Museum of Natural History — Attraction in Wrocław

Exhibitions of the Museum of Natural History are open: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays 9.00 – 15.00, last entry 14.15. Thursdays and Sundays: 10.00 – 16.00, last entry 15.15. Mondays: closed.

History The Museum of Natural History, Wroclaw University, came into existence through a fusion of the former zoological and botanical museums and herbarium, i.e. institutions which originally functioned independently within the University or as branches of its institutes. The Zoological Museum came into being in 1814, soon after the establishment of the secular University of Wroc3aw, which was then German (1811). It was founded through the care of Prof. Johann Ludwig Christian Gravenhorst and initially housed in the main edifice of the University at Plac Uniwersytecki. Since the very beginning the collections gathered here were for the purpose of science, education and exhibitions open to the public.

Among the most meritorious scientists, whose collections have been preserved until today and used mainly for scientific purpose, (e.g. descriptive types), were professors Adolph Eduard Grube, Carl Chun, Willy K�kenthal, Ferdynand Pax junior. In 1904 the collections, supervised by W. Kükenthal, were transferred to the current building, erected specially for the Museum. During World War II, when Wroclaw was besieged (Festung Breslau), the building was bombed. Its whole wing having collapsed and the exhibitions, except the Skeletal Hall, got totally ruined, like the rooms intended for didactic purposes. Ca. 50% of the scientific collections survived the war, after which the Museum was taken over by the Polish University authorities. The collections preserved were safeguarded in the charge of Prof. Kazimierz Sembrat and the first curator Doc. Jan Kinel as well as Doc. Zofia Kozikowska (all from Lvov). The building was renovated, partly reconstructed and the collections secured. The modernization of the building, rearrangement of the collections and organization of the first exhibitions were supervised by Prof. Wladyslaw Rydzewski, the present patron of the Museum. In 1974, on the initiative of Prof. Rydzewski within the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Wrocław University, an institute was distinguished. Due to its profile, the new institution incorporated both zoological and botanical collections.

The botanical collection, created in 1821 on the initiative of Ludolph Christian Treviranus was initially a herbarium at the Botanical Garden. Later, through the efforts of Prof. Heinrich Robert Goeppert, the Botanical Museum was established. Other people of merit include Prof. Carl Adolf Jerzy Lauterbach, who bequeathed to these institutions his huge herbarium collected during an expedition to Melanesia and New Guinea. Another distinguished person was Prof....

I visited the Wroclaw Museum of Natural History on a quiet weekday morning, shortly after opening. Entrance was temporarily through the main university entrance, which involved two flights of stairs (although a lift is also available). Entrance was cheap and good value, and there is a small gift shop.

If you are not interested in taxidermy displays of birds and mammals, skulls and skeletons of various animals, or the interaction between insects and humans, then this museum is not for you. However, if you have more than a passing interest, you will be pleased with the public collection and its presentation.

I started on the top floor, which overlooks the floor below. Along the inner edge is a display for invertebrates, but it is the panels on the outer edge, mostly displaying birds, that is most noteworthy. Several hundred birds from just as many species from across the bird class are displayed, including many rare or unusual specimens. Birds are arranged according to their phylogenetic relationships with one another, and labelled with their Polish and scientific names, often with English name, and a map. These names seemed to be accurate from what I could tell (for the most part: I did notice one toucan was mislabelled), and using current correct nomenclature. There is a section for recently extinct fauna that includes a thylacine and a passenger pigeon, both made extinct through the actions of mankind.

On the lower floor is a full blue whale skeleton, displays for reptile and amphibian taxidermy and models, and an array of mammal taxidermy specimens. Although the mammals were in good condition and pleasingly arranged, many were incorrectly named or using old, out-of-date scientific names. I would still recommend a visit for those interested in rare mammals as there were some mammals displayed that were new to me.

The next floors had displays on plants, including herbarium specimens arranged taxonomically, and the relationship between insects and mankind, featuring specimens of economically important pests and disease vectors such as tsetse flies.

The last room is full of skeletons and skulls, including a few birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, but mostly mammals, from fruit bats and possums to giraffes, two species of rhinoceros, and a sei whale. These seemed to be well-labelled and in good condition.

All in all, I would recommend a visit, taking no more than an hour, to anyone in the Wrocław area with an interest in the...

I don't understand how this place can be reviewed so well. There's barely any signage indicating where to go to actually visit the museum. It's hot and dusty in there because it's an old building with no air conditioning or proper ventilation. The vibe is like in any Polish museum in the 90s where you can't even take a backpack inside and a bunch of old ladies hover over you like you're here to steal mammoth bones. I love natural history, but this place is so uninviting and outdated that the concept is a museum...