Museum of Natural History

Located in Ostandari Street, formerly called Talar-e Taimuri (Timurid Hall), and used as the Officers Club until the victory of the Islamic Revolution, this pafatial building is a Timurid epoch monument. 'Incorporated in the city by the ,Municipality of Esfahan in March 1989 as an endowment to an Esfahani university professor named Dr Ja 'farian to promote the study of natural science and related subjects, the museum consists of seven halls. It maintains exhibitions in all 'branches of natural history, including anthropology and ecology. As a result of the wide explorations and program of research of its initiator in a period of 37 years, the museum has acquired specimens and data of great value. Among the facilities for study are an extension library, illustrated lectures, publications, programs for young people, cooperation with city schools and universities.
An eleventh-century inscription in verse and a valuable stone-trough in the garden area can be seen in addition to the entrance ivan with its brick stalactite arid stucco decorates of remarkable value

Located in the vicinity of Chehel Sutun Palace in the center of Esfahan, the two- story building of the Museum dates back from the Safavid era, when it was called Jobbeh-Khaneh. It was reconstructed during Qajar Dynasty. At that time it was being used as the residence of the ruler of Esfahan, Mas'ood Mirza (Zel os-Sultan). The ruler, who was very interested in hunting, used the building for keeping the horns and corpse of hunted animals. He named it the "Hall of Horns." When the ruler moved his residence, the building was used as the ruling headquarters of the city. During the Pahlavi dynasty, the building was used by the general governorate of Esfahan Province. In 1994, Esfahan Municipality repaired the building and entirely renovated parts of it. Since then, it has been allocated to the Esfahan Contemporary Arts Museum. At present it comprises four large halls, a library, a gathering hall, and a hall for the museum staff. It was actually used as a museum only when the province authorities reconstructed the partly destroyed building in 1994 and finally in 1996, the museum was officially inaugurated.
Since then the museum has focused its activities on the fields of classical and modern arts, and has held several exhibitions displaying classic and artistic modern woks.
However, the museum tries to put the works of renowned old artists on display as well, considering the skill of artists and inherent values of the works themselves. Based on such mutual understanding, the artists and art collectors are handing over some of their works as gifts to the Museum while participating in the meetings and artistic-cultural seminars held in the museum. As an example, the Golden Deer", which is one of the remarkable works of the late Master Hossein Joharian has been presented to the museum as a gift.

Imam Khomeini Art Gallery

Inaugurated in May I996, this modem three-story gallery of the art loving people, artists, and artisans of Esfahan on Feiz Street to the south of Khaju Bridge occupies a total area of 1800 square meters. It is affiliated with the Institution for the Compilation and Dissemination of the Works of Imam Khomeini, the late founder and leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In addition to housing the works of the late Imam Khomeini, the gallery consists of an amphitheater for holding assemblies and screening plays in the basement, a book shop, a periodic gallery for the display of Iranian and foreign art works relating to Imam Khomeini, and a museum in the first floor for the preservation of his works, letters, personal belongings of him an his son Haj Ahmad, and some loose leaves of his manuscripts.