# Zoological Museum of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences

> Russian zoological museum

**Wikidata**: [Q2025062](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2025062)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoological_Museum_(Saint_Petersburg))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/zoological-museum-of-the-zoological-institute-of-the-russian-academy-of-sciences

## Summary
The Zoological Museum of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences is a major zoological museum and research institute located in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Established in 1832, it serves as a biodiversity repository and is currently situated in the Old Saint Petersburg Stock Exchange's Southern Warehouse.

## Key Facts
- **Inception:** Officially opened on July 4, 1832, associated with Peter Simon Pallas and the Zoological Institute Academy of Sciences.
- **Location:** Situated in Saint Petersburg, Russia; specifically at the Old Saint Petersburg Stock Exchange - Southern Warehouse since February 6, 1901.
- **Coordinates:** Latitude 59.9426, Longitude 30.3056.
- **Parent Organization:** Part of the Zoological Institute RAS (Russian Academy of Sciences).
- **Institution Type:** Classified as both a museum and a research institute.
- **Biodiversity ID:** Identified as "ZIN" in biodiversity repositories.
- **Leadership:** Historical directors include Johann Friedrich von Brandt (1831–1879) and Nikolai V. Nasonov (1906–1921).
- **Aliases:** Also known as ZMAS, the Zoological Museum (Saint Petersburg), and the Zoological Museum of the Imperial Academy of Sciences.

## FAQs
### Q: When was the Zoological Museum founded?
A: The museum was founded on July 4, 1832. Its establishment is attributed to Peter Simon Pallas and the Zoological Institute Academy of Sciences.

### Q: Where is the museum located?
A: The museum is located in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Since 1901, it has been housed in the Southern Warehouse of the Old Saint Petersburg Stock Exchange.

### Q: Is the museum part of a larger organization?
A: Yes, it is a part of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS).

### Q: Who was the longest-serving director mentioned in the records?
A: Johann Friedrich von Brandt served as director for 48 years, from 1831 to 1879.

## Why It Matters
As one of Russia's oldest scientific institutions, the Zoological Museum of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences plays a critical role in the documentation and study of biodiversity. Its inception in 1832 places it among the foundational scientific organizations of the Imperial Academy of Sciences, serving as a bridge between 19th-century natural history exploration and modern zoological research.

The museum functions not only as a public exhibition space but also as a dedicated research institute. This dual capacity allows it to maintain vast collections—referenced by its "ZIN" biodiversity repository ID—while contributing to active scientific discovery. Its relocation to the Old Saint Petersburg Stock Exchange in 1901 signifies its long-standing cultural and scientific prominence within Saint Petersburg. The continuity of leadership from figures like Johann Friedrich von Brandt in the 19th century to modern researchers highlights its enduring legacy in the field of zoology.

## Notable For
- **Historical Legacy:** Founded in 1832, making it a long-standing institution for zoological research in Russia.
- **Dual Function:** Operates simultaneously as a public museum and a research institute.
- **Architectural Significance:** Housed in the historic Old Saint Petersburg Stock Exchange - Southern Warehouse on Vasilievsky Island since 1901.
- **Scientific Leadership:** Managed by prominent zoologists such as Johann Friedrich von Brandt, Alexander Strauch, and Nikolai V. Nasonov throughout its history.
- **Imperial Roots:** Originally established as the Zoological Museum of the Imperial Academy of Sciences.

## Body
### Founding and Early History
The Zoological Museum was officially established on July 4, 1832. Its creation is linked to Peter Simon Pallas and the Zoological Institute Academy of Sciences. Initially, the museum's operations were conducted at a different location (identified in records as Q117320623) starting from its inception in 1832 until 1901.

### Location and Facilities
On February 6, 1901, the museum moved to its current location: the Old Saint Petersburg Stock Exchange - Southern Warehouse in Saint Petersburg. The geographic coordinates for the facility are 59.9426° N, 30.3056° E. The headquarters location is Saint Petersburg, Russia.

### Governance and Leadership
The museum has a recorded history of distinguished directors who held the title of "chairperson" or "director":
- **Johann Friedrich von Brandt** (1831 – 1879)
- **Alexander Strauch** (1879 – 1893)
- **Theodor Pleske** (1893 – 1896)
- **Vladimir Zalensky** (1897 – 1906)
- **Nikolai V. Nasonov** (1906 – 1921)
- **Alexei Byalynitsky-Birulya** (1921 – 1928)
- **Donat Vladimirovich Naumov** (1964 – 1984)

Eugen Büchner is also listed as a chairperson, and records indicate a leadership point in time for entity Q131586666 in 2012.

### Institutional Affiliations
The museum is an integral part of the **Zoological Institute RAS** (Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences). The parent institute itself was inceptioned in 1832 and later established in its modern form in 1931. The museum holds the Russian Museum ID "122" and is referenced in academic sources such as *The Zoological Museum of the Imperial Academy of Sciences of St. Petersburg in the 19th century. Principles of Exhibiting*.

## References

1. The Zoological Museum of the Imperial Academy of Sciences of St. Petersburg in the 19th century. Principles of Exhibiting
2. The Exhibition “The Romanov’s Dynasty and the Zoological Museum of the Imperial Academy of Sciences”
3. [Source](http://www.zin.ru/museum/)
4. The Zoological Museum of the Imperial Academy of Sciences and the Institutionalization of Zoological Systematics in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries
5. “To Give Thanks on Behalf of the Academy”: Central-Asian Collections of the Zoological Museum in the Annals of the Department of Physic and Mathematic of the Imperial Academy of Sciences, 1874–1894
6. Аlexey A. Byalinicky-Birulya: Letters from Russian Polar Expecdition
7. Academician N. V. Nasonov and General A. I. Vil’kitskiy: Co-operative Research in Marine and Oceanic Zoology at the Beginning of 20th Century
8. My Memories (about an Ornithologist Elizaveta Kozlova and Others)
9. The Exhibition to the 270th anniversary of Peter Simon Pallas and the 200th anniversary of the publication of his work «Zoographia Rosso-Asiatica»
10. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
11. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph