National Museum of Natural History

The National Museum of Natural Sciences in Madrid is a large collection of natural objects and materials from around the world. The building holds preserved animals, fossils, minerals, and rocks that show how diverse nature can be.

A Spanish king founded the museum in the late 1700s using a collection of minerals and natural objects as its starting point. Since then it has grown and become an important center for scientific research about the natural world.

The museum shows how people have always tried to understand and organize the natural world around them. Visitors see which animals and rocks belong to Spain and how they fit into the larger story of life on Earth.

The museum sits in a regular residential neighborhood and is easy to reach by public transportation. The rooms are spacious, so you can walk around comfortably and view the displays at your own pace.

In the outdoor area you can see petrified tree trunks that show how ancient plants turned to stone over millions of years. These pieces let visitors literally hold time in their hands.

Location: Madrid

Inception: October 17, 1771

Founders: Charles III of Spain

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Operator: CSIC

Part of: Spanish National Research Council

Address: Calle de José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2

Opening Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10:00-17:00; Saturday,Sunday 10:00-20:00; July,August: Saturday 10:00-15:00; Monday off; Holidays Monday 10:00-17:00; January 01,January 06,May 01,December 25 off

Phone: +34914111328

Email: museo@bib.csic.es

Website: http://mncn.csic.es

GPS coordinates: 40.44103,-3.69028

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:27