The National Museum of Natural Sciences (Spanish: Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales) is the national museum of natural history of Spain. It is situated in the center of Madrid, by the Paseo de la Castellana. It is managed by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).
Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales | |
Established | 1771 |
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Location | Madrid, Spain |
Coordinates | 40°26′28″N 3°41′25″W / 40.441036°N 3.690292°W |
Type | Natural history museum |
Visitors | 500,000 per year |
Director | Rafael Zardoya |
Website | www |
The museum traces back its origin to the Real Gabinete de Historia NaturalCharles III. The gabinete was refounded as Real Museo de Historia Natural in 1815.[1] It changed names until its current denomination,[2] received in 1913.[3] The museum originally hosted a collection donated by a Spanish merchant, Pedro F. Dávila. In 1867, some facilities were separated to give birth to other museums (Archeology, Botanic Garden, Zoologic Garden). In 1987 the museum was restructured and enlarged with funds from two smaller museums.
, created in 1771 bySome of the more relevant components of the museum collections are:
The research departments of the museum are: