The Building
The Museum is housed in the Fondego dei Turchi, initially built as a palazzo for the Pesaro family in the 13th century. In 1381 the building was given to Nicolò d'Este, lord of Ferrara, and then - after changing hands several times - eventually became the fondego for Turkish merchants in the city (the place where they were expected to live and do their business). It was used for this purpose right up until 1838, and then from 1865 onwards underwent extensive restoration work. Thereafter it housed the Correr Museum and, later, the Natural History Museum.

The History
The Venice Natural History Museum was founded in 1923, thanks to the work of Giorgio Silvio Coen, who as soon as the Correr Museum was transferred to its present home in St. Mark's Square proposed to use the vacant Fondego dei Turchi for a Natural History Museum. This was to bring together the various scientific collections already existing within the city: at the Correr Museum, the Istituto Veneto di Scienza, Lettere ed Arti, the private collection of Count Alessandro Pericle Ninni and other smaller collections.