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The Zoology Museum dates from 1906, the year that the Natural Science Governing Board was created in Barcelona. Since '24, it has been located at the
Castell dels Tres Dragons, a building designed by
Lluís Domènech i Montaner as a café and restaurant for the Barcelona 1988 World's Fair, set in the area where the citadel had been, now the
Parc de la Ciutadella. It is a surprising and skilfully-constructed building which has been considered a pacesetter in Catalan Modernista architecture.
The collections in the Zoology Museum make up the second-best display of Iberian fauna. The legacy of the museum collections is useful for a wide range of activities: scientific and educational activities, as well as exhibitions.
The ground floor, presided over by a magnificent skeleton of a whale (a finback whale), is an area for temporary exhibitions. The subject matter, and its presentation in this room, undoubtedly marks the museum public activities, which aim to be a reassessment of current knowledge.
A permanent exhibition, "Classification of the Animal Kingdom" is displayed on the first floor. This is a depiction of the diverse forms of animal life, which is primarily devoted to native fauna. In various areas of the museum, there are exhibitions on specific subjects, such as "Bees and Honey", the "Darwin Centenary 1882-1992", and "Birds in the City".
Activities open to the public offer visitors of all ages more detailed information on museum topics. Programs are undertaken with the purpose of instructing schoolchildren, university students, teachers and the public at large. Workshops, guided visits, courses and lectures are given, along with other events such as seminars and round-table discussions.