Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Mining Museum, specializing in the study of minerals, is one of the oldest museums in France. Founded in 1794, a year after the National Museum of Natural History and the Louvre Museum, it is part of the movement to create post-revolutionary scientific institutions. Its most comprehensive collections in the world include more than 100,000 samples, including 4,000 exhibits in 12 theatres. The museum is distinguished by its systematic collection and its typical species, ranking it among the world's largest mineralogy museums.

The museum has been located since 1815 in the Vendôme hotel at 60 boulevard Saint-Michel in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. It originated from René Just Haüy, founder of the collections and museum in 1794. Among his treasures are 700 gems, 300 meteorites, and artificial minerals, as well as part of the Jewels of the French Crown, attributed to the École des Mines in 1887.

The museum's collections, linked to the École nationale supérieure des mines in Paris, reflect its historical role in teaching and research in geology and mineralogy. The museum remains a reference point for scientists and the general public, combining historical heritage and scientific advances.

Collection

Ses collections, parmi les plus complètes du monde, comprennent plus de 100 000 échantillons, dont plus de 4000 sont exposés en vitrine dans 12 salles.
Le musée possède notamment une collection de 700 gemmes, de 300 météorites et de minéraux artificiels. Parmi les pièces les plus spectaculaires, une partie des gemmes taillées provenant des Joyaux de la Couronne ont été attribuées à l'Ecole des Mines en 1887.

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