The Imperial Royal Natural History Museum as well as the Imperial Royal Art Museum were both built between 1872 and 1891 on the Ringstraße according to plans drawn up by Gottfried Semper and Karl Freiherr von Hasenauer. The museum building was opened in August 1889 by Emperor Franz Joseph I.

The two museums have identical exteriors and face each other across Maria-Theresien-Platz. The Museum was built to house the huge collection of the Habsburgs.

On the upper ground floor fascinating and valuable precious stones and minerals, rare fossils and gigantic dinosaurs, as well as famous prehistoric works of art can be seen.

One of the most important is the 25.000 year-old figure of the “Venus von Willendorf”, the skeleton of a Diplodocus, the longest terrestrial vertebrate that has ever lived, a giant topaz weighing 117 kg (258 lb) and the valuable bouquet of jewels which Empress Maria Theresa had made as a present for her husband.

An exquisite buffet dinner accompanied by selected Austrian wines and other drinks will be served.

One ticket to the Gala Reception is included with each paid registration. Additional tickets may be purchased for € 85 each.