1834 is the year in which “Museum of Natural History and Antiquities” was established, at the initiative of Mihalache Ghica, the brother of the King Alexandru Ghica. Mihalache Ghica donated important collections, such as Greek, Roman and Byzantine coins, rock and minerals or mammals collections, as well as works of art. Although it was first conceived as a natural history cabinet, the museum became a mixed institution, harboring antiquities, old paintings and natural curiosities.
Carol Wallenstein was the first director of the museum (1837-1859) followed by Carlo Ferrerati (1860-1867) who made a substantial contribution to the enrichment of the collections, both by acquisitions or domestic and foreign donations.
Over time, the museum was established in various buildings in Bucharest. The present headquarter was designed and built as the result of the efforts of Dr. Grigore Antipa, museum director between 1893 –1944. Through persistent attempts, Grigore Antipa substantially enriched the collections of the museum and he’s the one who created the first bio-geographical dioramas in Bucharest, a model that was afterwards an inspiration for the great museums of the world.
Later on, it was the King Carol the Second who decided in 1933 that the museum should be named after its main director, Grigore Antipa: National Museum of Natural History „Grigore Antipa”.
During the post-war period, the development process of the museum continued and its research activity expanded. In 2009 „Antipa” Museum was closed in order to start an ambitious project of modernization and restoration of its permanent exhibition. Nowadays is one of the most important museums of Romania and Europe, having an impressive collection of approx. 2 mill. pieces.
Attention, the cache is available during museum working hours only: https://antipa.ro/info-utile/program-si-tarife/
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