Gothenburg Museum of Natural History

What are the highlights of the Gothenburg Museum of Natural History?

The Gothenburg Museum of Natural History is home to a great many impressive sights. Perhaps the most popular of all is the Malm Whale – a stuffed and mounted male blue whale which was beached to the south west of Gothenburg all the way back on 29 October 1865. Despite his young age, the whale measures a whopping 16.41 metres and weighs an impressive 25 tonnes. When the museum was built they had to design a special hall specifically to house this majestic marine mammal.

If you're fascinated by enormous animals, then you should also be sure to check out the Mammals Gallery. Here you'll have yet another chance to feel super small again, standing next to a 5-tonne stuffed African elephant.

Adults and kids alike will doubtless be spellbound by the museum's deadly reptiles and enormous sharks. If the sheer thought of that doesn't make your skin crawl, then be sure to leave plenty of time for the Marine & Reptile Hall and keep your eyes peeled for the smiling alligator at the end.

History of the Gothenburg Museum of Natural History

The Museum of Natural History is the oldest museum in Gothenburg. It was founded in 1833 when a wave of interest in natural history swept over Sweden, although the current building was first inaugurated in 1923. As the years have gone by, the museum has expanded somewhat, and most recently in 1981 it added new annexes which house exhibition space and workshops.

An interesting aspect of the museum's history is the well-preserved dioramas from the 1910s and 1920s which provide some insight into the history of both the museum and of education. The dioramas were painted and sculpted by hand in order to bring life to painstakingly taxidermal and articulated animals. To create the illusion of an endless landscape, the designers even considered how the sunlight would fall and what angle visitors would contemplate their scenes from. You'll have ample opportunity to learn about this side of the museum's early history on your visit.

Good to know about the Gothenburg Museum of Natural History

The Gothenburg Museum of Natural History is home to some impressive taxidermal animals in a classic museum environment which dates all the way back to the 19th century, but there are modern exhibitions on display as well. You'll even have the option to visit digital exhibitions from the peace and tranquillity of your sofa at home, either before or after your physical visit to the museum. Among other things, you can learn all about elemental beings and folklore relating to animals.

The Gothenburg Museum of Natural History is located in Slottsskogen Park, next to a leafy walking path and some family-friendly attractions such as the Children's Zoo, a playground and a frisbee golf course. There are also many quaint cafés and affordable restaurants in the area if you need to recharge your batteries after a busy day at the museum before you continue exploring the rest of Gothenburg.

There is no entrance fee and the museum is relatively central, just under 2 miles from Gothenburg Central Station. The closest tram stop is Linnéplatsen and the Vegagatan Bus Stop is just a few hundred metres away from the museum.