Museums in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum of Ulaanbaatar is the oldest public museum in all of Mongolia. It has a very diverse collection, where visitors get to see all sorts of ancient animal remains, from dinosaur bones to fossils to petrified dinosaur eggs. There is also a wide array of taxidermy, with lots of stuffed and embalmed creatures on display. Many of these animals are displayed in dioramas, and some of the them include leopards, elk and gazelles. For those more into geology, there are some specimens of stones, meteorites and petrified wood.

Museum of Mongolian History

The Museum of Mongolian History encompasses ten permanent galleries, which range in era from the Stone Age up until the present day. There are all sorts of folk-related materials that show traditional ethnic clothing and jewelery. One of the most interesting items in this museum is the Ganlin Horn, which was constructed out of human thigh bones and worn by monks. Some other objects on display range from silk, carpets, boots, armor and musical instruments.

Zanabazar Museum of Fine Art

The Zanabazar Museum of Fine Art is an interesting aesthetic representation of the many aspects of Mongolian nomadic life, which is a huge part of the cultural heritage. The exhibits have displays using all sorts of media, including sculptures, wood and stone carvings, paintings, masks and more. There are also some Buddhist sculptures and portraits of khans from centuries ago.

Choijin Lama Museum

The Choijin Lama Museum is a temple grounds that was constructed from 1904-1908. This was the former home of Luvsan Haidav Chojin Lama, who was at the time the state oracle. There are five temples throughout the museum, the main one being the Maharaja Sum, which has interesting statues as well as the mummified remains of a historic teacher. There are also some woodcarvings, embroidery, masks, silk pieces and assorted other artifacts.

Bogd Khaan Winter Palace Museum

This palace was built between 1893-1903, and was the residence of the last king of Mongolia, Bogd Khaan. Today, there are many of his remaining possessions, as well as costumes, scroll paintings, scultpures and furs.