Muzeum Geologiczne Państwowego Instytutu Geologicznego

About the museum

The Geological Museum has existed since 1919, that is, since the founding of the Polish Geological Institute, and has already celebrated its centenary. It is housed in the historic building of the institute at ul. Rakowiecka, built in 1925–1930 to a design by Marian Lalewicz; the entrance for visitors is from ul. Wiśniowa.

The museum’s collections, together with those of the institute’s regional branches, contain the full range of scientific material on the geological structure of Poland. The displays comprise rich collections of rocks, minerals and fossils arranged in thematic exhibitions. The permanent exhibitions are devoted, among other things, to the matter of the Earth, the history of Poland written in stone, mineral resources, the fossil world, magmatism, sedimentation, metamorphism and the history of the institute in 1919–1999.

In the main hall visitors can see assembled skeletons of the woolly mammoth, the woolly rhinoceros and the cave bear, as well as a model of the dinosaur Dilophosaurus and dinosaur tracks found near the Holy Cross Mountains (Góry Świętokrzyskie). They are complemented by a model of a desert and a full-size reconstruction of a cave. The exhibitions hold about 4.5 thousand exhibits.

Highlights

• Skeletons of the woolly mammoth, woolly rhinoceros and cave bear
• Reconstruction of Dilophosaurus and dinosaur tracks
• Full-size reconstruction of a cave and a model of a desert
• Collections of rocks, minerals and fossils
• Eight thematic permanent exhibitions, including “Materia Ziemi” (Matter of the Earth) and “Skamieniały Świat” (The Fossil World)

Permanent exhibitions

• Materia Ziemi – Permanent exhibition devoted to the matter of the Earth.
• Skamieniały Świat – Permanent exhibition devoted to fossils.
• Historia Polski w kamieniu pisana – Permanent exhibition on the geological history of Poland.

Founded

1919

Operated by

Państwowy Instytut Geologiczny – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the museum is free; guided tours and educational activities are paid, and the museum publishes their prices on its website.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

The exhibition is intended for children and young people as well as for adults; the museum runs educational activities.

Getting there & parking

The museum entrance is on ul. Wiśniowa.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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