Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle (Saint-Denis)

The Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle stands at 1 Rue Labourdonnais in Saint-Denis, the capital of Réunion, beside the Jardin de l'État, the old colonial botanical garden. It was founded in the 19th century, during the period of French colonial scientific interest in the Mascarene Islands, and ranks among the oldest museums in the Indian Ocean. The building is a neoclassical colonial structure from the 1850s, with a symmetrical facade, tall shuttered windows and wide verandas, and it has served as a museum for most of its existence. The collections document the natural history of Réunion and the wider Mascarene region: endemic and introduced birds, fish, insects, shells, reptiles and mammals, together with geological samples from the volcanic island. A principal theme is the extinction caused by settlement from the 17th century, with displays on species such as the Mascarene birds that vanished after the arrival of people, as well as the surviving endemic fauna. The presentation is mainly thematic, grouping specimens by taxonomic family and habitat, with a historic cabinet-of-curiosities character preserved in the older galleries. The museum has undergone renovations to the building and display cases over time, but its tropical setting means that humidity, insects and light remain continuing conservation concerns for taxidermy and paper records. Its free entry makes it an easy addition to a walk through central Saint-Denis, close to the Jardin de l'État, the Musée Léon Dierx and the old colonial buildings along Rue de Paris. A visit generally takes about an hour, and the museum is often used by school groups, which can make late mornings busier.