A Brief History of the National Museum of Natural Science
At the turn of the 1980s, our government focused on building the Twelve Major Construction Projects to improve the quality of life on the island. The scope of the plan included establishing and maintaining a modern science museum for the people, for education and science.
The Planning Office was set up at Chung Hsing University, Taichung. Professor Han Pao-teh, a dedicated and knowledgeable artist with special expertise in architecture, is first curator. Under Han's leadership, less than 20 staff members strived to complete the first phase of the Museum to house its 312 items in this humble temporary office.
|Professor Han Pao-teh||Planning Office at Chung Hsing University|
The first phase of Science Center, Space IMAX Theater, Administration Building, and outdoor grounds completed and opened on the New Year's Day along with the unveiling of the Museum logo. Mr. Han was the first director.
Phase I Constructed
A visitor center in Taipei opened in July.
The second phase of Life Science Hall was laid out in August.
Phase II Constructed
Life Science Hall
The third phase of Chinese Science Hall (now the Human Cultures Hall) and the fourth phase of Global Environment Hall including Bird's-Eye View Theater, Environment Theater and 3D Theater dedicated. The staff number has grown from 80 to 120, and the specimen from 12,773 to 374,470.
Phase III & IV Constructed
Collections in electronic formats launched.
Outreach programs began.
Botanical Park (Now Botanical Garden) completed.
The library's online catalogue launched.
Free e-newsletters issued.
921 Earthquake Museum became a division of the Museum.
Lilium speciosum (local name: showy lily) was relocated successfully by the Museum's curators, and dominated as the Museum mascot flower.
The Botanical Park was changed to its present title "Botanical Garden".
CoCo and BoBo the Museum mascots were born on January 1 and have now become a very popular addition to the Museum.
The first phase of the Earthquake Museum including Galleries of Fault and Image opened.
The renovated gallery of Age of Dinosaurs reopened to the public in August.
Gallery of Fault
Gallery of Image
Gallery of Age of Dinosaurs
Opening on May 17, the Journey of Human Life, a new permanent exhibit gallery in the Life Science Hall, added to the Museum's richness.
Journey of Human Life
The extension of the 921 Earthquake Museum was completed and opened to the public on September 21.
Chinese Science Hall was renovated to include more and new collections and renamed to Human Cultures Hall in November.
Old Chinese Agriculture
In April, the original Gallery of Astronomy & Climate was completely renovated to Gallery of "Legends of the Universe", which deepened visitors’ understanding of our dynamic universe.
A new exhibition on optoelectronics "DaDa's Magic World" opened to the public and added more attraction to the Science Exploring Gallery in October.
Dada's Magic World
Legends of the Universe
"The World of Semiconductor" renovated from the original Integrated Circuits gallery was opened to the public on February 23.
The World of Semiconductor
Due to the Museum’s structural reform, a new Administration Center of Natural Science Education Parks is set up on January 1, 2013, managing facilities including 921 Earthquake Education Park(Museum), Fonghuanggu Ecology Education Park, and Chelungpu Fault Preservation Education Park.
The Fonghuanggu Bird and Ecology Park is officially merged with the National Museum of Natural Science on January 1.
The Chelungpu Fault Preservation Park at Chu-shan, Nantou, a division of the National
Museum of Natural Science, opens to the public for testing operations on Wednesday,
Jan. 30, 2013. After 3-month pre-opening period of free admission, the Park grandly
opens to the public for regular operations on Wednesday, May 1st.
In response to the changing environment, the Museum’s structure is reformed to six departments (Biology, Geology, Anthropology, Science Education, Exhibits, and Operations, Collection & Information), four offices (Secretariat, Personnel, Accounting, and Government Ethics) and one center (Administration Center of Natural Science Education Parks).
Unveiling Ceremony of Fonghuanggu Bird and Ecology Park
Opening Ceremony of Chelungpu Fault Preservation Park
The Museum’s Microscopic World gallery in the Global Environment Hall reopened on Friday, Dec. 27 following a major renovation that lasted more than one year. The renewed gallery designed for active learning is now magnificently transformed and expanded with more exhibition space.
Science Learning Center starts up its service to the public on June 12, which is established to promote 12-year compulsory education of the country.
The Museum receives the 2014 Distinguished Achievement Award, which was created to recognize government employees and teams for their exemplary contributions in civil service. The Museum is one of the two teams that win the award among 40 competitive teams nationwide.
The National Museum of Natural Science, a landmark of the central part of Taiwan and the third most popular resort in Taiwan (less than Taipei Zoo & National Palace Museum), welcomes more than 3 million visitors each year, 65% of which are school children. With the Science Center offering an interactive exhibit of hands-on science experiments, four Halls comprising over 650 thousand objects and specimens, the Space IMAX Theater, Botanical Garden, 921 Earthquake Education Park, Fonghuanggu Bird and Ecology Park, Chelungpu Fault Preservation Park, and sophisticated touring exhibitions throughout the year, the Museum always offers something for everyone.