The Natural History Museum – Flora and Fauna of the Habsburgs

To which Habsburg do the natural science collections go back? When was the Natural History Museum opened? What highlights does the museum offer?

The domed twin buildings of the two court museums, the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Naturhistorisches Museum, designed by Gottfried Semper and Carl von Hasenauer , were intended to provide an appropriate setting for the treasures of art and nature that had been accumulated by the Habsburgs over four centuries. Just across the street from the KHM is the Natural History Museum (NHM). A completely identical building, which represents the Viennese Ringstrasse architecture of the 19th century. best represents. Especially popular with families with children and nature fans. 30,000 million objects are at home here. Among them one of the largest meteorite and mineral collections in the world. The digital planetarium invites you to take a look at the sky. The highlight is the Venus of Willendorf, an archaeological find, an almost 30,000-year-old 11cm tall female figure that still puzzles us today. Mock life-size dinosaurs take you back to prehistoric times in the Dinosaur Room. The NHM’s holdings date back to the Habsburgs’ great passion for collecting. The Natural History Museum also impresses with rare fossils, snails, shells, corals, as well as precious minerals and gemstones. Taxidermy of all kinds of animals fascinates as well. In contrast to the art collections of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the natural science collections were long considered curiosities . It was not until Emperor Franz Stephan of Lorraine (husband of Maria Theresa) that scientific research began and he initially founded a private cabinet of naturalia . These were minerals, fossils, snails, corals and shells . Plants and animals were kept in menageries and botanical gardens, since the art of taxidermy had become obsolete by the middle of the 18th century. was not yet very far advanced. The Natural History Cabinet was one of the most advanced in Europe at that time. Another patron was Franz II/I (1792-1835), who added an animal cabinet to the natural history collection. Through the marriage of his daughter Leopoldine to the Brazilian crown prince Dom Pedro, renowned researchers were sent to Brazil and the collection continued to grow, reaching its first peak as a museum of world renown . The circumnavigation of the world by the frigate “Novara” contributed further to this. Previously, the exhibits were initially housed in the Court Natural History Cabinet in the Leopoldine Wing of the Hofburg. Then in the Augustinian corridor and the Botanical Cabinet of the University. The space problem continued to grow until August 10, 1889 , when the Natural History Museum on Vienna’s Ringstrasse was opened in the presence of Emperor Franz Joseph himself.   The scientific-research department is impressive: From prehistoric, zoological and botanical to geological , every discipline is represented here.
The lectures on nature, sustainability and environmental protection, which are held regularly in the lecture halls, are very interesting. Time Travel Tip: Once a week there are rooftop tours, i.e. you can see “behind the scenes” of the museum, get up to the roof and enjoy the wonderful view over Vienna’s city center . Perhaps you would like to combine this with a special dinner? The popular weekly “shell dinners” take place in the domed hall , where you can dine in a uniquely imperial ambience. The Natural History Museum also offers a varied and exciting program for children with puzzle rallies through the museum . Or how about a “Night at the Museum? More information: Natural History Museum Vienna – Naturhistorisches Museum Wien (nhm-wien.ac.at)  Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wien_-_Naturhistorisches_Museum_(1).JPG?uselang=en