New York City is known for its vast array of extravagant museums. Many of which date back decades, and serve as well structured and informational time capsules for us to learn about history in a variety of contexts. The American Museum of Natural History is no exception, located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan it is one of the most grandiose and celebrated museums in the modern world.
It is situated right across the street from Central Park and is comprised of many different buildings as well as a library and research laboratory. It houses over 33 million specimens in both permanent and revolving exhibits. The shear amount of history housed under its roof adds to its reputation as being one of the most extensive museums in the Nation.
Originally founded by Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. and a host of other intellectuals in 1869; it was the manifestation of the dream of Dr. Albert S. Bickmore who was a naturalist who lobbied for the creation of such a natural history museum in New York. His tireless efforts did not fall on deaf ears, and he gained the support of John Thompson Hoffman, the Governor of New York in his time. Hoffman officially enacted legislation which led to the opening of the American History Museum on April 6 th, 1869. Construction started in 1874 and proceeded until 1877 with the first building, styled after a classical Victorian Gothic motif. The museum not only buys artifacts and accepts donations; it also funds expeditions to seek unique specimens.
There are many different sections within the vast expanse of the American Museum of Natural History. In addition to revolving exhibits, the permanent exhibits include: The Hall of Ocean Life, Human Biology and Evolution Exhibit, The Hall of Minerals and Gems, The Hall of Meteorites, Famous Fossil Exhibits, The Art of the Diorama; The Recreation of Nature, and the wonderful Rose Center and Planetarium, You can even view IMAX movies relating to different informational topics. In addition to the informational exhibitions of intriguing history the American Museum of Natural History also has one of the world’s largest collections of books and literature relating to natural history. The Library of the American Museum of Natural History collects materials that are very hard to find and if not preserved, some of them could have possibly been lost in the hands of time. It is an excellent resource and necessary destination for scholars and students alike.
