Sherlock Holmes Museum
World's first museum dedicated to Sherlock Holmes.
The Sherlock Holmes Museum, a private London attraction honoring the fictional detective, opened in 1990 on Baker Street. It bears the address 221B by permission of the City of Westminster. It was the first museum worldwide dedicated to the literary character.
Quick Facts
- Established
- 1990
- Location
- Baker Street
- London, NW1
- United Kingdom
- Public transit
- london
- underground Baker Street; gb
- Rail Marylebone
Facts from the source article.
Numbering dispute
The address 221B was disputed between the museum and Abbey National. Since the 1930s, Royal Mail had delivered Sherlock Holmes's mail to Abbey National, which employed a secretary for it. The museum appealed for the mail, arguing it was the appropriate responder, but was unsuccessful. The issue resolved in 2002 when Abbey National vacated its headquarters, and mail now goes to the museum.
Family objections
Jean Conan Doyle expressed lack of enthusiasm for the museum, opposing the suggestion that her father's creation was real. She knew the museum would reinforce belief in Holmes's existence, strengthened by a blue plaque stating years of his supposed residency. She supported the Sherlock Holmes Museum in Switzerland by attending its 1991 opening. She refused an offer to create a room in the London museum for her father, and his remaining possessions were later sold at auction.
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