The Natural History Museum in Belgrade is one of the oldest Serbian national institutions. In Serbia it is the only museum of this type. According to the richness and diversity of exhibits, achieved results in the field of museology and science, this museum is one of the most important in South East Europe. It was officially founded in 1895, and then it was named the Istrian Museum of the Serbian Country.
Prior to the establishment of the Museum, as early as the first half of the 19th century there were a large number of natural collections in the Principality of the Principality of Serbia, which were kept in the Primary School of the Great School (Liceja). The museum was originally housed in the Zadar House of Stevce Mihajlovic in Vracar.
Josif Pancic is considered the founder of the Natural History Museum, who systematically collected and studied specimens from nature with a group of his associates and students. He was the first president of the Serbian Royal Academy and professor of the Grand School. He has thoroughly explored the flora of Serbia at the time, and discovered and described about 50 valid varieties for the sake of new species (Picea omorica, Ramonda sebica, Eryngium serbicum, Centaurea derventana and others).
The first exhibition of the museum opened in 1904 in Belgrade in the presence of King Peter I and officials, and the first visit to natural exhibits abroad was the same year at the World Exhibition in Paris. The first administrator of the Museum was Academician Petar Pavlović, a geologist and lecturer at the Great School.
