The Oceanographic Museum of Monaco is a museum of marine science and marine life located in Monaco. It was founded in 1910 by Prince Albert I of Monaco and is managed by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. The museum is located in the building of the Oceanographic Institute, which was also founded by Prince Albert I in 1906. The museum houses a collection of marine specimens, fossils and models, and is home to a variety of scientific and educational activities. It is one of the largest oceanographic museums in the world, and has been visited by millions of people since its opening.
The museum is divided into several sections, including the Marine Life Gallery, which showcases the diversity of marine life in the Mediterranean Sea; the Marine Environment Gallery, which explores the relationship between humans and the marine environment; and the Maritime History Gallery, which features artifacts and objects from the history of ocean exploration. The museum also includes a library, which contains more than 100,000 books, manuscripts, maps and photographs related to oceanography and marine life. The library is open to the public, and visitors can explore the collection and conduct research.
The museum also hosts a variety of educational and outreach programs, such as lectures and workshops, as well as special events, such as the Monaco Dive Centre, which offers guided dives in the Mediterranean Sea. The museum also operates an aquarium, which is home to a variety of fish and invertebrates, as well as a sea turtle rescue center. The museum is dedicated to the conservation of the marine environment and the promotion of a sustainable relationship between humans and the ocean. It is part of a network of marine science centers that are dedicated to the study and preservation of ocean life.