The collections of the Darwin Museum, as well as the museum itself, could never exist if not for Alexander Fedorovich Kots, who from childhood was fond of zoology, collecting and exceptional interest in all living things. As a biologist, at the age of 19 (1899), he went to Siberia, where he collected a collection of stuffed birds, which brought him a medal at an exhibition of one of the All-Russian Societies.
Further, the young man collaborated with the famous taxidermist F. Lorenz, where he received a salary with the same stuffed animals (which formed the basis of his home collection), studied at the university, visited foreign museums, where he got acquainted with Darwin's theory, lectured on anatomy at the Higher women's courses in Moscow, to which the private collection moved (1907). Until 1964, A. Kots was the permanent director of the Collection, which survived revolutions and wars, but only in 1995 a decent room was allocated for the Darwin Museumon st. Vavilov (house 57).
Today, exhibitions and expositions are held in the main building and in the building of the exhibition complex. Separately equipped rooms for visitors with movement disorders, for deaf, hard of hearing, visually impaired and blind people; there are ramps, elevators and lifts, which makes the visit pleasant and comfortable for all categories of citizens. The Darwin Paleontological Museum offers its guests extensive and interesting programs, including performances by creative teams, excursions in halls with equipment that reproduces the voices of birds, demonstrates moving models of dinosaurs, shows how life is in full swing in underwater volcanoes, etc.
Young visitors to the Darwin Museum can enroll in courses for young biologists or visit the art studio and master classes, in addition, the museum can buy subscriptions to visit programs, including various cultural institutions in Moscow. Older children may be interested in video tours of ancient birds, evolution, prehistoric worlds, including in 3D format. In the halls of zoogeography, you can see wonderfully made stuffed animals from different parts of the world, presented in scenery similar to their natural habitat. On the walls there are samples of animal fur that you can stroke. In the microevolution exposition, you can try to “assemble” a bird from different parts on an interactive device, which will sing its song if the task is completed correctly.
Quite oftenThe doors of the Darwin Museum are open to visitors free of charge. As a rule, this happens during the New Year holidays or on days when you can visit individual expositions. For example, the light and music performance "Living Planet" is available on weekends, and the tour "Diversity of Life" on Tuesdays - Fridays from 16.00, as well as on weekends and during holidays at 12.00 and 16.30.
The Darwin Zoological Museum in Moscow holds holidays dedicated to a particular event, including: Family Day, Earth Day, Bird Day, Young Ecologist's Day, Mother's Day, or even Leshy's Day (ethno holiday). It is also possible to visit the museum at night (May 18) or book a birthday party for a group of children (includes an extensive tour and tea in the children's room). Children themselves (under 16) and children with adults (groups of no more than 20-35 people) can be invited to such an event.
