Its rich collections, gathered over more than 250 years, span zoology, anthropology, geology and botany.

The museum has activities for the promotion of natural history and science awareness, with space for artistic exhibitions, conferences, debates, workshops and courses.

Its recent public designation, "MUHNAC - National Museum of Natural History and Science", was created in October 2011.

The Faculty of Sciences would eventually move to its current premises in Campo Grande.

Both museums adopted new by-laws in 2003, becoming autonomous from the Faculty of Sciences and under the direct administration of the Rector of the University of Lisbon.