TOMORROW is a big day for Leeds. Not only does it mark the public opening of its new city museum, bringing to life more than 320 million years of history, it is the latest step in the city's continuing cultural renaissance.

It will also be the first time Leeds has had a purpose-built museum for its archaeological and historical collections since the original site was bombed by the Nazis during the Second World War.

Many of the artifacts on display in the new £20m museum have never been seen by the public before, while old favourites such as the famous Leeds tiger and the city's 3,000 year-old mummy can be seen in a whole new light.

The museum was financed by a £19m Heritage Lottery Fund grant – the largest ever awarded to a project in Yorkshire. But is it worth it? The same amount could get you a couple of Constable paintings, or one of Turner's Venice masterpieces. However, if you wanted to buy Brazilian football star Robinho you'd still have to fork out at least another £12m. So when you consider that it's free for visitors to enter, it looks like money pretty well spent.

The new museum, housed in the former Leeds Institute building designed by Cuthbert Brodrick, includes seven exhibition spaces spread over four floors. Each gallery covers a different theme such as the Life on Earth collection which has everything from prehistoric fossils to the bones of an enormous giant elk.

The Ancient Worlds exhibition has some of the most intriguing objects dating back to the ancient civilisations of Egypt, Greece and Rome, the centrepiece of which is the mummified corpse of Nesyamun, an Egyptian priest.

Principal keeper, Ceinwen Paynton, believes the new museum is long overdue.

"People have been waiting for this for a long time. We did have a city museum but it took a direct hit during the Second World War and for more than 60 years much of this wonderful collection has been in storage, which has meant people have only been able to see a fraction of the items and artifacts we have," she says.

"This museum tells the story of Leeds, which is part of our own story, so to finally have one again is a great achievement. It's the icing on the cake of the city's cultural renaissance and it will completely change the landscape."

Museums often conjure images of antiquated buildings full of glass cases stuffed with dead animals, but the curators and designers have created something that everybody can enjoy. As well as gazing at the displays, visitors are encouraged to take part in interactive games and use computerised podiums to find out more information about topics of interest.

"It's educational but it's also interesting and it's fun," says Paynton.

"It's making the most of what a museum can be and there is something that will be of interest to people no matter how old they are, and we believe it will appeal to people who perhaps normally don't think a museum's for them. It's not like a National Trust historic home, we want people to come here and touch things and interact."

While the museum is seen very much as part of the local community, its curators also believe it has a wider appeal.

"A lot of people have put their heart and soul into this and it's something the community can be proud of.

"But we hope people will not only come here from Yorkshire and other parts of the country, we think this will also attract international visitors because we have some world class collections that will amaze people."


Leeds City Museum Timeline

1819: Leeds City Museum is established on Park Row by the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society.

1821: The museum opens its doors to the public.

1921: Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society hands over control of the museum to the Corporation of Leeds, which becomes Leeds City Council.

1941: During the heaviest bombing raid on the city during the Second World War, the museum takes a direct hit, causing considerable damage to the building and many artifacts.

1965: The Park Row building closes and the museum is re-housed in a temporary home in the city's library the following year. But a lack of space means only a tiny fraction – about five per cent – of its collections can be viewed.

1999: Leeds City Museum moves out of the library and into a new permanent storage facility.

2000: The Leeds Museum resource centre opens in Yeadon. Most of the collections remain in storage.

2001: Leeds City Council submits a bid for national lottery cash to build a new city museum.

2004: Heritage Lottery Fund awards £19.5m for the project.

2005: Work starts on the new museum in the former Leeds Institute building.

2008: The new museum opens to the public.