10 Must-See Exhibitions at The Nairobi National Museum
The Museum was initiated in 1910 by a group of enthusiastic naturalists under the then East Africa and Uganda Natural History Society [currently the East African Natural History Society (EANHS)], who needed a place to keep and preserve their collections of various specimens. The first site for the Museum was at the present Nyayo House, which later became too small, and a larger building was put up in 1922 where the Nairobi Serena Hotel stands today.
In 1929, the colonial government set aside land for a museum construction at Museum Hill which was officially opened on 22nd September 1930 and named Coryndon Museum in honour of Sir Robert Coryndon, one-time Governor of Kenya. In 1963 after independence, it was renamed the National Museum of Kenya (NMK).
On October 15th, 2005, the Nairobi Museum closed its doors to the public for an extensive modernization and expansion project the outcome of which was an impressive and magnificent piece of architecture that puts it in competition with other world-class Museums. The Museum later re-opened in June 2008 as the Nairobi National Museum and continues to draw visitors from all walks of life in appreciation of Kenya’s rich heritage.
Attraction Points
The Museum hosts both temporary and permanent galleries that attract learners and tourists alike. We have the following permanent galleries: The Cradle of Human Kind Gallery; The Story of Mammals; The History of Kenya; Cycles of Life gallery; Numismatic Exhibition and the Asian African Heritage Exhibition gallery respectively.
- Cradle of Human Kind Gallery
In the Cradle of human kind gallery, visitors Interact first hand with early man and Stone Age tools. Bird’s gallery depicts the diversity of birds of East Africa arranged in family groups such as birds of prey, water birds and sunbirds. This helps visitors to envision on the different ways birds are adapted to their environment and feeding.
- Ahmed, The King of Marsabit
Nearly a century after his death, the mummified statue of Ahmed stands tall in the Nairobi National Museum. Ahmed was born and died at Marsabit National Park. He belonged to a historic breed of tuskers known for their exceptional ability to grow huge. But it was his massive tusks that earned him the first living national treasure to be designated by a presidential order. Up until his death in 1974, Ahmed was surrounded by armed guards who protected him from poachers. According to legend, he died while leaning against a tree, resting on his massive tusks.
- Hall of Kenya
The Hall of Kenya, located at the National Museums of Kenya in Nairobi, is a beautiful centerpiece shaped like a gourd. It houses tens of thousands of gourds collected from Kenya’s various ethnic groups.
The gourds are linked together with adhesive wax regardless of their sizes, forms, designs, color, or provenance, and there is a profound cultural and historical significance. It indicates a sense of self.
- Story of Mammals Gallery
The Nairobi National Museum is organized on the three pillars of Kenya’s national heritage: nature, culture, and history. The nature pillar has five exhibitions (geology, human origins, natural variety, Kenyan ecology, and mammalian radiation). Culture encompasses innovation, life cycles, and cultural dynamism. There are exhibitions on the cycles of life, Kenyan history and cycles of life, and Kenya Before 1850.
The story of mammals from the large elephant, bats to shrews is captured in three themes namely, evolution, locomotion, feeding adaptation and defense mechanism.
- Nairobi Snake Park
National Museums of Kenya) Nairobi Snake Park (NSP) is one of the National Museums of Kenya attractions located adjacent to Nairobi National Museum and is extremely popular with visitors. On display are, cobras, puff adders, mambas and the large African-Rock python (non-poisonous) found only in Kenya Several species of crocodiles found in Africa, the American alligator, freshwater terrapins, and tortoises are also on display Aquariums holding coral fish from the East African lakes and rivers are a main feature of the park.
6. Joy Adamson Gallery
Joy Adamson was a colorful woman whose work continues to influence how people think about conservation. Much of her work has been memorialized, not only in her illustrations but also in books and films that have played an important role in maintaining Kenya’s diversity and richness of people and wildlife.
This gallery, which features reproductions of Joy Adamson’s watercolour paintings, honors not only the illustrator and conservationist but also the diversity and robustness of Kenya’s culture and natural surroundings.
7. The History of Kenya Gallery
The History of Kenya gallery details the origin of Kenya’s different communities and language groups, the pre-colonial period, the colonial period, the interaction among the communities, struggle for independence and independence.
8. Cycles of Life gallery
Cycles of life gallery paints a picture of the different social interactions, and cultural activities during the life stages of man from childhood, youth, adulthood and ancestral stage. Learners get to interact with traditional items from different communities.
9. Turkana Boy
Turkana Boy, also known as Nariokotome Boy, is the name given to the fossil KNM-WT 15000, which is a nearly complete skeleton of a 1.5- to 1.6-million-year-old Homo ergaster youngster. This is the most complete early hominid skeleton ever discovered.[1] Kamoya Kimeu discovered it in 1984 on the bank of the Nariokotome River near Lake Turkana in Kenya.
10. The Last Male White Rhino
Sudan is the last known male Northern White Rhino (Born 1972- Died 2018) In 2019 his skin and skeleton were transported to the Czech Republic for taxidermy, which was completed and displayed in the Czech Republic together with its skeleton in 2021.
Sudan’s taxidermy arrived in Kenya on March 24, 2023 and is displayed at THE Nairobi National Museum.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Nairobi National Museum is found at Museum Hill, a 10-minute drive from Nairobi’s city center, and only a Km away from Longonot Place
Tourists can also enjoy souvenirs at the small onsite shop and an on-site restaurant featuring a wide range of traditional Kenyan cuisines.
THE DETAILS
Admission Hours
Monday to Sunday: 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. All year round including public holidays and weekends.
Contact information:
The Curator,
Nairobi National Museum,
P. O. Box 40658-00100, Nairobi.
Telephone 0208164134/6 or 0721308485
Email: publicrelations@museums.or.ke
