Musée d'histoire naturelle - Guimet, Natural history museum in 6th district, Lyon, France
The Musée d'histoire naturelle - Guimet is a natural history museum in Lyon housed in a large stone building with classical architecture. The structure features monumental columns and multiple floors designed to showcase exhibitions, all created by architect Jules Chatron.
The industrialist Émile Guimet founded the museum in 1879 to display his personal collection that he had gathered over the years. Later, he relocated the exhibits to Paris because local interest proved limited.
The museum served as a place where visitors could observe fossils and rocks from different regions displayed together. The collections told stories of the natural world through their assembled specimens.
The building is located near Parc de la Tête d'Or at 28 Boulevard des Belges. The structure has been closed to the public since 2007 and is not currently open for visits.
The entrance portal displays the monogram MG carved into stone shields set within the façade. These details serve as a reminder of the building's original purpose as the Guimet Museum.
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