Zoological Museum of Moscow State University. Zoological Museum of Moscow State University on Bolshaya Nikitskaya: excursions, prices, reviews

At the Russian Academy of Sciences there is a Zoological Museum, which is the largest in our country both in terms of occupied territory and in terms of the volume of funds. The second place is firmly held by such an institution at Moscow State University. The Zoological Museum on Bolshaya Nikitskaya is one of the ten largest in the world institutions of this profile.

Famous patrons of Russia

The history of its creation is as follows. In 1802, the state appealed for donations for education. Among the first responders was a scientist naturalist and philanthropist Pavel Grigorievich Demidov (1739-1821), a descendant of the famous dynasty. His career is very extensive: at his own expense he opened a college of higher sciences in 1803, which bore his name until 1919. At the same time, he transfers funds in the amount of 100,000 rubles, an extensive library and collected by him during the travels around the world a natural-science collection to the future of Moscow State University. The Zoological Museum is due to these donations. In addition, in 1805 PG Demidov transferred to the Moscow University Mints cabinet, which contained the richest collections (several thousand) of medals and coins. These treasures and subsequently formed the main foundation of the earlier, in 1791, "cabinet of natural history."

Professional approach

In 1755 by decree of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna the Imperial Moscow University - Moscow State University was founded. The Zoological Museum is 36 years younger, which does not prevent it from being considered one of the oldest natural-science organizations. He turned 215 years old. After the funds of the "cabinet of natural history" were significantly enlarged by the efforts of the patron of art of PG Demidov, there arose a need for their systematization. This responsible work was commissioned by the well-known Russian expert GI Fisher (full name Grigory Ivanovich (Johann Gottgelf, Gotthelf) Fischer von Waldheim, years of life-1771-1853) who had already proved himself well-proven (he compiled an inventory of a similar cabinet in Paris). The student and follower J. Cuvier, the author of the dissertation "On the breathing of animals," GI Fisher rejected the offer of the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, who invited him to systematize his "cabinet of natural history", and stayed in Moscow, in the future MSU. The Zoological Museum was created by his efforts.

Subversion

In 1806-1807 he was the first inventory of all collections, including coins and medals. As is known, in 1812 Moscow burned. In this fire, many buildings were killed, priceless collections of the future Zoological Museum were almost completely destroyed. And the patriot of Russia, Grigory Ivanovich Fisher, who managed to save part of the conchiological (shell and shellfish) collection during the fire, began to restore the "cabinet", transferring his own collections, collections and library to it. Then, using his personal authority and fame in the scientific community, he turned to naturalists and custodians of private collections with a request to help in the restoration of the deceased museum, a revival which could be spoken already in 1814. The second inventory, done by GI Fisher, was completed in 1822, and its data were published. Simultaneously with the systematization of funds, a zoological collection was singled out, and the new museum at the university was created only on its basis. By 1830, thanks to the selfless activity of GI Fisher, the number of exhibits reached 25 thousand units.

Required Reorganization

The next improvement was already in 1860. Then all the funds of the museum were divided into educational, scientific and exhibition. For visitors the future Zoological Museum of the Moscow State University. Lomonosov opened in 1866. Of course, throughout the years of its existence, it has developed dynamically, and by the end of the century the premises allocated for it have become tight. And so in 1989-1902 for the museum was built a new specialized three-story building designed by the academician, the hereditary architect KM Bykovsky, at that time - the chief architect of the Moscow University. They built university buildings on the Devichi Field. On Bolshaya Nikitskaya, in addition to the most beautiful building of the Zoological Museum, KM Bykovskii erected a library and buildings of several faculties.

The most beautiful building, made in classical style, is located in the heart of the capital. The nearest metro stations are the " Lenin and Okhotny Ryad. It moved the museum from the old building on Mokhovaya. After the move, the museum became public only in 1911.

Soviet Reformation

In 1930, the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University in Moscow was given to the biological faculty. Serious reorganization occurred in the 90 years of the last century. After all the ordeals the museum acquires an independent status. To date, its scientific funds reach several million units. It is visited by up to 150,000 people a year, the number of guided tours at the same time reaches a figure of 1,700. There is broader access to more detailed and extensive information on each type of scientific collections. Three viewing well equipped halls are given to visitors - two on the first floor, one (Bone room) - on the second. All collections are built according to species affinity, from protozoa to vertebrates.

Serious scientific research

The Scientific Research Zoological Museum of the Moscow State University is conducting serious work - studying and systematizing knowledge about animals in general, about modern in particular. Therefore, only 8 of the available 10 million exhibits are exhibited, among which there are unique representatives of the world fauna, for example, the largest and heaviest beetle-goliath and hundreds of other unique specimens of its kind. It's no wonder that Muscovites begin to visit this museum at a very young age - they come here with one-year-old children and are happy with the excursion. Zoological Museum of Moscow State University, reviews about which in the majority are very positive, are really very good, it keeps pace with the times, providing for all the "chips" that can attract and interest as many visitors as possible. And guides are working here people are extraordinary. But always when visiting any museum in the world there are people who believe that guides say quietly, and the exhibits are covered with dust. The photo shows that this is not true.

Ticket prices, reviews, interesting facts

You can check the color and high level of the collections by visiting the museum. The cost of the ticket is only 100 rubles for the child as part of the excursion group, numbering at least 20 people. For an adult with sightseeing services - 250 rubles, without an excursion - 200. There is a flexible system of benefits, free days for special categories of citizens and one free night in the year. Very interesting are periodic exhibitions. Some visitors buy tickets in advance with a prepayment. It remains to add a few interesting facts - for a while in the apartment of Professor AN Severtsev, who is in the building of the museum, which was the founder of the evolutionary morphology of animals, lived Marina Tsvetaeva. And he himself served as a prototype for the hero of the "Fatal eggs" of M. A. Bulgakov.