The Museum’s History

The mobile app “Dabas muzejs”

The mobile app “Dabas muzejs”

The mobile app “Dabas muzejs” is launched. The app is an interactive tool that enhances the museum visit experience. It offers to discover more about specific subjects or showcased specimens in museum’s exhibitions. By reading short descriptions, listening to audio guides, viewing 360⁰ images, photos, videos, and occasionally testing oneself in a game or two, visitors are learning more about natural history of Latvia and the world. The mobile app has been developed with the financial support of the Cohesion Fund.

The exhibition "Mammals of Latvia"

The exhibition "Mammals of Latvia" has been renovated

Displaying most of the mammals found in Latvia – a total of 83 taxidermy mounts (49 species) – the exhibition "Mammals of Latvia" has been completely renovated as part of a Cohesion Fund project. Many of the animals are on protected animal lists for Latvia and Europe. For the first time, visitors can get a good look at the golden jackal, a new species of mammal occurring in Latvia (first recorded in 2013), as well as Latvia's largest and smallest mammals – the elk and the Eurasian pygmy shrew, respectively.

Photo - LNMNH

The museum acquires national accreditation

On December 17, 2021 the accreditation decision was issued by the Ministry of Culture of Republic of Latvia. The museum is accredited for five years until December 16, 2026.

Photo - LNMNH

The museum present new logo

The central part in the new logo is Latin letter L (deriving from Latvia) in combination with leaves that symbolizes Latvian nature. The letter L has three parts that symoblize three main functions of the museum: cooler green - preservation of inherited collection and collection of specimens for future generations; warmer green - research of the collection; violet - public nature education. The logo was designed by Anitra Eglīte-Poikāne, BUMBIERKOKS leading designer.

The exhibition “Don't buy their lives (CITES)“

The exhibition “Don't buy their lives (CITES)“ has been renovated

The exhibition help spread public awareness on the Washington Convention. Showcased are the most common illegal items people acquire on their travels: Eastern medical products, cosmetics, crocodile and snake products, furs, snakes in alcohol bottles, corals, seashells, hunting trophies, and so on. The exhibition “Don't buy their lives (CITES)“ has been completely renovated as part of a Cohesion Fund project.

Exhibition "Entomology"

M. Stiprais - 115

The entomologist and the museum’s specialist Mihails Stiprais (03.06.1905.–12.03.1990.) is one of the most remarkable personalities in the history of the museum and entomology in Latvia. As a result of his creativity visitors till today can admire butterfly specimens on a mirror glass.

Jānis Siliņš (1883–1960), the founder of the Museum of Riga Schools and its long-term director, was also the founder of the Latvian Naturalist Society (1923).

The Museum of Riga Schools is established

The museum is established to provide educational support for schools and to collect and develop scientifically important collections. The founder of the Museum of Riga Schools and its long-term director Jānis Siliņš (1883–1960) was also the founder of the Latvian Naturalist Society (1923).

The Riga Naturalist Society and Museum is founded

Article 46 of the Statutes of the Riga Naturalist Society states: “A naturalist’s cabinet (museum) is so necessary that the Society's first task should be to establish one, properly install it, and make every effort to supplement it.”

Nicolaus von Himsel (1729-1764)

The Himsel Museum is founded

Nicolaus von Himsel (1729 – 1764) was a Riga doctor, bibliophile and collector who was of Baltic German origin. He studied at Riga Dome School and studied medicine at the Universities of Königsberg and Göttingen. After finishing his studies, Himsel traveled across Europe collecting natural objects that augmented the collection he had inherited from his father, J. G. von Himsel, and his grandfather, Nicolaus Martini. After the death of N. fon Himsel, his mother gifted the collection to the city of Riga. In 1773 these collections were exhibited for public viewing in rooms at the Anatomy Theatre...