The history of this museum runs back to the year of 1812 when King Fredrik 6th donated the property of Tøyen as a gift to the new University of Norway. The collection of the museum consists of more than 7,2 million objects, which makes it the most comprehensive biological and geological documentation of the country. Among the collection there are also valuable objects from the Arctic and Antarctic areas and a number of objects from other parts of the world. The Botanical garden has an international collection of about 7000 living plants with documentation of their origin, which makes it a valuable genetic bank. The museum now appears as a modern, open and active museum with several interesting permanent exhibitions:- Rocks, minerals and fossils in the Geological museum.- Domestic and foreign animals in the Zoological museum.- Domestic and foreign plants and trees in the Botanical garden.