Museum am Löwentor (Löwentor Museum), Stuttgart

The Löwentor Museum (Museum am Löwentor) represents a significant facet of the State Museum of Natural History (Naturkundemuseum) in Stuttgart. This museum, along with its counterpart housed in Rosenstein Castle, offers a comprehensive look into the natural history and sciences of the region.

Founded in 1817 with collections dating back to the 16th century from the Dukes of Württemberg, the museum survived partial destruction during World War II, thanks to the preemptive relocation of many items. It moved to Rosenstein Castle in 1956 and expanded in 2018 with the Museum am Löwentor, focusing on geology and paleontology.

The Löwentor Museum is renowned for its detailed portrayal of the geological and paleontological history of southwestern Germany, a region notable for its rich fossil deposits. The museum's narrative spans an impressive 250 million years, tracing the region's natural history from the Triassic period through to the Quaternary Ice Age. Noteworthy among its many exhibits is the skull of the prehistoric Steinheim man (Homo steinheimensis), an essential find in the study of human evolution.

Visitors to the museum can embark on a journey through time, beginning with the Triassic period, progressing to the Jurassic, and moving forward into the Tertiary and Quaternary periods. The museum displays not only original fossil finds but also life-size replicas of prehistoric creatures within carefully constructed dioramas representing various geological formations like red sandstone, shell limestone, and different layers of Keuper and Jura. These exhibits provide a glimpse into the ice ages, featuring models of mammoths, aurochs, and cave bears.

Another highlight of the museum is the Amber Cabinet, which houses an array of animals and plants that have been preserved in fossil resin, providing a fascinating glimpse into the ancient biosphere.