Natural History Museum of Basel

Welcome to the Natural History Museum of Basel. Its story begins very early, in 1661, with a cabinet of curiosities, a public scientific collection created at a time when the world was still being explored through the gathering of minerals, animals and rare objects. The museum itself was officially founded in 1821, and for more than two centuries it has continued to grow. Today its collections contain around 7.7 million specimens and objects, often described as “archives of life”: fossils, insects, minerals, skeletons, zoological specimens, and even collections related to anthropology. A visit here takes you on a journey through time and through the diversity of the natural world, from dinosaurs and large prehistoric mammals to extinct species such as the dodo, as well as Swiss wildlife and minerals from around the world. Among the most remarkable discoveries preserved here is the mummy of Anna Catharina Bischoff, found in 1975 and naturally mummified, which researchers still study today. Her identity has been confirmed, and descendants have even been identified through DNA, including Boris Johnson, who is a distant relative. These are just some of the surprising stories you can discover in this museum, which is well worth a visit if you’re curious about the long and fascinating history of life on Earth.