National Museum of Natural History (Manila)
{{Short description|Natural history museum in Manila, Philippines}}
{{Infobox Museum
|name = National Museum of Natural History
|image = National_Museum_of_Natural_History_as_seen_from_Agrifina_Circle_%28Ermita%2C_Manila%2C_Philippines%29%2806-12-2024%29.jpg
|caption = Façade of the museum
|logo =
|logo_upright =
|logo_alt = Logo
|logo_caption = Logo
|map_type =
|map_caption =
|coordinates = {{coord|14|34|59.9|N|120|58|55.9|E|dim:30_region:PH_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|established = 2017
|dissolved =
|location =
|type = Natural history museum
|collections =
|collection_size =
|visitors =
|director =
|curator =
|publictransit = {{rint|metro}} {{rint|manila|LRT-1}} {{lrt|United Nations}}
{{rint|bus|1}} {{RouteBox|6|List of bus routes in Metro Manila|#0D264F|white}}{{RouteBox|17|List of bus routes in Metro Manila|#E3833F|white}} United Nations Avenue
|network = National Museum of the Philippines
|website = {{url|https://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/our-museums/national-museum-of-natural-history/}}
|embedded={{Infobox building|embed=yes
| former_names =
- {{nowrap|Agriculture and Commerce Building}}
- {{nowrap|Department of Tourism Building}}
| architect = Antonio Toledo
| status = Open
| location = Rizal Park, Ermita
| mapframe = no
| address = T.M. Kalaw Street
corner General Luna Street
| location_city = Manila
| location_country = Philippines
| architectural_style = Neoclassical
| completion_date = 1941
| floor_count = 6
| ren_cost = {{Philippine peso|1 billion|link=yes}}
| renovation_date = 2015–2018
| ren_architect =
| ren_firm = Dominic Galicia Architects
| ren_engineer =
| ren_str_engineer =
| ren_serv_engineer =
| ren_civ_engineer =
| ren_oth_designers = Tina Periquet {{small|(Interior design)}}
| ren_qty_surveyor =
| ren_contractor =
| ren_awards =
}}
}}
The National Museum of Natural History ({{langx|fil|Pambansang Museo ng Likas na Kasaysayan}}) is the national natural history museum of the Philippines. It is located along Agrifina Circle in Rizal Park, Manila.{{cite web |url=http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/252579/long-last-manila-now-museum-precinctcomplex/ |title=At long last, Manila now has a museum precinct/complex |publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer |author=Villalon, A. |date=30 January 2017 |access-date=30 January 2017 |archive-date=29 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129195217/http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/252579/long-last-manila-now-museum-precinctcomplex/ |url-status=live }}
History
=Agriculture and Commerce Building=
The building was constructed as the Agriculture and Commerce Building in 1940. It was designed in the Neoclassical style by Filipino architect Antonio Toledo in the late 1930s, having the same dimensions and floor plan as its twin building located at the side of the circle, the Finance Building. Both buildings were destroyed in the Battle of Manila during World War II. Both buildings were reconstructed according to the original plans after the war.{{cite web|title=The American Colonial and Contemporary Traditions|url=http://nlpdl.nlp.gov.ph:81/CC01/NLP00VM052mcd/v2/v4.pdf|website=National Library of the Philippines|access-date=25 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517165551/http://nlpdl.nlp.gov.ph:81/CC01/NLP00VM052mcd/v2/v4.pdf|archive-date=17 May 2016|url-status=dead}}
=Department of Tourism=
At some point in time, the building was occupied by the Department of Tourism (DOT), hence the building became known as the Department of Tourism Building up until 2015.{{Cite news |last=Tantiangco |first=Aya |last2=Limson |first2=Yvan |date=July 16, 2018 |title=THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/specials/content/5/national-museum-of-natural-history-a-digital-tour/ |url-status=live |access-date=August 26, 2024 |work=GMA News Online |archive-date=June 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624135855/https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/specials/content/5/national-museum-of-natural-history-a-digital-tour/ }} DOT moved its offices to the nearby city of Makati and is planning to return to Manila after the completion of its proposed headquarters located in Intramuros.{{Cite news |last=Dela Cruz |first=Jovee Marie N. |date=January 4, 2013 |title=DOT moving to Makati |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2013/01/04/news/top-stories/dot-moving-to-makati/745354 |url-status=live |access-date=August 26, 2024 |work=The Manila Times |archive-date=August 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240826070942/https://www.manilatimes.net/2013/01/04/news/top-stories/dot-moving-to-makati/745354 }}
=National Museum of Natural History=
The National Museum Act, which was passed in 1998,{{cite web|title=National Museum Act of 1998|url=https://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/Relevant%20Laws%20and%20Issuances.html/|access-date=22 May 2019|website=National Museum of the Philippines|date=7 February 2017}} mandates the conversion of three civic buildings within Rizal Park, the Legislative Building, the Finance Building, and the Tourism Building, into museums. The Finance Building was the first to be repurposed. In 1998, the building was converted into the National Museum of Anthropology. The Legislative Building was converted into the National Museum of Fine Arts in 2000.{{cite news|last1=del Rosario|first1=Ramon Jr.|title=Remarkable gift from government and business|url=http://opinion.inquirer.net/107520/remarkable-gift-government-business|access-date=4 October 2017|work=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=30 September 2017|archive-date=5 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005000451/http://opinion.inquirer.net/107520/remarkable-gift-government-business|url-status=live}} The Tourism Building would later become the National Museum of Natural History.
In 2013, preparations were commenced to have the building host the National Museum of Natural History. The administration of President Noynoy Aquino officially launched and backed the formation and establishment of the Museum of Natural History, as well as various regional museums throughout the country.{{Cite news |date=July 6, 2021 |title=In tribute video, National Museum recalls cultural, heritage projects supported by PNoy |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/07/06/21/in-tribute-video-national-museum-recalls-cultural-heritage-projects-supported-by-pnoy |access-date=August 26, 2024 |work=ABS-CBN |archive-date=July 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230726070241/https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/07/06/21/in-tribute-video-national-museum-recalls-cultural-heritage-projects-supported-by-pnoy |url-status=live }} The National Museum of the Philippines invited five architects to submit proposals for the retrofitting and chose the design of the team from Dominic Galicia Architects and interior designer Tina Periquet. Galicia's design involved the maintenance of the building's facade except for the addition of a glass dome supported by a double helix structure inspired by DNA. The dome and supporting structure were dubbed as the "Tree of Life" and will cover the courtyard of the six-storey building. The project, estimated to cost around {{Philippine peso|1 billion|link=yes}}, was initially scheduled to be completed in 2015 in time for the 2015 APEC Summit.{{cite news |last1=Villalon |first1=Augusto |date=21 January 2013 |title=DOT building to be transformed into Museum of Natural History |url=http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/86273/dot-building-to-be-transformed-into-museum-of-natural-history |access-date=25 July 2016 |publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer |archive-date=18 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818120202/http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/86273/dot-building-to-be-transformed-into-museum-of-natural-history |url-status=live }}{{cite news|title=P1-B Museum of Natural History up by 2015 to house PH's richly diverse flora, fauna|url=http://meco.ph/mecog/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1050&Itemid=154|access-date=25 July 2016|work=Manila Economic and Cultural Office|publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=29 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918102531/http://meco.ph/mecog/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1050&Itemid=154|archive-date=18 September 2016|url-status=dead}}
A bidding for prospective contractors for the renovation of the building was done in September 2015.{{cite news|title=Contractors invited to turn old tourism office into museum|url=http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=contractors-invited-to-turn-old-tourism-office-into-museum&id=113362|access-date=25 July 2016|work=BusinessWorld|date=13 August 2015|archive-date=5 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005050757/http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=contractors-invited-to-turn-old-tourism-office-into-museum&id=113362|url-status=dead}}
The National Museum of Natural History was officially inaugurated on September 30, 2017. A grand opening for the museum was expected in the later quarter of 2017.{{cite news|last1=Carlos|first1=Lawrence|title=The National Museum of Natural History Inauguration|url=http://bluprint.ph/national-museum-natural-history-inauguration/|access-date=4 October 2017|work=BluPrint.ph|date=1 October 2017|archive-date=4 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004103430/http://bluprint.ph/national-museum-natural-history-inauguration/|url-status=live}} The museum opened on May 18, 2018.{{cite news|last1=Montemayor |first1=Ma. Teresa |title=National Museum of Natural History opens to public|url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1035741 |access-date=14 April 2025 |work=Philippine News Agency|date=1 October 2017}}
Collections
The museum's collections include the stuffed remains of Lolong, a saltwater crocodile captured in Agusan del Sur in 2011 and was the largest crocodile in captivity at the time of his death in 2013.{{cite web|url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/classified-odd/06/23/17/look-lolong-moves-to-new-home-in-national-museum-of-natural-history |title=LOOK: 'Lolong' moves to new home in National Museum of Natural History |website=ABS-CBN |access-date=14 April 2025}}
Gallery
File:Tarsier (Inside Philippine National Museum of Natural History).jpg|Tarsier
File:Tamaraw (Inside Philippine National Museum of Natural History).jpg|Tamaraw
File:Philippine Eagle (Inside Philippine National Museum of Natural History).jpg|Philippine Eagle
File:9539National Museum of Natural History Manila 12.jpg|Ground level
File:9649National Museum of Natural History Manila 10.jpg|Skeletal remains of Lolong
File:12National Museum of Natural History Manila 46.jpg|A museum hallway
File:9861National Museum of Natural History Manila 37.jpg|Lobby
File:9539National Museum of Natural History Manila 02.jpg|Ramps
File:Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Manila, Filipinas, 2023-08-26, DD 46.jpg|View towards southwest of the museum
File:Marinduque Sperm Whale.jpg|Marinduque Sperm Whale
File:PH Museum of Natural History Artifacts7.jpg|Philippine Turtle
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline}}
{{National Museum of the Philippines}}
{{Manila museums}}
{{Rizal Park}}