Heatwave: the Toulouse Museum temporarily closed due to air conditioning failure

Makeshift humidifiers in the galleries, basins of water at the foot of the stuffed specimens, survival blankets on the windows: at the Natural History Museum of Toulouse, the air conditioning broke down and, in heatwave weather, the establishment had to close, as well as the Henri Gaussen botanical garden. Scheduled visits and activities are also canceled.

“It’s a failure. We were looking for a museum to cool down…”declares Gabriel, a student, disappointed in front of the closed door while he brought friends to visit the second largest Natural History Museum in France, after that of Paris. “It’s true that when the air conditioning works, we are a point of freshness”recognizes the new director of the museum, Judith Pargamin, who does not yet know when the building, which has become an incubator, will be able to reopen.

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Since Saturday June 20, the Museum has had to close its doors and the staff are watching, worriedly, over the collections, especially the 8,000 objects on display (out of 2.5 million preserved), a good third of which are taxidermy. “What is dangerous for collections are sudden changes in temperature and humidity levels”explains Alexandre Mille, head of the collections department.

The most sensitive specimens are ethnographic objects which mix different materials such as wood, leather, feathers and plant or textile fibers. “As soon as we have several materials that react differently to temperatures, this creates fragilities. But for the moment, no degradation »assures the specialist.

“We will inform you of its reopening as soon as the situation is restored”they indicated on their Facebook account. The Museum also specifies that the Moaï restaurant remains open, but “ reserves the right to early closure depending on the conditions. The Muséum Gardens, located in Borderouge, remain accessible and welcome the public on weekends.

Extreme vigilance of ethnographic objects

In particular, he monitors that cracks do not appear on the immense Nimba mask from Guinea which combines wood, wicker, straw and metal nails. A stuffed bird of paradise on its perch dating from 1874 is also under guard, accompanied by a Tupperware basin to moisten its window.

Even Punch, the star of the hall, a stuffed circus elephant at the beginning of the 20^e century, is examined regularly: “We wouldn’t want Punch to have stretch marks!” »worries the director of the Museum.