My first time ... at the Natural History Museum

The spring was rainy. But bad weather days should not be spent in the Zoological Museum. At least that's what it says on its website - so hidden that I can't find the warning again. However, I know that it is justified. Many years ago, I visited the zoological museum on a rainy (!) Sunday (!!). I couldn't see the animal specimens on display because of all the small children.

Now I'm back again. Even with a toddler! Many things are different - giant sloth Meggie is gone, for example. The long-time audience favourite was disposed of back in 2018. This caused a lot of outrage. Several newspapers devoted long farewell stories to Meggie. Today, a dinosaur stands in its place. Also impressive, but less special.

This is what the redesigned Natural History Museum looks like:

What's also new since this year: the Zoological Museum no longer actually exists. It is now called the Natural History Museum of UZH - and is a merger of the four natural science museums for anthropology, botany, palaeontology and zoology.

So I was looking forward to a mega museum. But the exhibition space has not quadrupled. At second glance, however, it becomes clear that a lot has been invested here. The exhibition is now more guided, there is much more to discover. And - this is new - not just for small children. They are still one of the museum's target groups. However, the current special exhibition (until 30 September 2024) is clearly aimed at older children: "Our animals are moving - crack the collection puzzle" is nothing less than an escape room. In other words, an interactive puzzle game for which you normally pay a lot of money. Various puzzles have to be solved in a team - but if you really want to, you can also play the game on your own. The only question is where to take the toddler during these 45 minutes. Perhaps in front of the dinosaur after all?

Impressions from the current special exhibition and the Escape Room: