Museum am Schölerberg

About the museum

The museum's roots go back to the 19th century: the Naturwissenschaftlicher Verein Osnabrück (natural science society) was founded in 1870, followed by a museum society in 1879. Many of today's collection holdings come from the society and from private collectors in the region; the oldest biological collections date back to 1840. In 1929 the collections passed to the city of Osnabrück, and in 1971 natural history became an independent municipal museum.

A new building was constructed on the Schölerberg between the zoo and the Kreishaus (district administration building) and opened in 1988. Two years earlier, in October 1986, the planetarium had already begun operating; it was later converted to fulldome video technology. In 1997 the museum was recognized as a regional environmental education center, and it also serves as the information center of the UNESCO Geopark TERRA.vita.

In April 2023, a completely redesigned permanent exhibition opened. Covering around 1,800 square meters, it leads from the formation of the Earth to future models for the city, organized into the areas of astronomy, water, forest, open land, and urban life. The outstanding object of the geological collection is the roughly 308-million-year-old root stock of a sigillaria (seal tree) from the Piesberg. The museum also includes a freely accessible nature garden with about 800 native plant species.

Highlights

• Root stock of a sigillaria (Sigillaria) from the Upper Carboniferous of the Piesberg, around 308 million years old
• Reconstructed Carboniferous forest in which augmented reality shows extinct animals
• Planetarium with fulldome technology under an 8-meter dome
• Interactive stations such as the whisper floor, mushroom telephone, and 180-degree cinema
• Nature garden with around 800 native plant species, free all year

Permanent exhibitions

• Reise durch die Zeit – Permanent exhibition on the development of life from the origin of the Earth to the city of the future, with a Carboniferous forest, animals of the Osnabrück region, and many hands-on stations.
• Museumsgarten – Nature garden on the southern slope of the Schölerberg with a pond, dry stone wall, and native plants as inspiration for nature-friendly gardening.

Operated by

Stadt Osnabrück

Director

Norbert Niedernostheide

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free museum admission on the first Friday of every month

Special events and programs of the environmental education center have their own prices.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Access to the planetarium is wheelchair-accessible; in the dome hall, seats can be removed to make room for several wheelchairs. Assistance dogs are welcome. The public Sunday tour can be booked with sign language interpretation (registration by the Friday before).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Kids’ birthday parties

Family series "Forschen – Staunen – Entdecken" (Research – Marvel – Discover) on the third Sunday of every month from 10:30 to 12:30 for children aged 6 to 12 with an accompanying adult (children €4, adults €8, registration required). Also holiday programs, children's birthday parties on themes such as dinosaurs, the moon, or soil, as well as children's and family shows in the planetarium.

Getting there & parking

By car via the A 30, exit Osnabrück-Nahne, then follow the "Zoo" signs. The museum is located between the zoo and the Kreishaus of the district and on the Osnabrück circular cycle route (station 1 – Zoo).

Amenities & dining

• Coat check
• Lockers

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Up to 200 guests.

Conference area "unter.bau" with a large conference room (190 m², up to 200 people in theater-style seating) and a seminar room (40 m², up to 35 people); the large hall overlooks the zoo's flamingo enclosure. Planetarium shows and museum tours can be added.

Plan your visit