The visitor to New York is spoiled in choices for museums and galleries but anyone with the remotest of interest in nature should make some time to go to the American Museum of Natural History close to Central Park. It is enormous and varied so it is impossible to see more than a fraction of the exhibits; there are 46 exhibition halls alone, a library and research facilities, a complex of 25 buildings.
Every continent of the World is represented along with their mammals and bird life. The full size model of a Blue Whale really puts the size of a human into perspective. The Blue Whale is 29m long!
In contrast, there is the Star of India, the World’s biggest sapphire and a meteorite, all 31 tonnes of it. The logistical problems of supporting such a weight were enormous and involve the use of columns into the bedrock on which the Museum was built.
The Akeley Hall is one of the highlights of the tour. Carl Akeley went on three expeditions to Africa early in the twentieth century where he collected a number of specimens, flora and fauna. The Hall was opened in 1936 shows the public what he brought back. He was a most adept taxidermist and used new techniques to make sure his animals were far more lifelike than those that had been simply stuffed with straw or shavings. He died in Africa and is buried there; and the gorilla display represents a depiction of his burial site.
Another Hall presents human evolution. Exhibits range from a full size cast of a 3.2m year old fossil, a skeleton and 1.7m year old Turkana boy. There are also limestone carvings that have been dated as about 26,000 years old.
In contrast, the Guggenheim Hall of Gems and Minerals houses a range of gemstones, a minute number on display relative to what the Museum’s total specimen count represents. A 632 carat emerald, the Patricia Emerald is one of the highlights. The Star of India is a comparable size and one of the world’s finest topaz, almost 600 pounds rounds off a trio of magnificent specimens.
Only a very small number of the Museum’s fossils can be exhibited at any one time. Visitors are likely to be able to see a Tyrannosaurus Rex which was found in Montana early in the twentieth century, a mammoth discovered in Indiana, believed to be eleven thousand years old and a Brontosaurus.
Anyone with a particular interest may need to do some research before arrival to identify what particular halls they may want to find. All are fascinating but as you can see from the size of the complex this is not a museum that can be thoroughly examined in a few hours.
It also houses a wonderful library of natural history books, probably the largest in the World. With Central Park so close, relaxation in the Park linked to a visit to the Museum is an ideal way to spend a day in New York before considering the night’s programme.
Author: This article was written by Steven, a travel blogger for Nycvacationrentalsonline.com, suppliers of over 350 holiday rentals NYC and Brooklyn apartments.