Walter Rothschild began collecting specimens at age seven and opened the museum to the public in 1892.
The collection includes the world's largest display of extinct bird species, such as the Great Auk and the Moa.
Rothschild famously arrived at the museum on one occasion riding a carriage pulled by giant tortoises.
The museum holds over 4,000 specimens of mammals alone, including rare species like the now-extinct quagga.
The building features specific architectural details designed to protect collections from sunlight, such as the orientation of the glass roof lights.
Many specimens in the museum were collected by Rothschild’s personal expeditions across Africa, Asia, and South America.
The museum houses a significant collection of taxidermied dogs, showcasing various historical breeds.
The site includes a research library and archives dedicated to the history of natural history collections.
The Natural History Museum at Tring houses the extensive private zoological collection of Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild. The museum building, known as the Walter Rothschild Building, retains its original Victorian design and purpose-built galleries. It displays thousands of taxidermied specimens, including extinct species like the dodo and thylacine. The collection focuses on vertebrate zoology, encompassing mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish. It serves as a regional branch of the London-based Natural History Museum. The galleries are organized by biological group, reflecting 19th-century scientific classification methods.
The central Victorian-style grand gallery aisle, which offers a symmetric view of the glass cases.
Prioritize the Bird Gallery to see the rare extinct species displays.
Check the museum's notice board upon arrival for any temporary rotating exhibitions in the side galleries.
Wear comfortable walking shoes as the floors are predominantly hard, polished wood or stone.
Do not attempt to touch the specimens, as they are fragile, historical artifacts that are sensitive to oils from human skin.
Closed on specific public holidays; check official site for holiday adjustments.
