Meet the mammoth at the museum on Bolshaya Nikitskaya. History of the Zoological Museum brief description

Zoological Museum of Moscow State University- one of the largest natural history museums in Russia. The official date of foundation is considered to be 1791, when the Natural Study, created at Moscow University, was transformed into a natural science museum. As of 2018, the museum fund consists of more than 10 million storage units with an annual increase in the scientific collection of 25-30 thousand exhibits. The most extensive collections in the museum are considered to be entomological (about 3 million exhibits), collections of mammals (more than 200,000) and birds (157,000). The modern exhibition presents about 8,500 thousand exhibits: two halls are dedicated to the systematic part, one to the evolutionary-morphological part.

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Grigory Fischer at the beginning of the 19th century

Human skull of the 19th century in the museum collection, 2006

Penguin skeleton, 2006

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After the founding of Moscow University in 1755, the first university collection of natural history objects in Russia was created on its basis. It was based on the collection of philanthropist Akinfiy Demidov, which he acquired in the early 1740s in Europe from the famous Freiberg mineralogist and physician Johann Friedrich Henkel. Demidov and his sons significantly expanded the collection of “Henkel’s Cabinet” by adding dried and preserved remains of animals and plants, as well as books. In the second half of the 1750s, the collection entered Moscow University on the initiative of Prokofy, Grigory and Nikita Demidov. In 1757, the brothers drew up an agreement to donate the “Henkel cabinet” to the university, but due to limited space, the collection was initially kept in the palace of Ivan Shuvalov in St. Petersburg.

In 1759, the collection was moved to Moscow to the library building under the leadership of Mikhail Kheraskov. At that time, the collection consisted of about 6,000 items. Based on the meeting, the Mineral Cabinet was created at the Department of Natural History of the university. In 1761, the collection was allocated to several dozen cabinets in the Apothecary House. In the mid-1760s, the collection became known as the Natural Cabinet. At that time, it consisted of three departments - ore, natural and mixed. Under the head of the Department of Natural History, Matvey Afonin, the collection was systematized, for which the professor received the title “creator of the Department of Natural History.”

By the mid-1770s, the Apothecary House began to fall into disrepair, and the lack of premises for the university also affected it. In 1791, the Natural Study was moved to a new university building on Mokhovaya Street, built by Matvey Kazakov in 1786. A separate room was allocated for the office, which occupied most of the gallery next to the Great Auditorium.

In 1791, the Natural Cabinet was renamed the Cabinet of Natural History, this date is considered official year foundation of the museum. Throughout the 1780s and 1790s, the museum's collection was constantly replenished with new exhibits thanks to gifts from patrons and naturalists. One of the most valuable gifts was the collection of academician Erik Laxman, which allowed the museum to transform from a mineralogical museum into a comprehensive natural history museum.

Collection development[ | ]

Another major gift to the museum was the collection collected by Pavel Demidov, who in 1802 also donated a collection of artifacts, books, and 100,000 rubles to the university. In 1807, Princess Ekaterina Dashkova donated the Natural History Cabinet, which contained more than 15,000 objects, to the university.

In 1804, Johann Gottgelf Fischer, who studied in Russia under the name Grigory Fischer, was appointed head of the Natural Cabinet, a graduate of the University of Göttingen, one of the main experts in natural history and museum affairs in Europe. In 1805, he donated his own collection to the museum, consisting of natural objects, rare skeletons and fossils.

After his appointment, Fischer systematized the collection, the result of which he presented at the 50th anniversary of Moscow University in 1805. In the same year, the museum opened to students who could study natural history using the collection as an example. Also in 1805, Fischer initiated the creation of the Moscow Society of Natural Scientists, which in 1807 received the name Imperial (IMOIP). The stated purpose of the organization was to study the natural resources and natural sciences in Russia, as well as the central regions and the Moscow Governorate. The Society has become one of the most important suppliers of the museum's collection materials. By 1810, the collection had grown so large that the old hall could no longer accommodate the incoming exhibits. The museum was given the entire wing of a large building, with an area four times larger than the original halls.

Returning from evacuation, Grigory Fischer began to rebuild the collection of the Cabinet of Natural History. Representatives of the Demidov family again became one of the main patrons of the arts, donating about 3,000 museum exhibits to the museum: rare minerals, shells, stuffed animals. Grigory Langsdorff donated a collection of birds and animals, Christian Steven - a collection of insects from the south of Little Russia, Andrei Razumovsky, academician Christian Pander, Professor Fischer and Ivan Dvigubsky, Governor Alexander Turgenev, Professor Mikhail Adams replenished the collection of plants and animals. IMOIP played a major role in the restoration of the Museum of Natural History, becoming a key supplier of exhibits to the new museum. As a result, by 1814 the museum's collection consisted of 6,000 objects, stored in a rented room next to the burnt university building.

In 1818, the museum moved to four halls of the wing of the new university building, restored according to the design of the architect Domenico Gilardi. Two halls were allocated for animal collections and two more for minerals and fossils. Nicholas I issued a charter, according to which the Zoological and Mineralogical cabinets were transferred to the jurisdiction of the corresponding departments and professors, but institutionally remained part of the museum. By the end of the 1830s, the Museum of Natural History was listed with two offices - Mineralogical and Zoological, run by professors Alexey Lovetsky, Grigory Shchurovsky and Karl Roulier. A few years later, Roulier was appointed head of all the cabinets, which at that time contained more than 41,000 specimens of minerals and stuffed animals.

In 1844, Grigory Shchurovsky tried to separate the Zoological and Mineralogical rooms of the Natural History Museum. In his opinion, the size of the zoological collection was so large that there was practically no space left for the Mineralogical Cabinet. For this reason, the mineralogical collection was moved to one of the central premises of the new Auditorium building. Thus, only the Zoological Cabinet remained in the museum.

Zoo museum

In the early 1860s, the head of the Zoological Cabinet was the head of the Department of Zoology at Moscow University, and in 1862 Anatoly Bogdanov was appointed head of the department, under whom in 1865 the Zoological Cabinet was transferred to a new university building. In 1866, the museum was opened to public visits by students. The collection of the Zoological Museum was divided according to the purpose of the collections into scientific, exhibition and lecture parts. A “Book of Acquisitions” was also created, which described new acquisitions.

Under Bogdanov, the Zoological Museum included a large number of objects from expeditions to the European regions of Russia, organized jointly with the amateur archaeologist N. G. Kertselli. The obtained exhibits were first stored in the Zoological Museum, and in 1883-1884 they were moved to the building of the Historical Museum. A large collection of objects came to the museum thanks to research into the Turkestan lands annexed to the Russian Empire in 1867. Also at this time, the museum included ornithological materials from Crimea from Joseph Shatilov, Leonid Sabaneev, Karl Semper.

In the early 1860s, most of the zoological collection was transferred to the Rumyantsev Museum, while the remainder was closed to the public due to the reorganization of the collection initiated by Bogdanov. The animals, divided into biogroups, were installed in display cases simulating natural environment a habitat. Fyodor Lorenz played a large role in the creation of a taxidermy laboratory at the university, and starting in the second half of the 1870s he began making models specifically for the museum. In 1886, the opening of the updated museum exhibition took place.

New museum building

USSR stamp from 1949 depicting the museum, 2008

The increase in the collection led to the need to find new rooms to house the collection. For this reason, the Board of Trustees of Moscow University commissioned the architect Konstantin Bykovsky to design a new building on Mokhovaya Street specifically for the Zoological Museum. According to the approved project of the architect, the building was a two-story building with large windows, glass vaults and ceilings that allowed for increased lighting. In the wings of the building, living quarters were equipped for university professors of both the zoological department and the department of comparative anatomy. The frieze, column capitals, porticoes, as well as figures of animals and birds were taken from the example of the Hermitage Theater. Construction was completed by 1902, the building became one of the first in Moscow built specifically for a museum.

The new head of the department, A.G. Kozhevnikov, decided to renovate the museum space in 1904-1905; outdated exhibits were replaced and rearranged. At the same time, new collections were received, including ichthyological ones from Lev Berg, Sergei Buturlin, Grigory Polyakov, Leonid Portenko, Nikolai Ikonnikov. One of the most valuable acquisitions was the collection of amateur entomologist Viktor Mochulsky. As of 1910, the collection included more than 93,000 exhibits. The opening of the museum in the new building took place in 1911, but only the Upper Hall was available for visiting. The lower hall was opened by 1933.

By 1970, the building of the Zoological Museum began to deteriorate: one of the underground channels of the Neglinka River partially eroded the foundation, which is why the floor of the Lower Hall began to sag and the supporting columns began to go down. In 1971, the building was closed to visitors, and the exhibition was completely dismantled. During the major renovation, initiated by director Olga Rossolimo, the storage area and work premises were increased. Repair work was completed by 1980, and the exhibition was decorated for another five years.

In 1991, the Zoological Museum was given the name “Research Zoological Museum of Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov." By this time, the museum had more than 7 million items and ranked second in Russia after St. Petersburg.

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Activities and funds[ | ]

Museum exposition, 2006

The museum develops scientific and educational activities, it operates a Biological Laboratory, operates a sector of scientific and social projects, and also uses digital technologies for exhibiting. In 2015, the museum became the winner of the “Changing Museum in a Changing World” competition of the Potanin Foundation with the project “Museum Molting - a Scientific and Creative Experiment”.

As of 2018, the museum includes more than 10 million specimens, 8,500 of which are on display. It includes only modern species of animals; all fossil remains were transferred to the Moscow Paleontological Museum when it was created. Two halls are allocated for demonstration

Second half of the 1750s. Foundation of Moscow University with the Department of Natural History (1755); donation to the University by the Demidov family of their family collection of natural history objects - the “Henkel Cabinet” (1757–1759), the establishment on its basis of the Mineral (Natural) Cabinet at the said Department (1759) - the predecessor of the modern Zoological and Mineralogical Museums.

1770 The mineral cabinet is being brought into the system, and its first inventory is being compiled.

1791 Relocation of the Mineralogical (Natural) office from the former Pharmacy House to the new university building on Mokhovaya; from this year it begins to be titled “Cabinet of Natural History”; This year marks the existence of the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University.

1805–1807 Based on donated P.G. Demidov of the collection of natural history at the University established the Demidov Department of Natural History with the transfer of the Cabinet of Natural History to the jurisdiction of its ordinary professor (head); bringing the two main sections of the university collection - the “Imperial Museum” and the “Demidov Museum” - into order, corresponding to the Natural System accepted in Europe; its complete catalog is compiled and published.

1810s Destruction of almost the entire university collection of natural history objects in the Moscow fire (1812); the restoration of this collection anew through numerous donations (1813 onwards); its location is in the restored university building on Mokhovaya on the right corner of Nikitskaya Street. (1818); the new collection is organized not according to the previous “departmental”, but according to a “natural” principle - like the Zoological and Mineralogical cabinets.

Mid-second half of the 1830s. According to the new university Charter, the single Demidov Department and the Museum of Natural History were abolished and divided according to the above “natural” principle into departments of zoology and mineralogy with offices of the same name attached to them (1835), they are assigned to different professors; however, subsequent (up to the 1860s) university annual reports indicate that these offices are departments of the Natural History Museum; relocation of collections to the new building of the University left side Nikitskaya st. (1837).

Late 1840s The zoological and mineralogical collections are separated geographically: this became an important prerequisite for the transformation of the Zoological Cabinet into a full-fledged Zoological Museum.

First half of the 1860s By order of the trustee of the Moscow educational district, almost the entire collection of naturals that makes up the university Museum of Natural History was transferred to the newly created Public Museum (1861); in 1864–1865 collections have been returned. The Zoological Cabinet is fully integrated with the Department of Zoology, a special “staffing division” has been established between them: this strengthened the demarcation of the two sections of the named Museum of Natural History (which had actually ceased its “single” existence) and became the last step towards the transformation of the Zoological Cabinet into an independent Zoological Museum (1870 -e years).

1900s Moving of the Zoo Museum to the newly rebuilt building of the Zoological Building on the right side of Nikitskaya Street, which it shares with the Institute and Museum of Comparative Anatomy (1901–1902). The exhibition halls on the second floor are equipped with specially ordered metal display cases from the Künscherf company (1907–1909). The floor in the Lower Hall was completely rebuilt (1910). The upper hall of the Zoo Museum opens to visitors (1911).

First half of the 1930s. In connection with the reorganization of the entire scientific and educational system of the country, the Zoo Museum is assigned a mainly educational (exhibition) function. Its scientific part (including the management of stock collections) is briefly transferred to the jurisdiction of the Scientific Research Institute of Zoology (NIIZ), whose leadership proposes to distribute the museum collections to other universities, museums and schools (1930). The Museum of Comparative Anatomy (1931) is attached to the Zoo Museum; The Zoo Museum (in its new composition) is transferred from the university subordination to the direct subordination of the Main Science of the People's Commissariat for Education, it receives the name “Moscow Zoological Museum” (1931). From now on, the director of the Zoo Museum is appointed regardless of official position in any of the faculty departments; the administrative and staffing system is changing in it (1932), accounting, storage and exhibition work is being established (1933–1935); the exhibition in the Lower Hall is reorganized and it opens to the public (1932–1933).

First half of the 1940s. In connection with the beginning of the Great Patriotic War part of the Zoo Museum’s collections is taken to Ashgabat, part is conserved (1941); some time later they return to Moscow and are placed in their original places; the exhibition halls on the second floor are opened to the public (1942–1943)

Early 1950s Due to the introduction new system Almost all of its leading employees leave the Zoo Museum due to wages in the scientific and teaching system. In preparation for the move of most of the faculties of Moscow University to a new complex of buildings on the Lenin Hills, many premises of the Zoo Museum are allocated for various types of services and materials, exhibition halls are closed to the public, and a significant part of the collections is conserved (1951–1952). After the move and the vacancy of the premises, storage and exhibition work returned to normal (1955–1955). The relocation of the Faculty of Biology greatly reduced the possibility of including museum collections in pedagogical process; For the same reason, the Zoo Museum was deprived of almost its entire scientific library.

Mid-1960s To correct the abnormal situation with the official salaries of Zoo Museum researchers, they are officially “assigned” to specialized departments of the Faculty of Biology. The situation with salaries is improving, employees continue to work within the walls of the Zoo Museum, providing the entire system of replenishment, storage and use of collection funds, but “legally” it is deprived of its scientific and conservation staff.

1970s and 1980s The museum is entering a difficult and long period of major renovation, which began with the failure of the floor of the lower hall (1971). During the renovation, the area occupied by the Museum was significantly expanded (due to the addition of premises previously allocated for residential apartments), the Lower Hall was equipped with new metal display cases, the Zoological Auditorium was reconstructed, many storage facilities were equipped with metal racks and cabinets. During the second half of the 1980s. collections are housed in the old and new premises, exhibition halls are open to the public.

1991 The Zoo Museum has been given the status of a research institution, it is called the “Research Zoological Museum of Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov"; Researchers working at the Zoo Museum are once again officially included in its staff.

Early–mid 2010s Scientific and educational activities are significantly intensifying at the Zoo Museum. The zoological auditorium is reorganized into the Biolecture Hall (2006), and the Zoological Museum begins to actively participate in city educational events. New divisions are being established: a terrarium with scientific and educational functions (2010), a sector of scientific and public projects (2010), the Belomorsk branch of the Zoo Museum on the basis of the Belomorsk Biological Station of Moscow State University (2011). Digital technologies are beginning to be actively used in scientific storage and educational work: electronic databases on scientific (including standard) collections are being organized.

These collections contained a large amount of materials on zoology. Some of them have been preserved in the Zoological Museum and Institute to this day. In addition to purchases, Peter I paid great attention to collecting collections in Russian Empire. He issued a number of decrees obliging local authorities to deliver various natural works of their region to the capital.

Soon, the house of the disgraced boyar A.V., which had entered the treasury, was chosen to house the Museum. Kikina – “Kikina Chambers”

The collections and library were moved to this building, located on the left bank of the Neva not far from Smolny (and preserved to this day in a slightly modified form). In 1719, the Museum in the Kikin Chambers became accessible to everyone. By 1725, according to contemporaries, it was no longer inferior to the best Western European collections. By order of Peter I in March 1724, the compilation of albums with drawings of the most remarkable exhibits began.

In 1724, a project to create an Academy of Sciences in Russia was approved. It was planned to transfer the Kunstkamera with the library to the Academy. A site on Vasilyevsky Island was allocated for its placement. The unfinished palace of Queen Praskovya (the construction of which was completed only in 1734) was transferred to the Academy's disposal. It was in it that the main Conference Hall of the Academy was located (now the administrative building of the Zoological Institute is located on this site). A special building was built nearby to house the Kunstkamera, library and observatory. The opening of the Museum took place in this building on November 26 (old style) 1728.

In 1742, the first printed catalog of the Kunstkamera collections and an album of engravings with images of the building’s appearance and plans of individual rooms were published. In the zoological collection of the Kunstkamera there were 2112 numbers of anatomical collection, frogs - 89 numbers, turtles - 38, lizards - 292, snakes - 486, fish - 456, insects - 1500, crustaceans, sea ​​urchins and stars - more than 200, mammals - 212, birds - 892 numbers and 625 shells. There were more than 7,000 rooms in total.

The first collections were seriously damaged in a fire in 1747. The surviving part of the collection was temporarily transferred to another building, where it remained until 1766, while restoration work was carried out. Numerous purchases were made abroad to replenish the damaged collections. Thus, in 1756, a significant part of the second collection of A. Seba was purchased at auction.

In 1767, the zoological collections of the Kunstkamera were separated into a separate division within the Kunstkamera under the management of Peter Simon Pallas, one of the most famous encyclopedist scientists of the 18th century, who did a lot to describe the fauna of Russia. Great importance Academic expeditions of the second half of the 18th century had to replenish the collections: P. S. Pallas, I. I. Lepekhin, I. P. Falk and I. I. Georgi, S. G. Gmelin and I. A. Gyldenstedt. These expeditions, which laid the foundation for the systematic study of the natural resources of Russia, at the same time served as a source of replenishment of the collections of the first national museum.

Gradually, the zoological collection became more and more isolated within the Kunstkamera. In the regulations of the Academy of Sciences of 1803, the zoological collection is mentioned as part of the “museum of botany, zoology and mineralogy”. The period of wars that began at the end of the 18th century, which also covered the first third of the next century, had a heavy impact on the replenishment and preservation of the Museum’s collections. Nevertheless, their growth continued. Large sea voyages played a big role in this. I.F.’s round-the-world travels are especially important. Krusenstern and Yu.F. Lisyansky, F.A. Golovina, O.E. Kotzebue, as well as the famous expedition of F.F. Bellingshausen and M.P. Lazarev, the expedition of F.P. Litke, in which naturalists also took part. The land expedition of G.I. was also very important. Langsdorf to Brazil, in which entomologist Edouard Menetrier participated.

In the early 1830s, during the reform of the Academy of Sciences, the collections of the Kunstkamera were divided into independent specialized museums. Based on the zoological collections of the Kunstkamera, the Zoological Museum arose, located in the Museum wing of the Academy, built in 1826–1831 according to the design of the architect I. F. Lukini behind the Main building of the Imperial Academy of Sciences (Universitetskaya embankment, 5).

The founding date of the Zoological Museum is considered to be July 4 (old style) 1832, when its director F.F. Brandt demonstrated to the Physics and Mathematics Department of the Academy of Sciences an exhibition of the first three halls, composed of surviving exhibits from the Kunstkamera. Most of the exhibition collections of the Kunstkamera by this time were damaged and were not suitable for a new exhibition. Only osteological materials, alcohol preparations, and collections of shells and corals were well preserved, which formed the basis of the Zoological Museum being created.

Soon after being separated from the Kunstkamera, the Museum began to be replenished with collections coming from various expeditions, as well as through purchases, exchanges with other institutions and accepting donations from individuals. One can note the journey of A. D. Nordman to the Caucasus, the journey of K. M. Baer to Novaya Zemlya and Russian Lapland, the nine-year journey of the Zoological Museum preparator I. G. Voznesensky to Far East and Russian possessions in North America from Alaska to California, the journey of A. F. Middendorf to Eastern Siberia, the expedition of L. I. Shrenk in the Amur region and Sakhalin, the journey of N. A. Severtsov to the Aral Sea.

In the middle of the 19th century, the collection of the Zoological Museum was not inferior to the best collections of foreign museums, and in terms of Palaearctic fauna it was significantly superior to them. If in 1832 all collections were housed in only three halls, then by the 50th anniversary of the Museum in 1882 they occupied 32 halls, in which over 40 thousand exhibits were exhibited, not counting the funds. The volume of collections has grown approximately 20 times over half a century.

Late XIX– the beginning of the 20th century was marked by active study of Central Asia. The largest and most valuable zoological collections of this period are the collections of N.M. Przhevalsky, M.V. Pevtsova, V.I. Roborovsky, brothers G.E. and M.E. Grum-Grzhimailo, G.N. Potanin and P.K. Kozlova. Materials received from Przhevalsky’s first expeditions made it necessary to expand the Museum’s area. In 1891-1893, the Museum received a building on the Spit of Vasilievsky Island (Universitetskaya embankment, 1), where it was opened to visitors in 1901. His collection was divided into stock and exhibition parts.

The exhibition in the new building consisted of three sections. There was an introductory part devoted to the general phenomena of life, a large systematic collection, and so-called “biogroups” in which some animal species were shown in natural settings.

The Zoological Museum, which during this period was not only a repository of animal collections, but also a research institution, was renamed the Zoological Institute in 1931, during the reform of the Academy of Sciences. From that time on, only the exhibition collection of the institute began to be called the Museum, which has not lost its connection to the richest stock collection to this day. Before its transformation into an institute, the museum was headed by F.F. Brandt (18311879), A.A. Strauch (18791893), F.D. Pleske (18931896), V.V. Zalensky (18971906), N.V. Nasonov (19061921), A.A. Byalynitsky-Birulya (acting director since 1923, director since 1927). From 1917 to 1930, the Museum was headed by the Council.

Even after 1930, the museum continued to be closely connected with the Zoological Institute, expanding its exhibition with materials from expeditions of the institute’s staff. In the 1930s, the Museum's exhibition underwent major changes. It was decided to allocate the first room for general zoology. From the systematic collection, only cetaceans were left in it. The systematic collection was arranged in accordance with evolutionary taxonomy. Biological groups were rearranged according to zoogeographical principles.

During the Great Patriotic War, the museum's exhibition remained in its place and, in general, was not seriously damaged, although the building was shelled several times and there was no light or heating.

Subsequently, the exhibition was replenished with both interesting materials in the systematic section and numerous new biogroups and dioramas. A number of biogroups were created that reflected marine fauna. Materials for these display cases were supplied by numerous expeditions to various corners Globe, in which employees of the Zoological Institute took part. During this period, the Zoological Institute was involved not only in the study of the fauna of the Palaearctic, but also in the study of the tropical fauna and the fauna of Antarctica. The exhibition on Mammoths and mammoth fauna has expanded and recently been updated.

In the post-war period, the Museum was headed by V.B. Dubinin (19471954), A.I.Ivanov (19541961), D.V. Naumov (19611984), R.L.Potapov (19852006). Currently the museum is headed by A.N. Tikhonov.

The Zoological Museum of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences is one of the largest in the world and the oldest zoological museum in Russia. His collection is based on the collection of Peter the Great's Kunstkamera, founded in 1714, which contained many stuffed and skeletons of animals, unusual insects, fish and other exhibits of wildlife. In 1832, this part of the Kunstkamera collection was transformed into a separate museum, which was opened to the public in 1838 on the premises of the Kunstkamera. The museum's holdings included exhibits brought by the expeditions of Pallas and Gmelin from Siberia, from the circumnavigations of Krusenstern and Bellingshausen, and the finds of Miklouho-Maclay. From 1896 to the present, the museum has been located in the southern warehouse of the Exchange on the spit of Vasilyevsky Island.

Already in the middle of the 19th century, the collection of the Zoological Museum was not inferior to the best collections of foreign museums. At the end of the 19th – beginning of the 20th century, when Central Asia was being actively studied, the museum was replenished with valuable and large zoological collections from the research travels of Przhevalsky, Pevtsov, the Grum-Grzhimailo brothers, Kozlov and Potanin.

Now on three floors of the museum building more than 30 thousand specimens of animals are displayed - from protozoa to primates. In the first hall, visitors see two huge whale skeletons. The most unique exhibit is the Berezovsky mammoth preserved in permafrost, which, according to scientists, is an excellent material for cloning. The museum contains stuffed deep-sea fish taken from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean and the rare fish coelacanth, the skeleton of an extinct sea cow. Here you can see penguins and fur seals, Amur tigers and giraffes, wolves and moose, pelicans and parrots, get acquainted with the world of the underwater kingdom - a wide variety of fish, jellyfish, mollusks and corals, and admire collections of unusual insects. The exhibition contained only a small part of the museum's funds, which number more than 15 million exhibits, and they are constantly being replenished.

The Zoological Museum of the Russian Academy of Sciences is the pride of the country, a place of delightful relaxation and an excellent textbook about the animal world! All guests of St. Petersburg try to visit the unique brainchild of the Kunstkamera, which is being improved every year. And city residents are happy to bring their children and grandchildren here!

The famous Zoological Museum of the Russian Academy of Sciences has more than 30 thousand unique exhibits! It is one of the three largest in the world!

A few facts from history

The most famous “long-liver” among the country’s zoological museums has a rich and long history. The birth of the museum occurred in 1832. It was then that copies of the Natural Cabinet of the Kunstkamera were moved to a separate exhibition - in the premises of the Academy of Sciences, created by the architect I. Luchini. The photo of the building amazes with its grandeur and splendor!

The first ones are amazing interesting exhibits were collected by Peter I, the founder of the Kunstkamera. Over time, other materials were added to them, brought by expeditions from different parts of the Earth. Some collections were acquired through exchange with other museums or purchased abroad.

The museum moved to its current building, located on the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island, in 1893, when the materials on display were already cramped in the space previously occupied. But the improvement of the halls, constant research and updating of exhibitions continued!

So, from one small hall over time, a huge museum was organized. Now it is part of the structure of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The exposition's move to a new building began in 1896. But the reconstruction took longer than previously planned - about 5 years. Finally, in 1901, the museum received its first visitors. The grand opening took place in the presence of Emperor Nicholas II, members of the government, and representatives of the large royal family.

During the war years, during the blockade, the museum lost valuable workers. Their names are engraved on a memorial plaque at the entrance. The building itself succumbed to shelling, but all the exhibits remained in place. The unique collection of zoological material managed to remain almost undamaged during the difficult years of occupation.

In the post-war period (1946-1954), major changes and renovations took place in the halls. Under the leadership of the wise V. Dubinin, who heads the museum, the identity of the materials was checked. In the next decade, Professor A. Ivanov took the reins and was able to update all label texts. Then the difficult task of managing the museum was entrusted to D. Naumov, R. Potapov, A. Tikhonov.

What will museum visitors learn about?

The Zoological Museum in St. Petersburg is educational science Center! By visiting it you can learn a lot of interesting things about the animals of the world, from the era of dinosaurs to our time. Experienced guides will tell guests many little-known details!

• The most important facts from the history of the museum. Origin of collections and exhibitions.

• The habitat of animals, their adaptation to environmental conditions. Landscapes natural areas.

• Animals living in the Leningrad region. Fauna of tropical countries, the water world, all natural areas. Animals living in the forests of Russia.

• Fauna of Antarctica, Madagascar, Asia, Africa, Northern and South America, Australia, Eurasia.

• Animals listed on the pages of the Red Book.

• Famous travelers, scientists, forwarders, their contribution to the development of the museum.

• The origin of life on the planet.

• Review of vertebrates and invertebrates.

• Exotic representatives of fauna. The smallest and largest animals in the world.

• Interesting facts about animals.

Excursions are conducted taking into account the age of visitors. Professional tour guides know how to interest both young preschoolers and adults. For children school age excursions are conducted in accordance with school curriculum. There are special programs for students studying zoology and history.

Correspondence tour of the museum: overview of exhibitions

The Zoological Museum of the Russian Academy of Sciences is located on 6 thousand square meters area.

The first main hall will introduce many groups of animals: from the smallest birds to the largest mammals. They will also talk about insects, pinnipeds, cetaceans, and the first specimens of the Kunstkamera.

The second hall housed vertebrate and invertebrate animals: sponges, mollusks, fish, reptiles, birds.

In the third hall there are about 9 dozen biological groups in landscapes that replicate the natural habitat. The installed dioramas partially reproduce natural conditions life of mammals.

The collections that attract the greatest interest among visitors are:

• "Ussuri taiga";

• "Lions on vacation";

• "Giraffes in the Savannah";

• "Highlands of the Tien Shan";

• "Seals".

Only some of the compositions are named. It is impossible to consider all the diversity of animals the first time. Therefore, both children and adults are happy to return to the museum after a while to more carefully familiarize themselves with the materials and look into every corner of the exhibition halls.

Which exhibitions particularly surprise visitors?

A special place is occupied by the collection of mammoths and ancient animals, known throughout the world. It presents several exhibits, some of which are up to 40 thousand years old!

• Berezovsky mammoth (stuffed animal);

• baby mammoths - babies Dima and Masha;

• the oldest and largest skeleton found is the Adams mammoth;

• the head of a long-extinct woolly rhinoceros, well preserved from the Ice Age.

Other exhibitions also amaze visitors with their incredible realism:

• a stuffed albino penguin, the only one on Earth;

• skeleton of a huge blue whale 27 meters long;

• a stuffed anaconda of gigantic size, acquired in 1716 by Peter the Great as a Dutch explorer;

• the famous horse of Peter the Great, called Lisette, as well as a dog named Tyrant;

• the skeleton of a small mammal - Steller's cow, whose relatives no longer remain on Earth;

• collection of tropical birds;

• skeletons of a wild horse, a cave bear;

• collection of marsupial mammals;

• collection of shellfish and corals;

• Ice Age animals;

• exhibition of live insects.

Temporary exhibitions on various topics are very entertaining, revealing even more facts about animals.

The collections of the St. Petersburg Museum are viewed with equal delight and interest by visitors of different ages, each time discovering new knowledge for themselves! It’s amazing that anyone can take photos of the exhibits completely free of charge!

The Zoological Museum in St. Petersburg invites everyone!

The museum hospitably invites you to plunge into the most interesting world of nature every day, except Friday. Opening hours: from 11.00 to 18.00.

Museum address: Universitetskaya embankment, 1.

Adults can purchase a ticket for 200 rubles, and schoolchildren for 70 rubles.
Preschoolers, children from large families, disabled people and war veterans can view the collections for free.

You can visit the museum for free on the last Thursday of every month. This does not apply during the holiday period.

Excursions are available for an additional fee:

• from 900 to 1600 rubles for a group of preschoolers, pupils or students;

• 2600-3900 rubles for a group of adults.

How to get to the Zoological Museum? It's simple! Use the services of a minibus, ride a trolleybus or bus. You can also take the metro to the Admiralteyskaya station.

A tour of the museum halls will not only enrich you with knowledge in the field of zoology, but will also make you think about the perfection of nature. It will also give you a lot of positive emotions!