunning famous buildings around the globe.
In which city is the British Museum located?
Paris
Paris
London
London
New York City
New York City
Berlin
Berlin
In what year was the British Museum founded?
1743
1743
1773
1773
1753
1753
1763
1763
What is the long-standing admission policy for the British Museum’s permanent collection?
Entry by subscription only
Entry by subscription only
Paid ticket entry
Paid ticket entry
Free admission for all visitors
Free admission for all visitors
Members-only access
Members-only access
Whose bequest of a vast collection of objects formed the founding nucleus of the British Museum?
King George III
King George III
Thomas Bruce
Thomas Bruce
Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Hans Sloane
Hans Sloane
The British Museum is world-renowned for hosting one of the largest collections of what type of historical items?
Modern technology
Modern technology
Space exploration artifacts
Space exploration artifacts
Victorian-era furniture
Victorian-era furniture
Egyptian antiquity
Egyptian antiquity
Which artifact provided the key to deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics?
Sutton Hoo helmet
Sutton Hoo helmet
Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone
Lewis Chessmen
Lewis Chessmen
Parthenon Sculptures
Parthenon Sculptures
The Rosetta Stone contains inscriptions in how many different scripts?
Five
Five
Four
Four
Three
Three
Two
Two
What are the three scripts inscribed on the Rosetta Stone?
Demotic, Hieroglyphic, and Greek
Demotic, Hieroglyphic, and Greek
Latin, Hebrew, and Arabic
Latin, Hebrew, and Arabic
Coptic, Aramaic, and Phoenician
Coptic, Aramaic, and Phoenician
Sanskrit, Persian, and Greek
Sanskrit, Persian, and Greek
The controversial marble sculptures taken from the Parthenon in Athens are commonly named after which British diplomat?
Duke of Wellington
Duke of Wellington
Lord Elgin
Lord Elgin
Lord Nelson
Lord Nelson
Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte
To which modern-day country do the Parthenon Sculptures originally belong?
Greece
Greece
Turkey
Turkey
Italy
Italy
Egypt
Egypt
What was the specific title of the man who removed the Parthenon Sculptures in the early 19th century?
5th Earl of Elgin
5th Earl of Elgin
8th Earl of Elgin
8th Earl of Elgin
6th Earl of Elgin
6th Earl of Elgin
7th Earl of Elgin
7th Earl of Elgin
Many modern cultural heritage restitution debates cite which international agreement regarding the illicit import and export of cultural property?
1970 UNESCO Convention
1970 UNESCO Convention
1960 UNESCO Convention
1960 UNESCO Convention
1980 UNESCO Convention
1980 UNESCO Convention
1990 UNESCO Convention
1990 UNESCO Convention
Which entity has been the most vocal long-term advocate for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures?
United Nations
United Nations
European Union
European Union
Greek Government
Greek Government
Vatican City
Vatican City
What was the name of the original building that housed the British Museum collection when it first opened in 1759?
Montagu House
Montagu House
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Tower of London
Tower of London
Who designed the iconic Great Court glass roof, which opened in 2000?
Sir Richard Rogers
Sir Richard Rogers
Zaha Hadid
Zaha Hadid
Lord Norman Foster
Lord Norman Foster
Frank Gehry
Frank Gehry
What is the name of the largest covered public square in Europe, located at the heart of the British Museum?
King’s Library
King’s Library
Reading Room
Reading Room
Great Court
Great Court
Duveen Gallery
Duveen Gallery
Which famous circular space in the museum was once the primary research hub for literary figures like Karl Marx and George Bernard Shaw?
Treasury Room
Treasury Room
Exhibition Hall
Exhibition Hall
Gallery of Enlightenment
Gallery of Enlightenment
Reading Room
Reading Room
Which significant archaeological find in Suffolk provided major insights into 7th-century Anglo-Saxon life?
Terracotta Army
Terracotta Army
Sutton Hoo burial ship
Sutton Hoo burial ship
Dead Sea Scrolls
Dead Sea Scrolls
Bayeux Tapestry
Bayeux Tapestry
When was the Rosetta Stone presented to the British Museum following the defeat of French forces in Egypt?
1804
1804
1802
1802
1799
1799
1801
1801
Which French scholar is most famously credited with the final breakthrough in deciphering the Rosetta Stone?
William Matthew Flinders Petrie
William Matthew Flinders Petrie
Jean-Francois Champollion
Jean-Francois Champollion
Thomas Young
Thomas Young
Howard Carter
Howard Carter
In what year did the British Parliament vote to purchase the Elgin Marbles for the British Museum?
1820
1820
1824
1824
1816
1816
1812
1812
The founding mission of the British Museum was heavily influenced by the intellectual ideals of which period?
The Enlightenment era
The Enlightenment era
The Tudor period
The Tudor period
The Victorian age
The Victorian age
The Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution
You can do better
Not bad
Great!
If you enjoyed this, check out our trivia on ancient sculpture, read about famous architects, or learn about global world capitals.





