Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The National Museum of Natural History (MNHN) is a French institution for higher education and research founded on 10 June 1793 by decree of the National Convention. He succeeded the Royal Garden of Medicinal Plants, created in 1626 by Guy de La Brosse under Louis XIII, and opened to the public in 1640. This garden, intended for the study of plants useful for health, provided courses in botany, chemistry and anatomy in French, an innovation for the time.

In the 18th century, under the direction of Buffon (1739-1788), the King's Garden expanded and modernized, becoming an international scientific lighthouse. Buffon recruits renowned naturalists such as Daubenton, Lamarck and Dolomieu, and enriches the collections through naturalistic expeditions. The French Revolution transformed the Garden into a museum in 1793, with the missions of public education, collections and scientific research.

The museum developed in the 19th century with figures such as Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire and Cuvier, pioneers in zoology and paleontology. The collections are enriched by expeditions (Egypt, South America, Antarctica) and new buildings are built, such as the gallery of Mineralology (1837) and the gallery of Paleontology (1898). The 20th century saw the financial autonomy of the Museum (1907) and its commitment to nature conservation, with the creation of reserves and research stations.

Today, the Museum manages 14 sites in France, including the Jardin des Plantes in Paris, and houses 68 million specimens. It is organized into three scientific departments ("Man and Environment", "Adaptation of Living", "Origins and Evolution") and four technical directorates. It trains approximately 500 students a year and employs 2,350 people, including 600 researchers.

Its missions include collections management, dissemination of scientific culture, research, teaching and expertise. The Museum plays a key role in the study of biodiversity, evolution and interactions between man and nature, while adapting to contemporary issues such as ecological transition.

The Museum is also a major player in the preservation of natural heritage, with programs such as Vigie-Nature and international partnerships. Its history reflects the evolution of natural sciences, from medieval herbalism to modern research on biodiversity and climate.

Collection

Aujourd'hui le Muséum est responsable de la conservation d'un patrimoine de 62 millions de spécimens dont plusieurs millions de « types » de tous genres, spécimens incluant des centaines de milliers de plantes vivantes et environ 3 500 animaux vivants.

Avec 1 800 personnes en France, dont une majorité de chercheurs et de techniciens, le Muséum tient un rôle national et international majeur dans le développement de la recherche en histoire naturelle et dans la diffusion de la culture scientifique.

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