Visiting History at the British Museum

October 20: What do I write about when discovering two million years of world history that's been donated, bought or looted? The Rosetta Stone, key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics? Entire facades of long-forgotten Assyrian temples, complete with writing that looks like chicken feet and two-story-high man-horses? Intricate Japanese samurai armor from the 15th century?

You can find out about all this at the stuff at the British Museum website.

One thing you won't find is information on all the uniformed schoolkids that crowd around the exhibits. They bring a noisy energy to the halls, crowding around exhibits and trying to scratch out notes and drawings on their pads. They're often more entertaining to watch and photograph, as they encounter these precious objects for the first time.

If they block your views, just wait a few minutes because they come and go in waves. You'll then have a few minutes of peace at a display before the next gaggle of children comes tumbling in.

The museum is free, so don't try to see everything at once. The website has information on how to plan a visit and allows you to browse the collections, so you can come back on a different day for a particular interest.