At the Russian Academy of Sciences there is a Zoological Museum, which is the largest in our country both in terms of the territory occupied and in terms of funds. The second place is firmly held by a similar institution at Moscow State University. The Zoological Museum on Bolshaya Nikitskaya is one of the ten largest institutions of its kind in the world.
Famous patrons of Russia
The history of its creation is as follows. In 1802, the state launched an appeal for donations for education. Among the first to respond was the learned naturalist and philanthropist Pavel G. Demidov (1739-1821), a descendant of a famous dynasty. His ascetic activity is very extensive - in 1803, at his own expense, he opened a school of higher sciences, which bore his name until 1919. At the same time, he donates funds in the amount of 100,000 rubles, an extensive library andthe natural science collection he collected during his travels around the world to the future Moscow State University. The zoological museum will come into being thanks to these donations. In addition, in 1805, P. G. Demidov transferred to Moscow University the Mintz Cabinet, which contained the richest collections (several thousand) of medals and coins. These treasures subsequently formed the main fund of the “Natural History Cabinet” formed earlier, in 1791.
Professional approach
In 1755, by decree of Empress Elizaveta 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 is 215 years old.
After the funds of the “Cabinet of Natural History” were significantly replenished through the efforts of the patron P. G. Demidov, there was a need to systematize them. This responsible business was entrusted to the already well-established (compiled an inventory of a similar office in Paris) Russian naturalist G. I. Fischer (full name - Grigory Ivanovich (Johann Gottgelf, Gotthelf) Fischer von Waldheim, years of life - 1771-1853). The student and follower of J. Cuvier, the author of the dissertation “On the Breath of Animals”, G. I. Fischer rejected the proposal of the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, who invited him to systematize his “natural history cabinet”, and remained in Moscow, in the future Moscow State University. The Zoological Museum was created through his efforts.
Ascetic activity
In 1806-1807he conducted the first inventory of all collections, including coins and medals. As you know, in 1812 Moscow burned. A lot of buildings perished in this fire, the 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 conchological (shells and mollusks) collection during the fire, began to restore the “office”, transferring his own collections, collections and the library to it. Then, using his personal authority and fame in scientific circles, he turned to natural scientists and curators of private collections with a request to help restore the lost museum, the revival of which could already be discussed in 1814. The second inventory, done by G. I. Fisher, was completed in 1822, and its data were published. Simultaneously with the systematization of funds, a zoological collection was allocated, and a new museum at the university was created only on its basis. By 1830, thanks to the selfless activity of G. I. Fischer, the number of exhibits reaches 25 thousand items.
Necessary Refurbishment
The next improvement was made already in 1860. Then all the funds of the museum were divided into educational, scientific and exposition. For visitors, the future Zoological Museum of 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 became cramped. And therefore, in 1989-1902, a new specialized three-story building was built for the museum according to the projectacademician, hereditary architect K. M. Bykovsky, at that time - the chief architect of Moscow University. He built university buildings on Maiden's Field. On Bolshaya Nikitskaya, in addition to the most beautiful building of the Zoological Museum, K. M. Bykovsky erected a library and buildings of several faculties.
A beautiful classical building located in the heart of the capital. The nearest metro stations are “Biblioteka im. Lenin" and "Okhotny Ryad". The museum moved to it from the old building on Mokhovaya. After the move, the museum becomes public only in 1911.
Soviet reformations
In 1930, the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University in Moscow was given to the Faculty of Biology. A major reorganization took place in the 1990s. 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 excursions during the same time reaches 1700. More detailed and extensive information on each type of scientific collections is widely available. Three well-equipped viewing rooms are given to visitors - two on the first floor, one (Bone Hall) - on the second. All collections are arranged according to species proximity, from protozoa to vertebrates.
Serious scientific research
The Research Zoological Museum of Moscow State University is doing serious work -studies and systematizes knowledge about animals in general, about modern ones in particular. Therefore, out of the available 10 million exhibits, only 8 are exhibited, among which there are unique representatives of the world fauna, for example, the largest and heaviest goliath beetle and hundreds of other one-of-a-kind specimens. It is not surprising that Muscovites start visiting this museum at a very young age - they come here with their one-year-old children and are satisfied with the tour. The Zoological Museum of Moscow State University, the reviews of which are mostly positive, is really very good, keeping up with the times, providing all the "chips" that can attract and interest as many visitors as possible. And extraordinary people work here as guides. But always when visiting any museum in the world there are people who think that the guides speak quietly and the exhibits are covered with dust. The photo shows that this is not the case.
Ticket prices, reviews, interesting facts
You can be convinced of the colorfulness and high level of the collections by visiting the museum. The ticket price is only 100 rubles for a child in an excursion group of at least 20 people. For an adult with excursion service - 250 rubles, without an excursion - 200. There is a flexible system of benefits, free days for special categories of citizens and one free night a year.
Periodical exhibitions are very interesting. Some visitors buy tickets in advance with advance payment. It remains to add a few interesting facts - for some time in the apartment of Professor A. N. Severtsev, located 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" by M. A. Bulgakov.
