Together with the mushroom group of the Naturwissenschaftlicher Verein (natural science society), the museum shows around 250 to 300 species of fresh mushrooms, plus microscopy and mushroom identification advice. Free admission, in the pavilion in the Nymphengarten.
Om museet
The museum's foundation was laid by Margravine Karoline Luise of Baden, who assembled an extensive natural history cabinet between 1752 and 1783. After it moved into the court library, the collection was opened to the citizens of Karlsruhe for the first time in 1785 – the year the museum considers its founding date.
To house the growing holdings, the collection building on Friedrichsplatz was built from 1866 to 1872 to designs by Josef Berckmüller. During an air raid in September 1942 the building burned out and most of the collections were lost; only the mollusk collection survived largely intact. Reconstruction dragged on until 1972, and in 2016 the renovated west wing was also completed.
Today the Landesmuseum (state museum) presents the geology and minerals of the Upper Rhine, fossils spanning 540 million years, dioramas, insects, and African and native habitats on more than 5,000 square meters. The vivarium, with more than 30 aquariums and terrariums, is a crowd favorite; a female bamboo shark caused a stir here with the first documented case of virgin birth in sharks in Europe. A new permanent exhibition on human evolution was also announced for 2026. Besides its exhibitions, the museum is a research institution of the state of Baden-Württemberg.
Højdepunkter
Vivarium with more than 30 aquariums and terrariums, including blacktip reef sharks
Giant salamander Andrias scheuchzeri – interpreted in 1726 as a supposed witness of the Biblical Flood
Fossils spanning 540 million years and finds from southern Baden
Large dioramas and African habitats
Minerals and geology of the Upper Rhine
New permanent exhibition “Evolution des Menschen”
Permanente udstillinger
Vivarium – Aquariums and terrariums with fish, sharks, reptiles and amphibians make live animals part of the tour.
Evolution des Menschen – Announced for February 2026, this permanent exhibition uses casts and models to trace the roughly seven-million-year evolution of humans – from upright walking to the development of the brain.
Leben in der Urzeit – Fossils tell the story of the evolution of life over hundreds of millions of years, complemented by the geology and minerals of the Upper Rhine region.
Grundlagt
1785
Ejer
Land Baden-Württemberg
Ledelse
Martin Husemann
Besøgende pr. år
ca. 183.646 (2022)
Entrépriser & rabatter
Voksne
6 €
Nedsat pris
4 €People with severe disabilities, adults in school, vocational training, university or volunteer service, holders of the Ehrenamtskarte BW (volunteer card), groups of 15 or more, holders of certain guest cards (e.g. Rheinpfalzcard, GEOCard)
Børn og unge
gratisgratis til og med 17 år · Children and teens under 18 get free admission to the permanent exhibitions; for major special exhibitions, children 6 and over pay a reduced child rate.
Pensionister
–No senior discount listed.
Personer med handicap
4 €ledsager gratis · Reduced with severe disability ID (Schwerbehindertenausweis); companion (“B” or “H” marker) free.
Studerende og elever
4 €From age 18 with a school or university student ID.
Grupper (fra 15 pers.)
4 € pr. personReduced rate for groups of 15 or more; two accompanying adults free with school classes.
Familier
–Family ticket only for major special exhibitions (most recently €16).
Annual pass
20 €Reduced €16
Gratis entré:Free admission to the permanent and small exhibitions on Fridays from 13:00 (not on public holidays)
Prices for the permanent exhibitions. Major special exhibitions cost extra (most recently “Versammelt”: €8, reduced €6, children 6–17 €3, family €16). Free with the Karlsruher Kinderpass, the Museums-PASS-Musées and for ICOM and Museumsbund members. Payment by EC/Girocard debit card possible.
Tilgængelighed
Kørestolsvenlig
Elevator
Handicaptoilet
Handicapparkering: ingen oplysninger
Servicehunde tilladt
Taktile tilbud
Rundvisninger på tegnsprog
Letlæste tilbud
Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger
Ramp at the main entrance, automatic door openers, elevators to all levels, wheelchair-accessible restroom with Euro key, plus first-aid and baby changing room on the first floor; portable seating. Tours in Easy Language and German Sign Language (DGS), tactile offerings, quiet hours and dementia-friendly programs. Contact: barrierefreiheit@smnk.de.
Børn og familie
Velegnet til børn og familier
Entré for børn
gratis til og med 17 år
Familieomvisninger & workshops
Opgavehæfte, skattejagt eller audioguide for børn
Puslerum
Børnefødselsdage
Children's workshops three times a month (ages 6–7 and 8–10), experiments and research courses; activity booklets for exploring independently. Birthday parties for ages 5 and up, museum mystery for ages 9 to 12. Baby changing room on the first floor.
Transport & parkering
Med offentlig transport
Marktplatz
Marktplatz stop (S1/S11, S2, S5, tram 1) or Ettlinger Tor/Staatstheater (S1/S11, S4, S52, S7, S8, tram 2), each a few minutes' walk
I bil
Parkering muligt
No parking of its own; the museum lists the Friedrichsplatz, Landesbibliothek, IHK, and Ettlinger Tor-Center parking garages. Bus parking at the Festplatz or at the theater.
By car via the B10 (city center) onto Kriegsstraße, at Ettlinger Tor toward the city center.
Museum shop with cafeteria in the Kassettensaal on the upper floor (organic and fair-trade drinks, cake, snacks).
Arrangementer & udlejning
Museet har ikke offentliggjort oplysninger om dette – spørg venligst museet direkte.
Planlæg dit besøg
Rundvisninger
ja · varighed ca. 60 min.
Tilbud til skoler
ja
Godt at vide
Group tours (up to 15 people, about 60 min.) Tue–Fri €50, on weekends and public holidays €70, plus admission if applicable; register at least two weeks in advance via buchungen@smnk.de or 0721 175-2152. About a dozen themed tours; programs for schools.