Exhibits of the Cabinet of Natural History in the older University building on Mokhovaya Str. in 1860-1862

Zoological Museum was established in 1791 as the Cabinet of Natural History at the Imperial Moscow University. The first inventory of its collections was prepared by G.I.Fischer in 1806-1807. Zoological part of this Cabinet became separated in the 1820s, and its inventory was published in 1822. It turned into the Museum of Zoology in 1861, and its collections was segregated into expositional, teaching, and research parts in the same 1860s. Its exhibition became open for public since 1866. The existing building of the Museum was erected in 1898-1902 based on architectural design of K.M.Bykovski.

In 1930, when Biological Faculty of Moscow University was established, the Museum became its part. However, in 1931 the Museum was excluded entirely from the University and returned back to its Alma Mater only by the end of the 1930s. It found its present status in 1991 when it gained the title of research institution.

In the 1970-1980s the Museum underwent the complete reconstruction of both exhibition halls and collection depositories, during which the displays were renewed and depositories supplied with new equipment.

The nowaday research staff of the Museum includes 26 persons many of which are leading experts in taxonomy and phylogeny of various animal taxa. Besides, more than 40 persons work in other Museum services.