With the Natural History Museum on Merrion Street now closed for much needed conservation and the first phase of refurbishment works, a new Dead Zoo Lab is opening at the National Museum, Collins Barracks for the duration of its closure.

The Dead Zoo Lab at Collins Barracks has been created to ensure the public continues to have an opportunity to see some of the most popular specimens from the natural history collection, as well as some specimens that haven’t been on display for many years.

The nature of the display of the natural history collection at the Natural History Museum on Merrion Street has been largely unchanged since Victorian times, and the Dead Zoo Lab at Collins Barracks will be used by the National Museum to experiment with and test new methods of engaging the public in conversation with the collection, while the conservation and refurbishment work of the Merrion Street site is taking place.

The Dead Zoo Lab at Collins Barracks has been designed to allow changes and evolution to the objects on display, supporting access to a wider range of the natural history collection over time. At any one time approximately 1,300 objects will be on public display spanning entomology, geology, mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles, and a wide variety of marine life.

The National Museum of Ireland has the world’s largest collection of Blaschka Glass Models of Marine Life. These beautiful, delicate glass models were created in the 19th century by world renowned glass artisan father and son team Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka using intricate techniques. The Dead Zoo Lab at Collins Barracks will also display a selection of these treasures, some of which have not been on display for generations.

We want to experiment with how we can conserve the historic nature of the exhibition cases and displays while also improving accessibility and engagement with the collection. The Dead Zoo Lab will be an experiment, offering opportunities for us to adapt the displays and a chance for our visitors to let us know what works, what doesn't, and why.