The Natural History Museum is housed in a "study" type building, designed to showcase a broad and comprehensive zoological collection. There are about 10,000 exhibits in the collection. You can see both Irish animals, incl. several skeletons of giant Irish deer as well as animals from around the world, including extinct or endangered species such as the marsupial wolf and the quagga zebra. Glass models of sea animals by Leopold and Rudolf Blaschk attract attention.
The nature of the exhibition has not changed much since the establishment of the facility in 1856. Some of the exhibits have damaged skins and visible bullet marks or rough taxidermy. Larger specimens are displayed in large wooden display cases, while smaller ones are stored under glass and protected from the sun by movable leather panels. The main room is heated with an under-floor system similar to the Roman hypocaust.