In 1739, Thomas Coram founded the Foundling Hospital to provide a home for children who had been abandoned or given up by their mothers. When it closed in 1953, it had been the home of 27,000 children. Today, the former hospital is home to a museum that commemorates its history and the lives of the children who lived there. The museum offers a moving collection of amulets left behind by mothers as a memento of their love. Additionally, visitors can admire the beautiful Georgian interior and a wonderful art gallery.