Over 30 million objects. That’s the staggering number held within the walls of the Museum für Naturkunde. But this isn’t just any museum. This is a place where the history of our planet unfolds before your eyes. This is the Earthmuseum in Berlin.
The Earthmuseum’s story begins long before its grand opening in 1889. It traces back to 1810 when the Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität opened its doors. Existing natural history collections were brought together and made accessible to the public. The collections grew steadily through donations expeditions and purchases. By 1880 they occupied two thirds of the main university building. They were deemed a significant burden. This led to the decision to build a new museum.
The architect August Tiede won a competition. His design was inspired by the Louvre. It is a multi winged building. The construction took place between 1875 and 1880. The grand opening was celebrated on December 2 1889. Not all of the museum’s vast holdings were displayed. A significant portion remained for research purposes. This was innovative for the time.
The Earthmuseum weathered the storms of World War II. A bombing raid in 1945 caused extensive damage. Much of the east wing collapsed. Sadly several people perished in an air raid shelter. Large whale skeletons were buried. Exhibits of insects and mammals were destroyed. Remarkably about 75 percent of the collections were saved.
Following the war the Earthmuseum reopened in 1945. It was the first Berlin museum to do so after the war. Post war years focused on repairing the damage and securing the collections. New permanent exhibitions appeared in the 1950s. The collections grew with finds from expeditions to Cuba Mongolia and the Soviet Union.
Today the Earthmuseum stands as a testament to resilience and a treasure trove of natural history. The museum houses a famous Giraffatitan brancai skeleton. This is one of the largest mounted dinosaur skeletons in the world. It was assembled from multiple skeletons and casts based on discoveries from a German expedition to what was then German East Africa now Tanzania. This is not just a dinosaur display. It’s a visual narrative of scientific discovery colonial history and ongoing research. The Earthmuseum continues to grow. It is currently undergoing a major expansion and renovation. A new wing will increase the exhibition space by five times. This museum is much more than stones and bones. It is a place where the past present and future of our planet converge. It is a place where science and society meet. Come explore the Earthmuseum. Uncover the fascinating stories within its walls.