Sauriermuseum Aathal

About the museum

It all began in 1977 with a four-and-a-half-metre-long fossil giant tortoise, which the young mineral dealer Hans-Jakob “Köbi” Siber displayed in his family’s shop in Aathal. When he showed the eight-metre-long skeleton of an Edmontosaurus four years later, the crowds are said to have brought traffic on the main road to a standstill. Drawing on these experiences, Siber opened the Sauriermuseum Aathal in 1992 in a former cotton mill.

After excavations in North America and Peru, he secured the rights to the Howe Quarry in Wyoming, one of the famous dinosaur sites of the Jurassic period. The finds recovered there are prepared in the museum’s laboratory in front of the public and made ready for exhibition. Over the years this created a collection of dinosaurs from the Late Jurassic, about 150 million years ago, which attracts international attention; some finds were donated to the Natural History Museum of the University of Zurich.

Besides the original dinosaurs, the museum shows other fossils such as trilobites, a crocodile, flying and marine reptiles, as well as amber, fossil wood and meteorites, complemented by replicas and models. A second exhibition in the neighbouring building presents the mineral collection of the museum’s founder (Crystal Museum). Outside, the DinoGiardino invites visitors with a playground and picnic area. The museum is privately run and supported by a friends’ association.

Highlights

• Switzerland’s largest dinosaur exhibition with skeletons from its own excavations in Wyoming
• View into the preparation laboratory (“Schaupräparation”) next to the cafeteria
• Original T. rex “Trinity” and other large skeletons such as the Brachiosaurus
• Crystal Museum with around 700 minerals and crystals from the museum’s founder
• DinoGiardino with playground, barbecue areas and outdoor dinosaur models

Permanent exhibitions

• Dinosaurier aus eigener Grabung – The heart of the collection is dinosaur skeletons from the museum’s own excavations in Wyoming, including “Lilly” and “E.T.”, complemented by trilobites, flying and marine reptiles, amber, fossil wood and meteorites.
• Kristallmuseum H. J. Siber – Around 700 minerals and crystals from more than 60 years of collecting by the museum’s founder, displayed in the neighbouring building (entrance through the restaurant “Dino Beiz’li”).
• DinoGiardino – Outdoor area with dinosaur models, playground and picnic area, plus a plant guide to plants that already lived in the age of the dinosaurs.

Founded

1992

Operated by

Privatmuseum von Hans-Jakob Siber; Förderverein VFSMA

Admission & discounts

Discounts according to the museum website: Swiss Museum Pass, Raiffeisen Member Plus, Association of Swiss Museums, ICOM, KulturLegi Canton of Zurich (30% on individual and family admission), Bank Avera (30%), CSS Coins (individual and family admissions only). Discounts cannot be combined; outside opening hours only group rates apply. Payment by cash, card or Twint; euro banknotes are accepted (change given in francs).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• 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

Wheelchair users should report on site at +41 44 932 14 18 and will be let in by staff; the lift and toilet are wheelchair accessible. The “Crystal Museum” exhibition in the neighbouring building is not wheelchair accessible because of its historic architecture. Dogs are not allowed, except guide dogs and therapy dogs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

Children’s birthday parties from CHF 260 for up to 10 people (with adventure tour or workshop), workshops (including Fossil Researcher from age 5), dino film, worksheets for kindergarten and school. In the DinoGiardino there is a slide, an excavation site and a carousel for little ones. Strollers can be left in front of the entrance or next to the ticket desk; changing tables by the toilets.

Getting there & parking

The museum is on the main road between Uster and Wetzikon. Coaches drop guests off at the museum and park at Aathal station; registration is required as there is no coach parking. School classes from the Canton of Zurich travel with the ZVV for CHF 5 per person.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Dinosaur café in the first-floor gallery with a view of the Brachiosaurus (independently operated); restaurant “Dino Beiz’li” in the neighbouring building; museum shop and “Rock Shop” with fossils and minerals. Cloakrooms and lockers near the toilets. Picnics and barbecues in the garden (also in the cafeteria if you buy a drink, but not in the exhibition).

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit