Museum of Evolution of the Institute of Paleobiology of the Polish Academy of Sciences

The Museum of Evolution of the Institute of Paleobiology at the Polish Academy of Sciences, located in the Palace of Youth within the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw, is dedicated to the themes of evolution and paleontology. It is overseen by the Institute of Paleobiology of the Polish Academy of Sciences. The museum's history dates back to the 1960s, when the exhibition "Dinosaurs from the Gobi Desert," initiated by Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska, showcased the results of Polish-Mongolian paleontological expeditions. In 1984, after the Institute of Paleobiology took over the exhibition halls, the Museum of Evolution was opened, and in 1985, the permanent exhibition "Evolution on Land" was unveiled, featuring collections from expeditions to Mongolia as well as contemporary insects and birds. The museum has continued to grow, with new exhibitions opening in subsequent years, such as those dedicated to discoveries in Krasiejów, reconstructions of Australopithecus, and new dinosaur exhibits. In 2009, to mark the 150th anniversary of Darwin's work, an exhibition on vertebrate evolution was opened. The museum boasts numerous unique exhibits, including dinosaurs from Mongolia, reptiles and amphibians from Krasiejów, Archaeopteryx specimens, marine reptiles, and reconstructions of extinct species. Among its notable curiosities are a cast of a coelacanth and Sarcosuchus. Since 2009, the museum has also published the popular science journal "Rocznik Muzeum Ewolucji" (Yearbook of the Museum of Evolution), enriching its cultural and educational offerings for visitors.