The Museum of Nature in Olsztyn is the youngest branch of the Museum of Warmia and Masuria. It was established on the 1st of January 2000, however, the Department of Nature at the Museum of Warmia and Masuria operated earlier, from 1956, whereas the gathering of sets of natural specimens started in 1951. The seeds of the collection were the inherited former German sets: 38 specimens of animals – mostly damaged, 12 boxes with 284 geological specimens and the well-preserved herbarium of Hans Steffen with ca. 460 sheets. Over the next years of activity, the collection grew rapidly. Temporary natural exhibitions were organized mostly outside of Olsztyn, and met with considerable interest. The large incoming exhibits (e.g. taxidermied figures of animals including mammals such as the bison, wild boar, wolf) required adequate storage, for which there was no space at the previous seat of the Department – in the Museum of Warmia and Masuria. Unfortunately, neither was it possible to organize a permanent natural exhibition, hence the quite early efforts to create the separate Museum of Nature.
Not until 1982 did the Department of Nature receive two buildings from the city authorities: the eclectic palace from the late 19th century (in a very bad technical condition and together with tenants) and the former coach house which was redeveloped and renovated in 1994. Currently it holds museum storerooms, a library, one of the educational halls, and workshops. A decade or so later – in 1999 – the palace intended for natural exhibitions lived to see its restoration. This project was funded entirely by the Swedish Government and the Halland province located in the south of Sweden cooperating with the Warmian and Masurian Voivodeship, as part of the pilot project entitled "The Halland Model of Monument Conservation in the Olsztyn region".
Day of the week | Opening hours | ||
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Tuesday | 10:00 - 16:00 | ||
Wednesday | 10:00 - 16:00 | ||
Thursday | 10:00 - 16:00 | ||
Friday | 10:00 - 16:00 | ||
Saturday | 10:00 - 16:00 | ||
Sunday | 10:00 - 16:00 |
Holidays | Opening hours |
---|---|
2025.04.20 (Sunday) | x |
2025.04.21 (Monday) | x |
2025.05.01 (Thursday) | x |
2025.05.03 (Saturday) | x |
2025.11.01 (Saturday) | x |
2025.11.11 (Tuesday) | x |
2025.12.25 (Thursday) | x |
2025.12.26 (Friday) | x |
Day of the week | Opening hours | ||
---|---|---|---|
Tuesday | 10:00 - 17:00 | ||
Wednesday | 10:00 - 17:00 | ||
Thursday | 10:00 - 17:00 | ||
Friday | 10:00 - 17:00 | ||
Saturday | 10:00 - 17:00 | ||
Sunday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
Holidays | Opening hours |
---|---|
2025.06.19 (Thursday) | x |
2025.08.15 (Friday) | x |
Tickets | ||
---|---|---|
normal | 12.00 PLN | |
reduced | 9.00 PLN |
when? | name | where? | about what? | for free | for children | |
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![]() | 2023.06.22-2025.06.30 | Na ślubnym kobiercu Temporary exhibition | Museum House of the Gazeta Olsztyńska ul. Targ Rybny 1 10-019 Olsztyn Warmian-Masurian | city, documents, photography, region, traditional costumes | ||
![]() | 2024.12.18-2025.06.30 | Żurawie nie znają granic Temporary exhibition | Museum of Nature in Olsztyn ul. Metalowa 8 10-603 Olsztyn Warmian-Masurian | environment, photography | ||
![]() | Permanent exhibition Permanent exhibition | Galeria Sztuki Współczesnej na Zamku w Reszlu ul. Podzamcze 3 11-400 Reszel Warmian-Masurian | malarstwo | |||
![]() | Kultura ludowa Mazurów Permanent exhibition | Museum of Masuria in Szczytno ul. Sienkiewicza 1 12-100 Szczytno Warmian-Masurian | architecture, crafts, folk art, region, utility items, village | yes | ||
![]() | Historia Szczytna i okolic. Od pradziejów do współczesności Permanent exhibition | Museum of Masuria in Szczytno ul. Sienkiewicza 1 12-100 Szczytno Warmian-Masurian | city, documents, painting, region, weapons and militaria | yes | ||
![]() | „Gazeta Olsztyńska” (1886-1939) Permanent exhibition | Museum House of the Gazeta Olsztyńska ul. Targ Rybny 1 10-019 Olsztyn Warmian-Masurian | documents, interiors and everyday life, printmaking, region | yes | yes | |
![]() | Meble i tkaniny mazurskie Permanent exhibition | Museum of Masuria in Szczytno ul. Sienkiewicza 1 12-100 Szczytno Warmian-Masurian | art crafts, fabrics, village | yes | ||
![]() | Sztuka gotycka w zbiorach Muzeum Warmii i Mazur Permanent exhibition | The Bishop's Castle in Lidzbark Warmiński pl. Zamkowy 1 11-100 Lidzbark Warmiński Warmian-Masurian | painting, sculpture | yes | ||
![]() | Malarstwo religijne ze zbiorów Muzeum Permanent exhibition | The Bishop's Castle in Lidzbark Warmiński pl. Zamkowy 1 11-100 Lidzbark Warmiński Warmian-Masurian | painting | yes | ||
![]() | Wielcy mieszkańcy zamku lidzbarskiego Permanent exhibition | The Bishop's Castle in Lidzbark Warmiński pl. Zamkowy 1 11-100 Lidzbark Warmiński Warmian-Masurian | interiors and everyday life | yes | ||
![]() | Mrągowo i ziemia mrągowska od zarania dziejów po czasy współczesne Permanent exhibition | Museum in Mrągowo ul. Ratuszowa 5 11-700 Mrągowo Warmian-Masurian | archeology, art crafts, region | yes | ||
![]() | Zwierzęta Warmii i Mazur Permanent exhibition | Museum of Nature in Olsztyn ul. Metalowa 8 10-603 Olsztyn Warmian-Masurian | environment, region | yes | ||
![]() | W mazurskiej kniei Permanent exhibition | Museum of Masuria in Szczytno ul. Sienkiewicza 1 12-100 Szczytno Warmian-Masurian | environment, region | yes | ||
![]() | Dzieje budowlane zamku biskupów w Lidzbarku Warmińskim Permanent exhibition | The Bishop's Castle in Lidzbark Warmiński pl. Zamkowy 1 11-100 Lidzbark Warmiński Warmian-Masurian | architecture, art crafts | yes | ||
![]() | Ludowe kafle mazurskie Permanent exhibition | Museum of Masuria in Szczytno ul. Sienkiewicza 1 12-100 Szczytno Warmian-Masurian | art crafts, folk art | yes | ||
![]() | Józef Balicki, Łowiectwo pasją życia Permanent exhibition | Museum of Masuria in Szczytno ul. Sienkiewicza 1 12-100 Szczytno Warmian-Masurian | characters | yes | ||
![]() | Portrety rodziny hrabiów z Siecina Krasickich Permanent exhibition | The Bishop's Castle in Lidzbark Warmiński pl. Zamkowy 1 11-100 Lidzbark Warmiński Warmian-Masurian | painting | yes | ||
![]() | Gabinet Ignacego Krasickiego Permanent exhibition | The Bishop's Castle in Lidzbark Warmiński pl. Zamkowy 1 11-100 Lidzbark Warmiński Warmian-Masurian | characters, interiors and everyday life, painting | yes | ||
![]() | Galeria Malarstwa Polskiego 1. połowy XX wieku Permanent exhibition | The Bishop's Castle in Lidzbark Warmiński pl. Zamkowy 1 11-100 Lidzbark Warmiński Warmian-Masurian | modern art, painting | yes | ||
![]() | Anton Hoffman Permanent exhibition | The Bishop's Castle in Lidzbark Warmiński pl. Zamkowy 1 11-100 Lidzbark Warmiński Warmian-Masurian | painting | yes | ||
![]() | Olsztyn. Szkice do dziejów miasta Permanent exhibition | Museum House of the Gazeta Olsztyńska ul. Targ Rybny 1 10-019 Olsztyn Warmian-Masurian | city | yes |