Intro
The Naturhistorisches Museum Wien (NHM), also known as the Natural History Museum of Vienna, stands as one of the world’s most significant natural history museums, showcasing nearly 30 million exhibits. The remarkable building in which it is located shares its origins with the 🔗 Hofburg Palace expansion project, detailed in the post dedicated to the 🔗 Museum of Art History. Notably, NHM opened its doors two years earlier, specifically on August 10, 1889.
The museum building spans 170 meters (557,7ft) in length and 70 meters (229,7ft) in width, covering an area of 8720 square meters (93,861.3ft²). It comprises four levels, including a basement, two main floors, and an intermediate mezzanine. The crowning jewel of NHM is its octagonal dome, soaring 33 meters tall (108ft), adorned with a 5-meter (16,4ft) bronze statue of the Greek sun god Helios, symbolizing the forces of nature. Crafted by artist Johannes Benk, this figure mirrors the Pallas Athena statue atop the dome of the Museum of Art History. The dome bears a golden inscription, a dedication by Emperor Francis Joseph I, honoring the Kingdom of Nature and its exploration.
To the Kingdom of Nature and its exploration, Emperor Francis Joseph I.
Beneath the dome, grand stairs ascend. The facade, designed by Gottfried Semper and inspired by Alexander von Humboldt, depicts the evolution of natural knowledge. Mezzanine sculptures symbolize the history of inventions, while upper floors showcase pivotal events that expanded our understanding of the world. Statues of notable naturalists grace the attic level. In the central pediment, diverse figures symbolize continents. Europe and America flank the main entrance, joined by Australia, Asia, and Africa. The facade’s stucco decorations unveil the world’s historical breadth. Within the exhibition halls, over 100 oil paintings explore scientific themes.
The Natural History Museum in Vienna houses collections dating back over 250 years. Around 1750, Emperor Francis I Stefan of Lorraine, husband of Maria Theresa, acquired the renowned natural history collection of Florentine scholar Johann Ritter von Baillou. This acquisition laid the foundation for the museum. After the emperor’s premature death, Maria Theresa bequeathed these scientific collections to the state, establishing the first museum aligned with Enlightenment principles. While not a collector herself, she recognized the practical importance of natural sciences. Mineralogy, especially, fascinated her for its potential in extracting and utilizing raw materials from the imperial lands.
Visit
The museum offers a comprehensive view of our planet’s history, showcasing nature’s diversity, planetary evolution, life, and human biological and cultural development.
Divided into sections—anthropology, botany, geology, paleontology, and prehistory—the facility’s individual rooms follow the chronological evolution of life on Earth. Interactive installations engage visitors, especially kids. Allowing them to trigger volcano eruptions or attempt to lift meteorites. Some may be startled by the moving dinosaur, while the curious will find forensic analyses of centuries-old human bones intriguing.
Planner
Tickets can be purchased at the museum or 🌐 on-line with discounts for students, seniors, people with disabilities, and the unemployed.
Children and youth under 19 years old enjoy free admission.
Youtube 
Facebook 
Instagram 
Twitter 