Description
The State Darwin Museum in Moscow is a premier natural history museum dedicated to the theory of evolution and the diversity of life on Earth. Established in 1907 by Alexander Kohts, it was the world's first museum focused on biological evolution. Located at 57 Vavilova Street, the museum spans over 5,000 square meters and houses approximately 400,000 exhibits, including taxidermied animals, fossils, and interactive displays. Notable exhibits include dinosaur skeletons, a complete blue whale skeleton, and models illustrating the evolutionary process. The museum also hosts over 50 temporary exhibitions annually, covering topics from ecology to genetics.
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and is closed on Mondays and the first of January. Admission fees are as follows:
General Admission: 550 rubles for adults; 250 rubles for students, pensioners, and certain other groups.
Integrated Ticket (includes permanent and temporary exhibitions, interactive centre): 700 rubles for adults; 350 rubles for reduced categories.
Evening Admission (Thursday 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM): 200 rubles for adults; 100 rubles for reduced categories.
Children under 7 years old enter for free. Moscow school and college students can obtain free tickets at the museum box office upon presentation of a valid student ID.
The museum is accessible via public transportation. The Akademicheskaya Metro Station (Orange Line) is approximately a 500-meter walk from the museum. Bus number 119 stops directly at the museum. The museum is wheelchair accessible and provides amenities such as a café and gift shop. It is advisable to dress warmly, as Moscow's climate can be cold, especially during the winter months.