Imagine stumbling upon a museum that houses the largest Ammonite in the world. That is the LWL-Museum für Naturkunde. Here stories of the past come alive. This isn’t just any museum. It’s a journey through time.
The LWL-Museum für Naturkunde started with a group of dedicated nature enthusiasts from Münster. Hermann Landois spearheaded its creation. He established the Provinzialmuseum für Naturkunde on the grounds of the zoological garden. That was on Himmelreichallee in Münster. Bernard Altum supported Landois. The museum opened its doors on February 10, 1892. Landois became its honorary director. It is the oldest of the 18 LWL museums. Initially, the museum showcased Westphalia’s natural history.
Early collections primarily came from the Zoological and Botanical Sections of the Westphalian Provincial Association. These members were active as volunteer researchers. The zoo also contributed deceased animals to the museum. The museum prepared these for display.
During World War II in October and November 1944, air raids heavily damaged the building. Fortunately, most collections had been evacuated. War damages were limited to the structure. Resources were scarce after the war. The exhibition was not rebuilt until 1949.
In 1967, a decision moved the zoological garden from the city center. A large bank wanted to develop the prime real estate. This move was not ideal for the museum. It had always benefited from its collaboration with the zoo. The Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe requested funds from the city of Münster. They wanted to construct a new museum near the new Allwetterzoo. The concept included a planetarium. The city approved a subsidy of 8.5 million DM.
The state of North Rhine-Westphalia also contributed to the new building. The Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe had to raise 14.5 million DM. The total construction cost was projected at 29 million DM.
The museum was reopened in 1981. It included a large planetarium at its current location. The former building on Himmelreichallee now houses the Westphalian School of Music. Its courtyard features a cast of the ammonite from the LWL-Museum für Naturkunde’s foyer.
The LWL-Museum für Naturkunde is among the most visited museums in North Rhine-Westphalia. In 2012, it welcomed 244,000 visitors. The number increased to 245,000 in 2013. This made it Münster’s most popular museum. Around 221,000 visitors were counted in 2014.
The new building on Sentruper Straße held its topping-out ceremony in 1980. It opened in 1981. It has approximately 8,115 m² of usable space. The exhibition area covers 4,200 m². It hosts permanent exhibitions and rotating special exhibitions. A freely accessible museum courtyard spans about 3,500 m². The courtyard has a paved timeline. It guides visitors from the Big Bang to the present. It also features information panels on geology and Earth’s history.
From 1982, two lifelike Triceratops sculptures stood on the plaza before the entrance. They were made of synthetic resin, wood, and steel. Each weighed 1.5 tons. They were relocated to the museum’s rear entrance in August 2024 due to construction. The construction is for an annex on the museum forecourt.
The Planetarium has a dome diameter of 20 meters. It accommodates around 225 visitors. Only part of the dome is visible on the building’s roof. The building underwent energy-efficient renovations in 2011. Recent renovations ensure the entire exhibition area is accessible. This caters to people with limited mobility and families with strollers.
The LWL-Museum für Naturkunde houses scientific collections. They contain over 2.3 million objects. These are used for research or as resources for exhibitions. It is Westphalia’s largest collection. The zoological collection features about 26,000 prepared birds. There are also around 13,000 mammals and 1,500 reptiles. It also has amphibians, fish, and other specimens. The collection includes approximately 1.125 million insects and 100,000 spiders. It holds 320,000 mollusks, 1,000 other invertebrates and 3,500 DNA samples. The geoscientific collection includes 8,000 rocks and 15,000 minerals. It has 250,000 fossils. The ethnological collection comprises around 1,000 objects. The botanical collection boasts about 500,000 botanical specimens. This makes it North Rhine-Westphalia’s largest herbarium.
Objects not currently on display are stored in the central magazine. It is located in the Speicherstadt in Coerde. These are occasionally accessible to the public via guided tours.
Notably, the LWL-Museum für Naturkunde is home to the world’s largest ammonite. The Parapuzosia seppenradensis was found in a Münsterland quarry. It measures 174.2 centimeters in diameter. It stands in the museum foyer. The Paläontologische Gesellschaft recognized it as the Fossil of the Year in 2008. The Planetarium is one of Europe’s most advanced. The museum has continuous exhibitions. The LWL-Museum für Naturkunde remains a vibrant place.