Natural History Museum

Natural History Museum Tremendous natural phenomena, unusual animals and plants, as well as the question of the origin of animate and inanimate nature have fascinated human beings since time immemorial. In the Natural History Museum, extensive collections from the present and prehistoric times bear testimony to this. In addition to exhibits of today's fauna and flora, numerous findings from the geological past of Rhineland-Palatinate are on display. Particular mention should be made of the c. 45-million-year-old primeval horse from the Eekfelder Maar and the collection of Ice Age animals. The Mainz quagga group is world famous. It is the only museum to possess three of these extinct steppe zebras, of which only 23 specimens have still survived world-wide.

The State Collection for Biology of Rhineland-Palatinate has been housed in the Natural History Museum since 1988. It is the state's documentation center for all the evidence of the history of the earth and life in Rhineland-Palatinate. The material kept in it comes from its own scientific excavations, such as, for example, in Eckfeld and Eppelsheim, or other institutions' excavations and collections. Furthermore, scientifically valuable individual items or whole collections also come into the possession of the State Collection by donation or purchase.

The services offered by the Natural History Museum also, of course, include a wide-ranging educational program. Apart from c1assical guided tours of the museum, holiday programs, museum games and talks for children are a magnet for the young public.

Natural History Museum
State Colleetion for the Biology of Rhineland-Palatinate Mitternacht/Reichklarastraße 1
55116 Mainz
Tel. +49 (0) 6131-122646
Fax +49 (0) 6131-122975
naturhistorisches.museum[at]stadt.mainz.de