The museum was founded on 2 December 1923 and was named “Museum of Nature History of Craiova” by the members of the Scientific Circle from Craiova in front with the prof. Marin Demetrescu. In the year 1928, the museum became a section of the Regional Museum of Oltenia. Initially it had functioned in the building of the Prefecture, and after that in the actually office of the Ethnography Section (1934 - 1948) and later on in the office of the Archaeology Section (1949 - 1975).

In this period the patrimony of the Section of Nature Sciences was opened for the public in varied displaying forms until 1963, when the basic exposition was finished, which was realized after a thematic project conceived by prof. dr. Ioan Firu. This exposition was closed in 1975.

Between 1975 - 1986, in the absence of an adequate space, the exposition activity of the Section of the Nature Sciences was ended, being continued with a completion and diversification activity, and also a scientific development of this patrimony.

The new exhibition campaign was started on 13 march 1986, on the ground floor of the building on the Popa Sapca Street, no. 8, where it is also functioning in the present, with two temporary expositions: “Butterflies - flying petals” and “About the animals’ world”, followed by tens of temporary expositions realized in the Section’s headquarters or in other museums.

Basic and Permanent Exhibitions

Oltenia is one of the most significant bio-geographic areas in Romania. On the territory of Oltenia there is a great diversity of ecosystems (terrestrial and aquatic), including almost all categories of plants and animals.

Physical and geographic conditions and ecosystems in Oltenia

On 18 September 2008 was founded the basic exposition from the first floor, restored as a result of the project: ”Growing the tourist attraction of Craiova and Dolj county by the restoration of the basic exposition from the first floor, Section of the Nature Sciences, Museum of Oltenia - Craiova” by the PHARE Project 2001 Economic and Social Cohesion, founded by C. J. Dolj, in cooperation with the Museum of Oltenia, Section of Nature Sciences.

The scientific project laying the foundation of the exhibition has been drafted by: PhD Cornelia Chimişliu - curator, head of the Department of Natural Sciences and curators: PhD Aurelian Popescu, PhD Mirela Sabina Ridiche, PhD Olivia Cioboiu, PhD student Claudia Ionelia Goga, PhD Adrian Năstase. The exhibition has been designed so that it should provide visitors a recreational area as well as a place of knowledge and learning regarding the secrets of nature and the diversity of flora and fauna.

The exhibition reveals the great biodiversity in Oltenia region, generated by the variety of physical, geographical and climate conditions within the region, pointing out the necessity to preserve the biodiversity within this ancient Romanian historical province.

The exhibition offers visitors the occasion to learn more about: Physical and geographic conditions in Oltenia, The ABC of ecology, Oltenia Ecosystems, Preserving biodiversity, Tourist attractions in Oltenia.

The exhibition is an original achievement, the only one that reveals in detail the natural features in Oltenia, representing an important database of useful documentary, scientific, cultural and educational information for the visitors.

Through the simple or illuminated panels, show cases, dioramas and interactive informational systems, presented with interactive animated multimedia, 3D/2D, Flash technology offers the possibility to the visitors to witness the wide biodiversity of Oltenia.

Oltenia - Terra fossilis

The exhibition is arranged at the ground floor of Natural Science Department, on an area of 136 mp and was opened on 22^nd of February 2012. 

In the exhibition showcases there are arranged, in systematic order, fossils found exclusively within Oltenia territory, constituting itself into a true history of life on these lands. 

Plants or animals, small or giant, aquatic or terrestrial, bipedal or quadrupeds, Oltenia fossils impress, with their great diversity, their large number of discoveries and their great scientific value. 

Mastodon from Stoina - emblematic museum piece, cave bear from Baia de Fier, mammoth from Leu are irresistible attractions for visitors, and mammal fossils from Bugiulesti were and are today quoted by scientists from our country and abroad. 

The exhibition addresses the audience of all ages, but especially young audience discovers it with amazement and joy. 

The exhibition”Universe and our solar system”occupies an area of 250 mp and it is arranged at the second floor of Natural Sciences Department. The exhibition space consists of two rooms. In the first room there are exposed scientific information about the origin and organization of the Universe: galaxies and group of galaxies (including Milky Way-our galaxy) stars, constellations, Solar System (Sun and the planets that revolve around it: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto).

A special attention is given to the Earth and its natural satellite, Moon, and other celestial bodies in the Solar System: asteroids, meteorites and comets. The interest exhibits are the three pieces of the meteorite fell in Sopot, Dolj County, on 27^th of April 1927. The end of the exhibition is represented by space research and exploration of the outer space. In the second room the journey through the Universe lead us in the Planetarium, where through the 5 performances, the visitors can enjoy the dynamic image of sky, the sky map, a virtual journey among stars, constellations, planets, asteroids. 

The exhibition was opened on 4^th of December 2012, when the Planetarium was also opened, and addresses to all categories of visitors, but especially younger audience, to which we try to awaken their interest for understanding the Universe.