Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv

This is one of the most exciting museums to visit with children in Tel Aviv! The Natural History Museum focuses on nature and presents the world of animals in a way that encourages visitors to be curious. The museum will take you on a journey towards understanding the development of humans, animals, and flora, in the past and present. In addition, the institution houses an education center and a bioresearch center.

Plan Your Visit

• Location - 12 Klausner Street, Tel Aviv
• Open Times - Mon-Thurs 10:00-16:00, Fridays and holidays 10:00-15:00, Sat 10:00-18:00, Sunday closed. 
• Prices - General admission 52 ILS, 5 years and under free, seniors, students, and Tel Aviv residents 42 ILS, family tickets (4 people) 168 ILS
• Average Visit Duration -1.5-2.5 hours
• Popular Visiting Times - The museum is often busy and crowded on Saturdays so if you can, visit on a weekday
• Tours - The Steinhardt Natural History Museum would make an awesome addition to a family private tour of Tel Aviv

Natural History

The study of natural history covers the collection and archiving of specimens found in nature which are sorted, and identified. Sometimes even new species are discovered. The natural specimens are identified, and preserved to become part of our collective heritage. The documentation of Israel’s plants and animals brings us closer to understanding the changes in ecosystems that have taken place for millions of years. The study of natural history also contributes to conservation and the environment by providing information to scientists. 

What Can You See at the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History?

The museum holds approximately five and a half million items; it is the largest museum collection in the country. The collections come from across the globe, and although a hundred years ago the animals would have been hunted in order to learn about them, today animals are not harmed in the collection of specimens, instead, they are creatures that have died naturally or by accident.

The specimens and artifacts are displayed in themed exhibits including:

• Bird Migration - As you enter the museum lobby look up to see a flock of (taxidermied) migrating birds.
• Insects and More - See live displays in terrariums and taxidermy specimens.
• Life After Dark - See a display of animals and birds that live in the dark, and nocturnal animals that are active at night.
• Urban Nature - Animal life isn’t just in the wild, this exhibition highlights the animals and birds we encounter in urban environments.
• Israel’s Ecosystems and Landscapes - Israel’s natural habitats have been recreated and the taxidermied animals can be seen as if in their natural habitats.
• Animal Shape, Structure, and Functions - Visitors can discover the unique characteristics of various animals’ bodies that have evolved and adapted to cope with situations they encounter.
• Human Impact on the Environment - this is an interactive display showing how man-made pollution and man’s behavior have negatively impacted animals and the environment.
• Animals and their Interaction with the Environment - The Web of Life exhibition includes a diorama showing the Acacia tree and the ecosystem that has developed around it. Learn about how animals, plants, and insects in this ecosystem interact, and coexist.
• Treasures of the Collection - This is the taxidermy collection of a famous zoologist and includes a vast number of taxidermied creatures from birds and fish to mammals and reptiles.
• Anthropology - This section of the museum examines the origin of man from the prehistoric era and through the various stages of Homo Sapien development.
• Israeli Flora - There is a vast collection of specimens from the plant world that is used by scientists for research.

The Steinhardt Natural History Museum Building

The museum is housed in an extraordinary building on the Tel Aviv University campus. It was designed to resemble Noah’s Ark, although some say it is more like a treasure box. Either way the outer appearance hints at the treasures this building holds. It covers a massive 9,620 square meters spread over five levels.