Naturhistorisches Museum Nürnberg

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The Naturhistorische Gesellschaft Nürnberg (Nuremberg Natural History Society) was founded in 1801 and soon began building collections, which were initially kept in members' homes. In 1884/85 it opened a first museum with two small halls in the house "Zur Blume"; it was open only on Sundays for two hours and quickly became too cramped.

An endowment from the Berolzheimer family made it possible to build the Luitpoldhaus, where the collections were on display from July 1913. The building was destroyed in the air raid of January 2, 1945; although much had been moved to safety, many objects were lost, especially from the geology collection. After a reconstruction carried out largely by members in their spare time, the museum reopened in 1960.

Because of ongoing lack of space, the decision was made in 1995 to move into the Norishalle on Marientorgraben, a listed exposed-concrete building that Heinrich Graber had built in 1965–1969 for the Landesgewerbeanstalt Bayern. After conversion, the society moved in together with the city archives in 2000 and gradually reinstalled its departments. To this day, volunteer members look after the collections, the exhibition and the guided tours. On display are prehistory up to the Iron Age, geology including karst and cave studies, ecology, ethnology with a focus on Costa Rica among other regions, ancient Rome, and finds from the society's excavations in the Nabataean rock city of Petra, which have been running for more than 50 years.

Highlights

• Nabataean art from Petra – according to the museum, unique north of the Alps
• Prehistory from the Stone Age to the Iron Age
• "Roma Aeterna" on everyday life in ancient Rome
• Geology with karst and cave studies
• Mineral display with around 240 minerals and crystals

Permanent exhibitions

• Petra – Auslandsarchäologie – Finds and research results from more than 50 years of the society's excavations in the Nabataean rock city of Petra in Jordan.
• Vorgeschichte – Archaeological finds from the Stone Age to the Iron Age.
• Geologie und Karst-/Höhlenkunde – Rocks, minerals and Earth history, plus a section on karst and cave studies.

Operated by

Naturhistorische Gesellschaft Nürnberg e. V.

Admission & discounts

Free admission: International Museum Day and the Celtic Festival (Keltenfest)

Free admission for members of the Naturhistorische Gesellschaft and with the Bayerische Ehrenamtskarte (Bavarian volunteer card).

Accessibility

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

According to the museum, suitable for wheelchair users. Dogs are not allowed, except assistance dogs such as guide dogs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Kids’ birthday parties

Family tours on everyday life in ancient Rome followed by mosaic crafting (€4 per mosaic, max. 15 places), children's programs during school holidays, and children's birthday parties by arrangement.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop with the society's publications, replicas, minerals, fossils, souvenirs and toys.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit