Museum National d Historie Naturelle

What Museum National d Historie Naturelle does

The Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN) is a French national scientific institution under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, tracing its origins to a royal medicinal garden established in 1626 and reorganized as a natural history museum by decree on June 10, 1793. It operates 13 sites across France — including museums, botanical gardens, zoological parks, marine stations, and prehistoric sites — concentrated primarily in Paris with regional locations in Brittany, Provence, Occitanie, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and Centre-Val de Loire. Core offerings span physical visitor sites (Grande Galerie de l'Évolution, Musée de l'Homme, Parc zoologique de Paris, Ménagerie, Grandes Serres, Marinarium de Concarneau, Réserve zoologique de la Haute-Touche, Arboretum Versailles-Chèvreloup, Jardin botanique Val Rahmeh-Menton, Harmas Jean-Henri Fabre, Abri Pataud, Paléosite de Sansan), digital products (online ticketing, searchable collection databases, podcast series, thematic dossiers), citizen science programs (Vigie-Nature, SPIPOLL, BioLit, Sauvages de ma rue), and a publications division.

The MNHN generates revenue through a diversified mix of ticket sales (single-site tickets ranging from free entry at Jardin des Plantes and Paléosite de Sansan up to €22 at Parc zoologique de Paris), annual pass subscriptions (€70 full / €38 reduced for ages 3-12, €178 family Tribu pass), corporate partnerships and venue rentals (notably with Kering), public donations via a dedicated crowdfunding platform, and educational programs for school and professional groups. Distribution operates through own-storefront e-commerce ticketing (billetterie.mnhn.fr plus per-site portals), on-site box offices, and a dedicated group reservations system. The institution's audience spans families with children (primary segment), school groups, tourists and cultural visitors, researchers and scientists, corporate partners, and science enthusiasts. The museum maintains millions of scientific specimens and collections accumulated over four centuries, supported by a workforce of 1,001–5,000 employees.

The institution is currently in a major anniversary cycle (400 years, 1626–2026), with multiple exhibition launches scheduled across 2025–2027, ongoing site modernization (Galerie de Paléontologie closed for renovation, Marinarium closed until June 2026, Abri Pataud currently closed), and an expanded corporate engagement track exemplified by the December 2025 Kering "Night at the Museum" event. No public/partner-facing API or mobile app exists; digital channels are limited to website content, social media (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Mastodon, Bluesky), and a bimonthly newsletter.

Name

Museum National d Historie Naturelle

Legal name

Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle

Website

https://mnhn.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1793

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle is a French state-owned natural history institution operating 13 museums, zoos, and botanical gardens across France, serving families, school groups, tourists, researchers, and corporate partners through ticketing, annual passes, exhibitions, citizen science, and educational programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Natural History Museums and Cultural Institutions

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Natural History Museums (THAJADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL), Parks, Gardens & Botanical Attractions (THAJACAH), Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA)

Keywords

• Natural history museum
• Visitor admissions
• Zoological park
• Botanical garden
• Scientific research

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from admission fees to various sites including museums, zoos, and special exhibitions. Individual site tickets range from 4.50€ to 22€ depending on location and visitor category.
2. Annual Pass Subscriptions: Annual pass program offering unlimited access to 12 sites for 70€ (full) or 38€ (reduced for ages 3-12). Family Tribu pass available for 178€ for two adults.
3. Donations and Crowdfunding: Public donations supported through dedicated crowdfunding platform for specific projects such as heritage restoration and collection preservation, particularly highlighted during the 400th anniversary celebrations.
4. Corporate Partnerships and Venue Rental: Corporate partnerships including event hosting (such as the Kering 'Night at the Museum'), space rentals for professional events, and corporate membership programs.
5. Educational Programs: Revenue from school group visits, workshops, and educational programs for various age groups including children, families, and adults.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels15 records

Core offering

The Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle operates 13 sites across France (5 museums, 5 gardens, 2 zoos, and 1 marine station) that combine physical visitor experiences—galleries, botanical gardens, and zoological parks—with scientific research and educational programming. It sells per-site admission tickets (4.50€–22€), annual passes (70€/38€/178€ for unlimited access to 12 sites), and offers digital content including podcasts, publications, and citizen-science platforms, supported by donations, government funding, and corporate partnerships.

Product overview

The Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle is a comprehensive natural history institution operating 13 sites across France (Paris and regions), comprising museums, botanical gardens, and zoological parks. The core offering includes physical visitor sites featuring galleries, living animal collections, botanical gardens, and scientific collections. Digital products include online ticket sales and annual passes (Pass annuel Muséum), searchable digital catalogs of collections and botanical/animal specimens, multiple podcast series, and published books/catalogs. The museum also runs extensive citizen science programs (Sciences participatives) enabling public participation in biodiversity research. Key sites include the Grande Galerie de l'Évolution, Musée de l'Homme, Jardin des Plantes with Ménagerie zoo, Parc zoologique de Paris, and regional sites in Concarneau, Menton, and elsewhere.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Grande Galerie de l'Évolution: Major exhibition gallery dedicated to the evolution of life on Earth
• Musée de l'Homme
• Parc zoologique de Paris
• Jardin des Plantes
• Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes
• Grandes Serres du Jardin des Plantes
• Galerie de Paléontologie et d'Anatomie comparée
• Galerie de Géologie et de Minéralogie
• Marinarium de Concarneau
• Réserve zoologique de la Haute-Touche
• Arboretum Versailles-Chèvreloup
• Jardin botanique Val Rahmeh-Menton
• Harmas Jean-Henri Fabre
• Abri Pataud
• Paléosite de Sansan
• Bibliothèque du Jardin des Plantes
• Bibliothèque du Musée de l'Homme
• Médiathèque du Jardin des Plantes

Products and services

• Grande Galerie de l'Évolution Flagship exhibition gallery featuring the diversity of living species, wildlife conservation displays, and major temporary exhibitions. Located at 36 rue Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, Paris 5e.
• Musée de l'Homme Museum dedicated to human origins, anthropology, and cultural diversity. Located at 17 Place du Trocadéro, Paris 16e.
• Jardin des Plantes Historic botanical garden and main campus of the museum. Free entry site featuring gardens, galleries, and the Ménagerie zoo.
• Parc zoologique de Paris Paris Zoological Park featuring wildlife species across various biozones, including 65 species. Located in the Bois de Vincennes, Paris 12e.
• Ménagerie, zoo du Jardin des Plantes Historic Ménagerie zoo located within the Jardin des Plantes, one of the oldest zoos in the world, housing 34 species.
• Grandes Serres du Jardin des Plantes Large botanical greenhouses featuring diverse plant collections and tropical environments.
• Galerie de Paléontologie et d'Anatomie comparée Gallery featuring fossil collections and comparative anatomy specimens. Currently closed for modernization work estimated to last 18 months.
• Galerie de Géologie et de Minéralogie Gallery showcasing geological and mineralogical collections including meteorites and gemstones.
• Bibliothèque du Jardin des Plantes Main library of the museum housing scientific documents and archives. Free entry.
• Médiathèque du Jardin des Plantes Media library of the Jardin des Plantes offering access to multimedia resources.
• Marinarium de Concarneau Marine biology station and aquarium located in Concarneau, Finistère. Houses 7 species; currently closed until June 30, 2026.
• Réserve zoologique de la Haute-Touche Zoological reserve located in Azay-le-Ferron, Indre, featuring open-range wildlife viewing across 40 species.
• Arboretum Versailles-Chèvreloup Arboretum located in Le Chesnay-Rocquencourt, Yvelines, featuring extensive tree collections.
• Jardin botanique Val Rahmeh-Menton Botanical garden located in Menton, Alpes-Maritimes, featuring Mediterranean and tropical plant collections.
• Harmas Jean-Henri Fabre Historic site dedicated to naturalist Jean-Henri Fabre, located in Sérignan-du-Comtat, Vaucluse. Open Tuesday to Saturday.
• Abri Pataud Prehistoric site and museum in Les Eyzies, Dordogne, featuring Paleolithic artifacts. Currently closed.
• Paléosite de Sansan Paleontological site and museum in Sansan, Gers, featuring Miocene fossils. Free entry.
• Bibliothèque du Musée de l'Homme Library of the Musée de l'Homme at Trocadéro, Paris 16e.
• Pass annuel Muséum Annual pass offering unlimited access to 12 museum sites for one year. Full price €70, reduced price €38 (ages 3-12), Family Tribu pass €178 for 2 full-price annual passes. Includes discounts on restaurants, shops, and partner offers.
• Billetterie en ligne (Online ticketing) Online ticket purchasing system offering skip-the-line access to museum sites including Jardin des Plantes galleries, Ménagerie, Parc zoologique, Musée de l'Homme, and Arboretum.
• Nos collections (Online Collections database) Online searchable database of museum collections including herbarium specimens, taxidermied animals, fossils, cultural objects, and artwork. Features over 450 documented items across multiple categories.
• Les plantes de nos jardins Online botanical catalog featuring plant specimens from the museum's gardens including angiosperms, conifers, and ferns across multiple locations.
• Les animaux de nos zoos Online database of animals housed at the museum's zoological facilities including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and marine species.
• Podcast series Multiple podcast series including 'Pour que Nature vive' (environmental podcast), 'Bestioles' (children's animal podcast with France Inter), 'Curieux de sciences' (science for children), and 'Les Curieuses histoires du Muséum' (with Radio France).
• Éditions du Muséum (Publications) Publishing division producing books, exhibition catalogs, guides, youth publications, and manifestos on natural history topics.
• Sciences participatives (Citizen science programs) Citizen science programs including Vigie-Nature, SPIPOLL (pollinator photography), BioLit (coastal biodiversity), Sauvages de ma rue (urban plants), Oiseaux des jardins (bird counts), Plages Vivantes, BirdLab, and Vigie-Ciel enabling public participation in biodiversity research.
• Educational programs for schools Guided tours, workshops, and educational activities for school groups across all museum sites, with specialized programs for different age levels and subjects.
• Nos dossiers thématiques Thematic dossiers covering 13 topical areas including Biodiversity & Environment, Climate Change, Dinosaurs & Paleontology, Human Origins, Evolution, Météorites & Espace, Alimentation & Santé, Animaux & Conservation, Anthropocène, Histoire & Patrimoine, Histoire de la Terre, Jardins & Botanique, Cultures & Sociétés.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• KeringminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 December 2025Luxury goods group Kering hosted its first 'Night at the Museum' event at the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle in Paris on December 9. The event brought together journalists, content creators, and partners to highlight Kering's biodiversity strategy and showcased Kering's support for the museum's research and conservation work through an immersive experience at the Jardin des Plantes and Grande Galerie de l'Évolution. Kering celebrated converting over one million hectares in its supply chains to regenerative agriculture, surpassing ambitions of its Regenerative Fund for Nature created in 2021.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Museum für Naturkunde Berlin: Germany's largest natural history museum, integrated with Humboldt University research. Comparable research-and-exhibition dual mandate, dinosaur/paleontology collections, and public-institution funding structure.
• Naturhistorisches Museum Wien: Vienna's natural history museum with comparable dual mission of research and public exhibitions. Similar collection focus on geology, paleontology, anthropology, and zoology, and similar European public-institution governance model.
• American Museum of Natural History: New York-based natural history museum with similarly broad scientific collections and educational programming. Comparable offerings in human origins, biodiversity, paleontology, and space, with paid ticketing and membership model.
• Natural History Museum, London: Major UK natural history museum with similar dual mission of public exhibitions and scientific research. Comparable scale, multi-site operating model (South Kensington plus Tring), and reliance on ticket sales, memberships, and donations.
• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: Largest natural history museum complex in the world, also operating under public governance (Smithsonian Institution). Comparable scope across paleontology, anthropology, zoology, and botany with free general admission funded by federal support.
• Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (Geneva): Smaller Swiss counterpart with similar name and mission (natural history museum with botanical garden and vivarium). Comparable public-institution governance, research focus, and ticketed exhibitions model.

Broad incumbents

• Louvre Museum: Paris-based cultural incumbent and the city's most-visited museum. Competes with MNHN for tourist dwell time and corporate partnerships; comparable public-institution status under the French Ministry of Culture but operates at much larger attendance scale.
• Royal Ontario Museum: Major Canadian museum with broad natural history and world cultures collections. Comparable scale and exhibition rotation model, though broader in scope (includes art and world cultures) and privately operated.

Regional players

• Australian Museum: Australia's oldest natural history museum with comparable focus on biodiversity, anthropology, and paleontology. Operates as a public institution with ticketed exhibitions, member programs, and research output.
• National Museum of Nature and Science (Tokyo): Japan's primary natural history and science museum. Comparable research-and-exhibition model with dinosaur, animal, and scientific instrument collections; serves as the regional equivalent in Asia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCyQuKkNt-Jiqw45eNfXWBXw
• Facebookfr-fr.facebook.com/museumnationaldhistoirenaturelle
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/museum-national-d'histoire-naturelle
• Instagraminstagram.com/le_museum
• Xx.com/le_museum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Museum National d Historie Naturelle