Ulaanbaatar, September 9, 2024 /MONTSAME/. Mongolia will have the National Museum of Natural Sciences, expanding the Natural History Museum. The construction of the new building of the National Museum of Natural Sciences is progressing in Ikh Tengeriin Am ( pass of Bogd Khaan Mountain), with 30 percent complete. 

The Natural History Museum of Mongolia was first established in 1924 and was later reconstructed in 1956. Currently, the Museum, which became independent from the State Central Museum in 1991, showcases around 12,000 nature-related exhibits and artifacts and conducts independent and collaborative scientific research in the field of natural science.

In 2019, the Government of Mongolia issued a resolution on the establishment of the National Museum of Natural Sciences in the Ikh Tengeriin Am, changing the purpose of the “Hotel and Conference Complex” project, which was under construction in the mountain pass but had been halted for years. During the years of the pandemic, numerous works regarding the new museum building were carried out, including modifying the design, resolving payment issues, and selecting contractors.

The National Museum of Natural Sciences will cover a total of 6.6 hectares of area, while the Museum building covers approximately 45,000 square meters. In terms of covering area, it will rank seventh among the natural science museums in Asia. To put it in perspective, the new Museum will be 13 times larger than the building of the former Lenin Museum, the current temporary station of the National History Museum.

A launching ceremony for the construction of the new building of the National Museum of Natural Sciences was held on September 5, 2024. At the ceremony, President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa expressed his gratitude to the Government of Mongolia, relevant Ministries, the Governor’s Office of the Capital City, and the contractor team and urged to complete the construction of the Museum on time and to a high standard. “This museum will be a beacon of knowledge and a testament to our commitment to education and the preservation of our natural heritage, including the origin of the Universe and Earth, geology, paleontology, geology, biodiversity, ecology, and ecosystems. I am convinced that it would foster a sense of pride in the nation, instill a love for the environment, and cultivate an understanding of the laws of nature, while encouraging the protection of the homeland and Mother Earth itself. It will contribute to the development of regional and international natural sciences, serving as a source of research and knowledge,” stated the President.

During his tenure as Prime Minister of Mongolia, Mr. Khurelsukh initiated several key cultural and infrastructural projects, including the Chinggis Khaan National Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Grand Theatre of National Arts, and the Sports Complex.  Despite the challenges posed COVID-19 pandemic, economic restraints, and geopolitical difficulties, the construction works of the Chinggis Khaan National Museum and the long-delayed National Library were successfully completed and put into operation.  Regarding this, the Head of State underscored “These constructions are proof that Mongolian people can accomplish anything when they unite their intellect, knowledge, skills, hard work, determination, and energy.”

Battulga Boldbayar, the Director of “Sodon Nomin Construction” LLC, a contractor of the new building of the National Museum of Natural Sciences, noted “According to the revised construction schedule, we are aiming to complete the project and open the Museum in the fourth quarter of 2026. As of today, approximately 30 percent of the construction work has been completed, with around 100-120 people working on the site daily.”

Director of the Natural History Museum I.Budbayar highlighted “The Natural History Museum has 16,000 exhibits in its collection. While constructing the new building, the work for enriching the museum collection and developing human resources should be done. Therefore, we are working on both an exhibit curation plan and expanding our collection simultaneously. For the new museum to function fully across its 44,000 square meters, we will need a staff of around 220 to 240 people. Our museum has the potential to compete with those in other countries. As of now, we are laying the groundwork for a museum that will rank seventh in capacity among Asian countries.”

The new building of the museum will feature 12 permanent exhibition halls equipped with multimedia, interactive displays, and dynamic installations, as well as contain a temporary exhibition hall, a planetarium, an amphitheater, a library, a conference room, a restaurant, a coffee shop, and a gift shop. Additionally, the building will have a parking lot for 540 vehicles on the B1 floor.