Národní muzeum

The big neo-Renaissance building at the top of Wenceslas Square has housed the country's main museum since 1891. Its collections span natural science, from minerals to zoology, as well as history, archaeology, coins and art. It began in 1818 with the private collections of Bohemian noble families, and today it also runs exhibitions in other buildings in Prague and beyond. Its research led to the discovery of Cooksonia barrandien, the oldest known vascular land plant.