The collections of the Darwin Museum, as well as the museum itself, could never have existed if it had not been for Alexander Fedorovich Kots, who from childhood was fond of zoology, collecting and an exceptional interest in all living things. As a biologist, he went to Siberia at the age of 19 (1899), where he collected a collection of stuffed birds that 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 the home collection), studied at the university, visited foreign museums, where he became acquainted with Darwin's theory, lectured on anatomy at the Higher Women's Courses in Moscow, in the premises of which the private collection moved (1907). Until 1964, A. Cots was the permanent director of the Assembly, which survived the revolutions and wars, but only in 1995 a worthy room was allocated for the Darwin Museum on ul. Vavilova (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 impaired motor apparatus, 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 groups, tours in the halls with equipment that reproduces the voices of birds, showing moving models of dinosaurs, showing how life boils in underwater volcanoes, etc.
Young visitors to the Darwin Museum can enroll in courses of young biologists or attend art studios and master classes, in addition, the museum can buy subscriptions to attend programs, including in various cultural institutions in Moscow. For older children, video excursions on the topics of ancient birds, evolution, prehistoric worlds, including in 3D format, may be interesting. In the halls of zoogeography, you can see remarkably executed stuffed animals from different parts of the planet, presented in decorations similar to their natural habitat. On the walls are samples of animal fur that can be stroked. In the exposition of microevolution, on an interactive device, you can try to “collect” a bird from different parts, who will sing his song if the task is completed correctly.
Quite often, the doors of the Darwin Museum for visitors open for free. As a rule, this happens during the New Year holidays or on days when you can visit individual exhibitions. For example, the light-musical 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 vacations at 12.00 and 16.30.
The Darwin Zoological Museum in Moscow holds holidays dedicated to this or that event, including: Family Day, Earth Day, Bird Day, Young Ecologist Day, Mother's Day or even Leshy Day (ethnic holiday). It is also possible to visit the museum at night (May 18) or to order a birthday party for a group of children (includes an extensive excursion and tea drinking in the children's room). Both children (up to 16 years old) and children with adults (groups of no more than 20-35 people) can be invited to such an event.
