Naturmuseum St. Gallen

About the museum

The natural history museum's collections reach far back: the oldest object, a Nile crocodile about four metres long, was donated to the city library in 1623. The Naturmuseum itself was founded on 28 September 1846; Jacob Wartmann was its first director. The holdings moved several times, from the town hall to the cantonal school and in 1877 to the Kunklerbau at the Stadtpark, which at times also housed the art, history and ethnology collections.

After the dilapidated building was closed in 1971, the holdings were put into storage; in 1987 the restored and extended building reopened as the Natur- und Kunstmuseum. As part of the city's strategy "Three museums – three buildings", the population voted in 2012 in favour of a separate natural history museum. The new building on Rorschacher Strasse was begun in 2014 and opened on 12 November 2016.

The building by the Zurich architects Meier Hug and Semadeni features a façade of corrugated concrete and a jagged roofscape. On roughly 2,000 square metres the permanent exhibition presents walk-in spatial scenes in seven thematic areas; most objects are open and can be seen up close. Since 2018 a museum park between the museum, the church and the Botanical Garden has been part of it; the offering is complemented by a museum café, a public library and a shop. The museum is also the cantonal reporting office for natural finds.

Highlights

• Landscape relief of St. Gallen and Appenzell (37 m²)
• Original skeleton of a duck-billed dinosaur
• Large predators "In the Realm of the Bear" and living wood ants
• Open exhibition concept with touch, scent and listening stations
• Museum park with a researchers' pond and digital museum guide

Permanent exhibitions

• Vom Bodensee zum Ringelspitz – Room with the largest landscape relief of the cantons of St. Gallen and Appenzell and the animals of the regional habitats.
• Leben im Wandel – Journey through the evolutionary history of life with fossils and an original skeleton of a duck-billed dinosaur.
• Im Reich des Bären – Native large predators at eye level, with touch and listening stations and a recreated cave with a cave bear skeleton.

Founded

1846

Admission & discounts

Free admission for, among others, members of the Verein Freunde des Naturmuseums, VMS and ICOM, holders of the Bodensee-Erlebniskarte, the Swiss Museum Pass and the Raiffeisen bank card Member Plus, as well as media professionals according to the website.

Accessibility

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

The main entrance is at ground level. A visitor lift with voice announcements serves all exhibition areas; the stairs have handrails on both sides with Braille labelling of the floors. There is a wheelchair-accessible toilet on the first floor. A wheelchair can be borrowed; exhibition texts of the special exhibition are available in large print. Guide dogs for the blind are permitted, but because of the animal specimens they may react to scents – advance notice recommended. Information in Easy Language is available. In front of the museum there is a parking space for people with an IV parking card.

Kids & families

Great for kids & familiesRecommended for ages 5+

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly: not available

A visit from about age 5 is recommended; children under 12 may explore the exhibition only when accompanied by adults. In the open exhibition, pushchairs and back carriers are not possible; pushchairs can be left in the entrance area, and a baby carrier is available at the ticket desk. There are petting furs, touch, scent and listening stations, seasonal children's trails (approx. ages 4–8, free), craft afternoons and the youth lab (from 3rd grade, CHF 15).

Getting there & parking

Motorway exit St. Gallen Neudorf.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Museum café (Tue–Sun during opening hours, also without museum admission; terrace in the museum park); public library and shop on site.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 100 guests.

Two halls for events related to the museum's themes: Walter & Verena Spühl Hall (94 m², up to 100 people) and Emil Bächler Hall (78 m², up to 40 people); aperitif with local catering possible.

Plan your visit