Dive into a world frozen in time. What secrets lie within the walls of the Naturhistorisches Museum Mainz?
The Naturhistorisches Museum Mainz is the largest natural science museum in Rhineland-Palatinate. Its collections tell tales of our planet. They showcase the history of life itself.
Imagine stepping inside. You are greeted by an array of fascinating exhibits. The museum evolved from the collections of the natural research institute Rheinische Naturforschende Gesellschaft. It was established in 1834. The State Collection of Natural History became part of the museum in 1988.
Here, you’ll find items from Rhineland-Palatinate and Rwanda. These exhibits form the basis of the museum’s scientific research. The Naturhistorisches Museum Mainz holds around 750000 preserved specimens. The zoological collection is the largest in Rhineland-Palatinate.
The insect collection is comprehensive. It includes butterflies and beetles. Flies are well-represented. The museum boasts the largest individual collection of hoverflies. Vertebrates are also present. There are about 10000 preserved specimens of mammals and birds. These include mounted specimens and bones.
Don’t miss the museum’s quagga group. It is known all over the world. The Naturhistorisches Museum Mainz is special. It holds three specimens of this extinct zebra subspecies. There are only 23 stuffed quagga exhibits worldwide.
Among the exhibits, you can marvel at a marsupial wolf also known as a Tasmanian tiger. A Javan rhinoceros stands nearby. Fossils from Rhineland-Palatinate are also on display. Primeval horses lived here 44 million years ago. They were discovered at Eckfelder Maar. You will also see animals from the European Ice Age.
The Naturhistorisches Museum Mainz is committed to education. It aims to uphold core societal values. The museum collects, preserves, studies, and communicates scientific heritage. It preserves this heritage for future generations. The museum promotes respect for nature’s diversity and shared human history.
The museum’s team develops modern exhibitions. They also maintain quality assurance standards for the collections. New standards will be set for cultural heritage preservation. These standards can serve other natural science facilities.
The Naturhistorisches Museum Mainz welcomes everyone. It is open to all regardless of background. Its historic building is located in the heart of Mainz. The museum appeals to young and old alike.
As you leave the Naturhistorisches Museum Mainz, consider its mission. It connects us to the past. It inspires us to protect the future. What will you discover next?