American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History
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Name	American Museum of Natural History
Established	0 1869
Location	Central Park West, Manhattan, New York City
Type	Natural history
President	Sean M. Decatur
Website	https://www.amnh.org/

American Museum of Natural History. Founded in 1869, it is one of the world's preeminent scientific, educational, and cultural institutions, located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan adjacent to Central Park. The museum's mission is to discover, interpret, and disseminate knowledge about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe through a wide-ranging program of scientific research, education, and exhibition. Its vast collections and iconic displays, visited by millions annually, have made it a landmark of New York City and a global leader in the field of natural history.

History

The museum was co-founded by figures including Albert S. Bickmore, who successfully petitioned Theodore Roosevelt, Sr., the father of the future U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. Its creation was championed by prominent New Yorkers like John David Wolfe and received early support from John Thompson Hoffman, then Governor of New York. The institution opened its first building within the Central Park Arsenal before moving to its permanent campus. Under the presidency of Morris K. Jesup, the museum expanded its global expeditions, including those to the Arctic led by Robert Peary. The tenure of Henry Fairfield Osborn saw major growth in paleontology, with famed expeditions to the Gobi Desert and the American West uncovering fossils like Tyrannosaurus rex.

Exhibitions and halls

The museum is renowned for its immersive, permanent exhibition halls. The Milstein Hall of Ocean Life features a suspended model of a blue whale, while the Fossil Halls display iconic skeletons including a confrontation between a Tyrannosaurus rex and a Triceratops. Other notable halls include the Hall of Human Origins, the Rose Center for Earth and Space which houses the Hayden Planetarium, and the Hall of Meteorites containing the massive Cape York meteorite. Cultural exhibitions span the Hall of African Peoples, the Hall of Northwest Coast Indians, and extensive displays of artifacts from Asia and South America. Temporary exhibitions have covered topics from the history of the Vikings to the biology of butterflies.

Scientific research and collections

The museum maintains one of the world's largest natural history collections, with over 34 million specimens and cultural artifacts. Its scientific work is conducted primarily through the curatorial divisions of departments like Anthropology, Invertebrate Zoology, and Vertebrate Paleontology. The Richard Gilder Graduate School confers the Ph.D. in Comparative Biology and is adjacent to the museum's extensive research laboratories and libraries. Scientists have conducted field research on every continent, from studying biodiversity in the Malagasy rainforests to excavating dinosaur fossils in the Mongolian Gobi Desert. The museum's Southwestern Research Station in Arizona serves as a base for studies in entomology and ecology.

Education and public programs

Educational initiatives serve learners of all ages, from the Master of Arts in Teaching program to the After-School Program for New York City youth. The museum's National Center for Science Literacy, Education, and Technology develops digital resources for classrooms nationwide. Public programs include lectures by scientists like Neil deGrasse Tyson, film screenings, overnight adventures for families, and cultural festivals. The Hayden Planetarium, under the direction of astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, produces groundbreaking space shows that explore concepts like the Big Bang and the search for exoplanets.

Architecture and campus

The museum's sprawling complex comprises 28 interconnected buildings housing 45 permanent exhibition halls, libraries, and research facilities. The original Victorian Gothic building by Calvert Vaux and J. Wrey Mould opened in 1877. The iconic Romanesque Revival facade on Central Park West was designed by John Russell Pope and completed in 1936. Later additions include the modernist Glass Cube of the Rose Center for Earth and Space, designed by James Polshek. The campus also features the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Hall and a statue of the former president, honoring his contributions to conservation.

Governance and funding

The museum is a private 501(c)(3) organization governed by a Board of Trustees. It is led by President Sean M. Decatur, a former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Oberlin College. Major operational funding comes from endowment returns, private donations, membership dues, and government support from entities like the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Significant capital campaigns have been supported by philanthropists including Richard Gilder, Lewis B. Cullman, and David H. Koch, for whom the museum's dinosaur wing is named. The museum also generates revenue through admissions, facility rentals, and retail operations.

Category:Museums in Manhattan Category:Natural history museums in New York (state) Category:1869 establishments in New York (state)