Museum of Natural History

Museum of Natural History
Name	Museum of Natural History
Established	1869
Location	Central Park West, New York City
Type	Natural history museum
Accreditation	American Alliance of Museums
Director	Lisa Gugenheim
President	Sean M. Decatur
Publictransit	81st Street–Museum of Natural History station
Website	www.amnh.org

Museum of Natural History. Located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, it is one of the largest and most celebrated natural history institutions in the world. Founded in 1869, the museum's mission encompasses scientific research, education, and the exhibition of Earth's biodiversity, cultures, and the cosmos. Its iconic complex of buildings on the western edge of Central Park houses over 34 million specimens and artifacts, attracting millions of visitors annually.

Introduction

The institution is a cornerstone of global scientific inquiry and public education, affiliated with prestigious organizations like the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Its vast holdings span fields from paleontology and anthropology to astrophysics and biodiversity conservation. The museum's public face is characterized by its monumental halls, such as the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life, and its long-standing association with pioneering figures like Theodore Roosevelt and Margaret Mead. It operates under the leadership of Sean M. Decatur and maintains a deep partnership with Columbia University for its graduate programs.

History

The museum was founded in 1869, largely through the efforts of Albert S. Bickmore, who garnered support from prominent figures including Theodore Roosevelt Sr. and J. P. Morgan. Its first exhibits were displayed in the Central Park Arsenal before moving to its first purpose-built structure, designed by Calvert Vaux and J. Wrey Mould, in 1874. A period of massive expansion began in the late 19th century under President Morris K. Jesup, with the construction of the Romanesque Revival complex by architects like J. Cleaveland Cady and Cady, Berg & See. Landmark expeditions, such as those led by Roy Chapman Andrews to the Gobi Desert and the Whitney South Seas Expedition, vastly expanded its collections throughout the 20th century.

Collections

The museum's scientific collections are among the most comprehensive in the world, with strengths in vertebrate and invertebrate zoology, mineralogy, paleontology, and anthropology. The Department of Herpetology holds one of the largest amphibian and reptile collections globally, while the Division of Anthropology's artifacts include significant materials from Native American cultures and the Pacific Islands. The Arthur Ross Hall of Meteorites features rare specimens like the Ahnighito fragment of the Cape York meteorite. These collections are critical for ongoing research in taxonomy, evolutionary biology, and climate change studies.

Exhibitions

Permanent exhibition halls are organized around central themes of life, Earth, and culture. The Fossil Halls showcase iconic skeletons, including a towering Tyrannosaurus rex and the famed Apatosaurus. The Rose Center for Earth and Space, designed by Polshek Partnership, houses the Hayden Planetarium and explores cosmology and astrophysics. Cultural exhibitions range from the Hall of Northwest Coast Indians, with its famous collection of Haida totem poles, to the Hall of African Peoples. Temporary exhibitions have covered topics from the history of the Vikings to the biology of butterflies.

Education_and_Research

The museum is a major center for graduate education through its Richard Gilder Graduate School, which offers the Ph.D. degree in collaboration with Columbia University and a unique Master of Arts in Teaching. Its research scientists conduct fieldwork across the globe, from the Congo Basin to the Himalayas, contributing to disciplines like genomics and conservation biology. Public programs include lectures by notable scientists like Neil deGrasse Tyson, the annual Margaret Mead Film Festival, and extensive offerings for school groups through the National Center for Science Literacy, Education, and Technology.

Notable_Specimens

Among its most famous holdings is the 94-foot-long replica of a blue whale suspended in the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life. The Fossil Halls feature the nearly complete Tyrannosaurus rex specimen known as the AMNH 5027, and the skeleton of a Mamenchisaurus, one of the longest-necked dinosaurs ever discovered. The Star of India, a massive star sapphire, is a highlight of the Morgan Memorial Hall of Gems. The anthropological collections include the renowned Kwakwaka'wakw Hamatsa mask from the Pacific Northwest.

Category:Natural history museums in New York City Category:Museums established in 1869 Category:American Alliance of Museums