250 years of Alexander von Humboldt – this decadal birthday provides the occasion for a multifaceted themed year to celebrate the exciting life and work of the researcher and discoverer.

To mark this occasion, the Museum für Naturkunde is showing a “Humboldt-intervention” in the Mineral Hall from June 2019.

Alexander von Humboldt studied at the Bergakademie Freiberg from 1791 to 1792, which aroused his interest in minerals and rocks. He even assigned them a “long-lasting value”. First he collected minerals and rocks as a mining official in Franconia and later also on his journeys to America, Italy and Russia.

Alexander von Humboldt brought more than 1100 minerals and rocks into the museum’s collections. A selection of the most significant pieces will be shown for the first time as part of the intervention.

Additionally a richly illustrated book focusses on Humboldt’s work as a collector and provides a deeper insight into his mineral and stone collections.