Natural Monument Center, Where You Can Encounter Dinosaur Footprints and a Mammoth Skeleton
Daejeon Natural Monument Center is Korea’s only specialized exhibition hall dedicated to natural monuments and scenic sites. Admission is free, and visitors can see taxidermied animals, dinosaur fossils, a mammoth skeleton fossil, and outdoor natural heritage exhibits, making it easy to combine with a visit to Hanbat Arboretum.
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The Only Natural Heritage Exhibition Hall in Korea, Opened in 2007
The Natural Monument Center opened in 2007 and is Korea’s only specialized natural heritage exhibition hall covering specimens, videos, and photographs of Natural Monuments and Scenic Sites. Natural Monuments are divided into animals, plants, geology, and natural reserves, and the center holds exhibitions and conducts research on this natural heritage and Scenic Sites.
The current facility occupies a total site area of 22,942.7㎡, with a total floor area of 6,943.71㎡ and a building area of 4,576.12㎡. The exhibition building has two above-ground floors, while the Natural Heritage Bureau building and specimen storage facility consist of one basement level and three above-ground floors. This place is not merely for viewing exhibitions; its current role is that of an institution that makes natural heritage research findings publicly available.
Visiting Hours Are Currently 10:00 to 17:00
According to the current visitor information, visiting hours are 10:00–17:00 regardless of the season. If you plan to arrive in the late afternoon, calculate the closing time first.
The center is closed every Monday, and admission is free. The main telephone number is 042-610-7610, and the official website is https://www.nhc.go.kr. Since the publicly available information does not confirm whether the center closes on separate public holidays such as Lunar New Year and Chuseok, or whether photography, foreign-language information, and audio guides are available, this article does not make definitive claims about them.
Take Bus 618 from Daejeon Station to the Natural Monument Center Stop
Daejeon Station can serve as a departure point for visitors coming from outside the city. Bus 618 is indicated as stopping at the Natural Monument Center. Because the latest service interval and actual travel time from Daejeon Station are not confirmed in the publicly available information, check the service immediately before departure on the stop display or a map app.
Bus 911 takes you to the Culture and Arts Center stop, followed by a 10-minute walk. The center’s address is Natural Monument Center, 927 Yudeung-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon. Since the exit number at the station and the exact walking distance to the center are not provided in the available information, foreign visitors should enter the address directly into a map app and choose either the Bus 618 or Bus 911 route.
27-Space Visitor Parking and Hanbat Arboretum Parking
There is a visitor parking lot on the left side of the access road, with space for 20 regular vehicles, 4 vehicles for visitors with disabilities, and 3 large vehicles. If the visitor parking lot is full, the Hanbat Arboretum parking lot may be used, but its parking conditions should be checked separately. Since the center’s visitor parking lot can accommodate only three large vehicles, parking may be difficult for group buses depending on the order of arrival.
The Natural Monument Center forms part of a route running alongside Hanbat Arboretum. The nature exploration course from the Daejeon Insect Ecology Center through the Tropical Botanical Garden and Succulent Garden to the Natural Monument Center is walkable and takes 2–3 hours. Planning the center together with the botanical gardens allows you to combine parking and travel into a single outing rather than visiting the center alone.
Sapsal Dogs, Jindo Dogs, and Jeju Black Pigs in One Space
The animal exhibition zone displays specimens of Sapsal dogs, Jindo dogs, Jeju black pigs, goshawks, and eagles. These taxidermied animal specimens were made by a cultural heritage repair technician. This is not a zoo where visitors observe living animals; it is an exhibition that explains natural heritage through specimens and descriptions, so visitors expecting to see animals moving may experience it differently.
Other information also introduces taxidermied specimens of Asiatic black bears, otters, tigers, goral, and Ogae chickens. The plant exhibition zone explores how Natural Monument plants have been used in daily life and the stories associated with them throughout history. The Jondori pine is also introduced as a plant specimen on display, so it is advisable to include the plant area in your route rather than leaving after seeing only the animals.
From Mesozoic Dinosaur Bones to a Mammoth from the Korean Peninsula
In the geology exhibition zone, visitors can see dinosaur bones and footprints from the Mesozoic Era, when dinosaurs flourished, as well as dinosaur egg fossils. The Korean Peninsula Natural Heritage exhibition zone displays a mammoth skeletal fossil restored using Korean technology over approximately two years. Rather than being an exhibition consisting only of small explanatory panels, its central attraction is the opportunity to compare the sizes of the fossils and skeletons.
The exhibition hall also has an activity space, search kiosks, and a video room. During a recent renovation, an exhibition system using digital media technologies such as augmented reality was introduced. As the center has provided natural heritage learning opportunities for children at daycare centers, kindergartens, and elementary schools, it is better to check on site whether the kiosks and video room actually offer language support instead of assuming that English explanations are available.
Changwon Dinosaur Footprints and Jeju Basalt Outdoors
After viewing the indoor exhibitions, visitors can explore the outdoor displays. Fossilized footprints of ornithopod dinosaurs discovered in Jindong-myeon, Masanhappo-gu, Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do, and transported here are displayed outdoors. Basalt, a natural heritage feature of Jeju Island, is also part of the outdoor exhibition, providing a point where visitors can compare natural heritage from various parts of the Korean Peninsula in Daejeon.
Outside, there is also a pond turtle shelter and Jurassic conglomerate from Bongyang-ri, Jeongseon, Gangwon-do, designated Natural Monument No. 556. This area is easy to miss if you see only the indoor taxidermy and fossil exhibitions, so even though admission is free and there are no tickets, leave enough time to explore outside the building. Because the route includes outdoor movement, adjust the order of indoor and outdoor visits according to the weather during rainy periods or midsummer.
How to Divide Your Time Between a One-Hour Visit and a Three-Hour Nature Exploration
Based on visitor reviews, a light visit focused only on the exhibitions takes about one hour. Including the stamp tour and guided explanations, the visit may take approximately 2.5–3 hours. Some reviews say that visitors can hear exhibition explanations from an on-site docent without making a separate reservation, so if you want a guided explanation, the practical approach is to ask the information desk after arrival about available times and languages.
Reviews indicate that the exhibition hall is arranged on one floor, making it relatively convenient for visitors using strollers. However, the full nature exploration course is a 2–3-hour walking route connecting the Daejeon Insect Ecology Center, Tropical Botanical Garden, Succulent Garden, and Natural Monument Center. A one-hour indoor itinerary suits travelers for whom accessibility is relatively important, while the full course is best planned for a day when outdoor walking is comfortable.
Before You Go
- Address
- Natural Monument Center, 927 Yudeung-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon
- Hours
- 10:00–17:00
- Closed
- Every Monday
- Admission
- Free
- Phone
- 042-610-7610
- Official site
- https://www.nhc.go.kr
- Transport
- Bus 618: get off at the Natural Monument Center; Bus 911: get off at the Culture and Arts Center, then walk 10 minutes
- Parking
- The visitor parking lot on the left side of the Natural Monument Center access road is available, with space for 20 regular vehicles, 4 vehicles for visitors with disabilities, and 3 large vehicles. If the visitor parking lot is full, the Hanbat Arboretum parking lot may be used, but its parking conditions should be checked separately.
- Time needed
- Based on reviews, a light visit takes about one hour. Including the stamp tour and guided explanations, it may take approximately 2.5–3 hours.
- Accessibility
- Reviews say that the exhibition hall is arranged on one floor, making it relatively convenient to visit with a stroller
The information above is based on the time of writing. Check the official information again before visiting.
Places
Nearby Attractions 3
-
1
Hanbat ArboretumAn arboretum where you can observe plants while strolling through themed gardens and walking trails in the heart of the city. -
2
Daejeon Museum of ArtA museum where you can view exhibitions centered on contemporary art and enjoy a variety of cultural programs. -
3
Lee Ungno MuseumA museum featuring exhibitions centered on the works and artistic world of Goam Lee Ungno.
Food & Dining 3
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4
Seonsa SamgyetangA health-food specialty restaurant where you can enjoy samgyetang made with ginseng, mung beans, and other ingredients. -
5
Subok Samgyetang Dunsan BranchA restaurant serving traditional samgyetang and a variety of nourishing samgyetang dishes. -
6
Pungjeon SamgyetangA restaurant serving samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) and Korean dishes, prepared with ginseng and medicinal herbs.
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