2009 marks the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin, creator of the theory of evolution. Museums in Devon have organised a programme of celebratory exhibitions, events and a Darwin in Devon Tour. Darwin travelled through Devon on his way to Devonport to board his ship, the Beagle, in 1831. On this voyage he gathered information which laid the foundation of the theory of Natural Selection. He also visited Torquay later in life. Darwin was a great correspondent, collecting evidence from a huge army of amateur naturalists around the UK. These people were also creating the collections which local museums hold today. In Devon they included Philip Gosse, William Pengelly and WS Hore.

Click on the location names below for details of host organisations (including opening times, location map, phone & email contacts).

Darwin in Devon Exhibitions	Darwin in Devon Tour	Talks and Activities
Ancestors Torquay - 25th May to 31st August Ancestors will explore the last half a million years of human evolution, natural history and prehistory in Devon, with particular reference to Kents Cavern prehistoric caves in Torquay, which is Britain's oldest Scheduled Ancient Monument with evidence of human occupation dating back around 500,000 years. Vivarium Barnstaple - 14 March to 25 April Coldharbour Mill - 1 to 30 May Torrington, The Plough - 7 to 29 August Artwork by Peter Stiles based on seaweed, Gosse, Darwin and George Eliot. Cartooned 3: Evolution Barnstaple - 2 May to 27 June How cartoonists dealt with evolution in the 19th century and how the concept of evolution has influenced political cartooning over the past 150 years. In collaboration with University of Kent British Cartoon Archive, Imperial College London & The British Cartoonist Association. More Darwin200 Exhibitions Darwin’s Voyage of Discovery A major exhibition combining artefacts from natural history, local history and fine art collections is at Plymouth Museum to April 29th There are other Darwin200 displays this season at Sidmouth Museum and Ilfracombe Museum.	Based around Devon's small museums, this tour allows you to explore our specimen chests, use a video microscope and find our more about Darwin, Victorian collectors and classification. Coldharbour Mill 1st- 22nd May Tiverton 1st -31st May Combe Martin 23 May - 5th June Ilfracombe 6th - 18th June Newton Abbot 15th June - 4th July Barnstaple 20th June - 4th July Bideford 6th July - 1st August Dawlish 20th July - 2nd August Higher Kiln Quarry 5th - 13th August Lynton 9th -21st August Ashburton 15th - 22nd August Mortehoe 22nd August - 5th September Teign Heritage 24th - 31st August	Wed 8 April - Torquay The Really Wild Show, a look at animal adaptations with Neil Vaughan. Wed 15 April - Torquay Learn about Owls and Hawks with Karen Andriunas. Sat 18 April - Barnstaple Cyanotype workshops. Artist Peter Stiles leads creative sessions based on plants and animals - including creating plant silhouettes with this early kind of photography. Wed 6 May - Torquay Cyanotype workshops with Peter Stiles. Sat 23 May - Tiverton Cyanotype workshops with Peter Stiles. 11:00 to 13:00, 14:00 to 16:00 Sun 24 May - Coldharbour Mill Cyanotype workshops with Peter Stiles. Tues 26 May - Torquay The Earliest Human Occupation of Britain. A talk by Chris Stringer of the British Museum Wed 27 May - Combe Martin Cyanotype workshops with Peter Stiles. Thurs 28 May - Combe Martin Darwin activities with Steve Eddy from Exmoor Zoo Fri 29 May - Tiverton Darwin activities with Steve Eddy from Exmoor Zoo 10:30 to 16:00 8th to 14th June - Exmoor Zoo, Bratton Fleming Darwin Week : come and get evolved by following the Darwin Zoo trail and helping to feather the Dodo! Free admission for anyone in Victorian costume. Tues 9 June - Ilfracombe Darwin Day - Darwin and the Dodo Steve Eddy from Exmoor Zoo and a talk by Doug Herdson (Mr Darwin). Sat 13 June - Barnstaple Barnstaple Darwin Day @ Barnstaple Library / Barnstaple Square. The North Devon Festival celebrates Darwin with a series of talks by North Devon Humanists and a performance of Darwin and the Dodo by Desperate Men street theatre.. Thurs 18 June - Newton Abbot Lecture by Doug Herdson (Mr Darwin) at the Town Hall Council Chamber. Sat 20 June - Barnstaple Barnstaple Elephant Day, Moose Hall, Trinity Street.  A community event celebrating the discovery of remains of an extinct elephant in 1844. With lots of family activities and a special visit by Andy Currant of the Natural History Museum. Also a chance to meet Mr Darwin. Mr.Darwin (really a professional biology educator) will appear explain more about Darwin’s life, the voyage of the Beagle and Natural Selection. He is also available for educational bookings. Sat 20 June - Bideford College Science Day At Tapeley Park, Instow. Sat 27 June - Newton Abbot Cyanotype workshops with Peter Stiles. Town Hall Council Chamber. Sat 27 June - Barnstaple Darwin activities with Steve Eddy from Exmoor Zoo Sat 11 July - Bideford Meet Mr Darwin (Doug Herdson) at the Burton Art Gallery & Museum. Tues 21 July - Dawlish Cyanotype workshops with Peter Stiles. Thurs 23 July - Dawlish School activities with Mr Darwin (Doug Herdson). Sat 25 July - Newton Abbot Darwin Day. Old Ford House. Newton Abbot Arts Festival invites you to come along to have fun and find out more about Darwin. Planned activities include a visit and talk from Mr.Darwin, creative workshops, a bug hunt, the Darwin song cycle and a visit from Desperate Men Street Theatre. Wed 5 August - Torquay The Really Wild Show, a look at animal adaptations with Neil Vaughan. Tues 11 August - Lynton Mr Darwin visits Lynton. A showing of the Film Where Adam Stood at Lynton Cinema. Wed 12 August - Torquay How Bees Live with Jim Mogridge of Devon Beekeepers. Wed 19 August - Torquay Darwin and the Beagle a lecture by Doug Herdson. Wed 26 August - Torquay Stories from nature, a day of stories by Don Newton of Rough Magic. Sat 29 August - Teignmouth Lecture by Doug Herdson (Mr Darwin)