MOST BEAUTIFUL NATURE & SCIENCE MUSEUMS

Ironically, cities can be wonderful places to find beauty in nature and science. Thanks to the concentration of interest, expertise, and resources, cities are in a prime position to create and maintain temples to natural and scientific beauty.

Exhibits focus on such topics as animals, plants, ecosystems, geology, paleontology, and climatology, among others.

Some museums feature natural-history collections in addition to other collections, such as ones related to history, art and science.

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, London’s Natural History Museum and the American Museum of Natural History are the most famous and are certainly treasure troves of beauty. But there are many others of note. Some of the more contemporary museums are marvels of genius architecture design, from such greats as Santiago Calatrava and I.M. Pei.

Here is a comprehensive list of natural history museums in cities around the world. Interestingly, Thailand is the country that weighs in with the most! We have curated a collection of 10 of the most beautiful urban natural history & science museums that are as uniquely stunning as the artifacts and specimens they house.

1. VALENCIA -- EL MUSEU DE LES CIÈNCIES PRÍNCIPE FELIPE

On dark nights, bright white spikes point to the sky atop Valencia’s most noteworthy modern attraction, El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe. Modeled after a whale skeleton, the three-story building incorporates spaces for both entertainment and education.

Check out the “Chromosome Forest,” which shows the sequencing of human DNA, the “Zero Gravity” exhibit, and “Space Academy,” or simply revel in the building’s unique structure and the stunning Turia Gardens surrounding it.

2. SINGAPORE -- ARTSCIENCE MUSEUM

The world’s very first ArtScience Museum graces the banks of Marina Bay, in Singapore. Designed by the architect Moshe Safdie, 10 “fingers” extend from the structure’s base, each of which houses gallery spaces for touring exhibitions. The whole structure is reminiscent of a lotus flower.

ArtScience Museum seamlessly fuses beauty and sustainability. Rainwater collects in the building’s reflecting pond and is recycled in the museum’s bathrooms. Natural light, from innovative windows in the “fingertips” radiates in the gallery halls.

3. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

The heart of the United States’ capital city holds the most popular natural history museum in the world. Each year, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History greets more than 7 million visitors. Its vast space is equivalent of about 18 football fields!

Check out more than 125 million specimens and highlights such as the notoriously “cursed” Hope Diamond. Follow evolution alongside full-size replicas of humans and other animals.

The museum is also home to about 185 professional natural history scientists — the largest group of scientists dedicated to the study of natural history in the world.

4. VANCOUVER -- SCIENCE WORLD AT THE TELUS WORLD OF SCIENCE

In 1986, the city of Vancouver hosted a World’s Fair. Though the event lasted mere months, the distinctive Telus World of Science remains. The museum’s structure showcases inventor R. Buckminster Fuller’s patented geodesic dome design. Its live shows and science galleries captivate children and adults alike.

5. MACAU -- MACAO SCIENCE CENTER

Ferry travelers from Hong Kong can catch quick glimpses of the spiral galleries inside the extraordinary Exhibition Center of the Macao Science Center as they arrive in Macau.

The Center’s biggest draw is its Planetarium, which holds the Guinness World Record for highest resolution 3D planetarium. The beautiful domed structure takes audience members on amazing 3D adventures through time and space.

6. BOSTON -- BOSTON MUSEUM OF SCIENCE

The Museum of Science (MoS) located in Boston’s Science Park, houses over 700 fascinating interactive exhibits.

Check out the world’s largest Van de Graaff electrostatic generator in the center of its windowless Theater of Electricity. You’ll be treated to incredible live demonstrations of “artificial lightning bolts” and Tesla coils.

7. LONDON -- NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

As you enter the ornate, arched central entrance hall of London’s Natural History Museum, you are met by immense dinosaur skeletons. Continue on, and you will be rewarded by incredible exhibitions of over 80 million items, housed within five main collections: botany, entomology, mineralogy, palaeontology, and zoology, including many of Charles Darwin’s famed specimens.

8. PARIS -- MUSÉUM NATIONAL D’HISTOIRE NATURELLE

The city of light and love happens to also feature an exceptionally stunning natural history museum. While the entire Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle is full of beauty, its Grand Gallery of Evolution is uniquely breathtaking. Its glass roof, standing four stories high, displays about 9,000 specimens out of the 75 million kept by the museum (including 40 million insects, 1 million of fish, 80,000 birds and mammals).

9. SAN FRANCISCO -- CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

The California Academy of Sciences, in San Francisco is among the largest museums of natural history in the world, housing over 26 million specimens. It recently underwent extensive renovations at the hands of renowned architect Renzo Piano.

The highlight of the award-winning new structure is its massive 2.5-acre green roof which houses almost 2 million California native plants.

The new building is an eco-friendly showcase. It was constructed largely of recycled concrete and steel. It now creates 50% less waste water, recycles rainwater for irrigation, uses 60,000 photovoltaic cells, and uses natural lighting in 90% of its spaces.

10. AMSTERDAM -- SCIENCE CENTER NEMO

Science Center NEMO, situated on the eastern docklands of Amsterdam, is housed in a striking, copper-green building designed by Renzo Piano. It had to be built on top of a tunnel. It appears to rise out of the water. The roof terrace holds a beautiful piazza. Inside, you will find 5 floors of hands-on science exhibitions.

Read more about Urban Beauty in Random & Planned Beautiful Spots in Paris,  Way Beyond Pretty City Suites, Pretty City Ditties and Anime Colored Italian Cities: Davide Sasso.

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Mind/Body, Soul/Impact, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Arts/Design, and Place/Time, Daily Fix posts.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: by Gustavo Naharro. “Night at CAC.” Hemisferic and Palacio Reina Sofía at Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias. El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe. Valencia, Spain.
2. Image: by Dirk Verwoerd. Santiago Calatrava - Valencia. El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe. Valencia, Spain.
3. Image: by comakut. El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe. Valencia, Spain.
4. Image: by Stephanie, of picture.this. El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe. Valencia, Spain.
5. Image: by Peter Gronemann. “ArtScience Museum.” ArtScience Museum. Marina Bay, Singapore.
6. Image: by woodleywonderworks. “Science on a Sphere - Smithsonian Natural History.” Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Washington, D.C., US.
7. Image: by Ingfbruno. National Museum of Natural History. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Washington, D.C.
8. Image: by Jason Mrachina. “Telus World of Science - Vancouver, BC.” Telus World of Science. Vancouver, BC. Canada.
9. Image: by Diego Delso. Macao Science Center, designed by Pei Partnership Architects in association with I. M. Pei. Macau, China.
10. Image by Kissam. Boston’s Museum of Science, Van de Graaff Generator. Museum of Science (MoS). Boston, MA.
11. Image: by Sheri. “Natural History Museum, London.” Natural History Museum. London, UK.
12. Image: by Joe deSousa. “Great Gallery of Evolution.” Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle. Paris, France.
13. Image: Green Living Roof at Courtesy of California Academy of Sciences. San Francisco, CA. Courtesy of California Academy of Sciences.
14. Image: Green Living Roof of California Academy of Sciences. San Francisco, CA. Courtesy of Pitch Engine.
15. Image: Science Center NEMO. Amsterdam, Netherlands. Courtesy of Science Center NEMO.
16. Image: by Kenny Louie. Science World at Telus World of Science. Vancouver, BC. Canada.
17. Image: by Marcela, of Naturally Fun Days. Telus World of Science. Vancouver, BC. Canada.
18. Image: by Farrukh. Cascading Arches. Natural History Museum. London, UK.