the origins of the museum were in 1865 when kazimierz wodzicki gathered a collection of birds gave the scientific society of kraków. originally housed in the building of the cracow branch of academy of sciences, ul. sławkowska. in 1888, he arranged the first exhibition to the public. in 1929 the museum was enriched by a unique specimen of woolly rhinoceros found in the village of starunia, near stanisławow. the museum moved to current premises in 1993.