In 1835, Johann Friedrich Naumann (1780–1857), the founder of scientific ornithology, installed the bird collection that he himself had put together in Köthen Castle. The collection of birds, consisting of 1300 prepared specimens spread throughout 113 display cases, has remained virtually unchanged since then. The collection is even still housed in its original rooms in the Ferdinandsbau (Ferdinand Building). The background paintings of the display case interiors offer insight to early ecological concepts and bestow the collection scientific and art historical value. Further attractions of the museum are the displays on bird paintings, the history of ornithological book design, preparation and collection techniques, fowling and ringing, Naumann's European and American contemporaries, and extinct birds. The Naumann-Museum is the only museum in the world dedicated to the history of ornithology. In 2015, it was added to register of cultural property of national significance. Since autumn 2020, the Naumann-Museum has been closed due to the extensive renovation work the Ferdinandsbau is undergoing. The collection is currently in storage and is not open to the public. The museum plans to reopen at the beginning of 2023.
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This part of the webpage is not translated