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All Switzerland Geneva Musée d'Histoire des Sciences (Museum of History of Science)

Musée d'Histoire des Sciences (Museum of History of Science)

A treasure trove of scientific instruments from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Geneva, Switzerland

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A display of glass eyes.   Tiia Monto / CC BY-SA 3.0
An instrument on display at the museum.   Tiia Monto / CC BY-SA 3.0
Musée d’histoire des Sciences   Ramunasjurevicius / CC BY-SA 3.0
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  CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
  CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Replacement glass eyes in different colors   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Scale solar system   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
One of the museum’s rooms   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The stable political and economic environment of Switzerland has made it an attractive location for scientists for hundreds of years. A section of this history is showcased in Geneva's Musée d'Histoire des Sciences (Museum of History of Science), where the developments made between the 17th and 19th centuries are showcased alongside additional more modern tools. 

In the past, science was largely an occupation for the elite, meaning that those who practiced it were either rich enough to afford it or had patrons who could pay them to pursue it. This means that everything up to their equipment was often very well made, also in a way that made the instruments pleasing to the eye besides just functional. This makes them the ideal tool to explain science with, as important parts were often laid bare for show rather than covered to be protected.

Many of those instruments are on display in the museum, tools that were used in the fields of astronomy, microscopy, gnomonics, electricity, meteorology, and measuring in general.

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Instruments Of Science Science Science Museums Museums

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Entrance to the museum is free, it is open daily except for Tuesdays and certain holidays. Check the website for hours.

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Luis Morato, Michelle Cassidy

  • Luis Morato
  • Michelle Cassidy

Published

September 20, 2023

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  • http://institutions.ville-geneve.ch/fr/mhn/votre-visite/musee-dhistoire-des-sciences/
Musée d'Histoire des Sciences (Museum of History of Science)
128 Rue de Lausanne
Geneva, 1202
Switzerland
46.220844, 6.152166
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