Galerie de Paléontologie et d'Anatomie comparée, Natural history museum in Jardin des Plantes, Paris, France
The Paleontology and Comparative Anatomy Gallery is a museum in the Jardin des Plantes that displays fossil vertebrate skeletons and comparative anatomy specimens across two floors of a monumental building with large windows. The spaces are arranged so visitors can explore both scientific perspectives, with light from tall windows highlighting the collections.
The building was designed by Ferdinand Dutert and opened in 1898 as part of the National Museum of Natural History. Its construction occurred during a period of growing scientific interest in evolution and comparative anatomy in the 1800s.
The facade features naturalistic sculptures by Andre Allar depicting animals, plants, and minerals that represent the three kingdoms of nature. These decorations turn the building itself into a visual expression of the collections housed within.
The museum is open Wednesday through Monday with good lighting from the building's large windows. Plan to spend about two to three hours viewing both floors, and you can move easily between levels using the elevator.
During the Seine flood of 1910, museum staff conducted extensive rescue operations to protect and restore collections damaged by water. This episode shows how committed the institution became to preserving its holdings for future generations.
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