[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: NYC Museum of Natural History Collection

In a message dated 97-04-21 21:07:04 EDT, you write:

<< My wife and I went to NYC yesterday to tour the museum.  <> 
 I guess I  expected to see case after case of specimens lined up for
display. Does
 anyone know whether or not the entire collection is on display, or just
 portions of it?  If it is just a part (or even not), is there a listing of
 the museum's COMPLETE meteorite holdings? >>

I read a while back in a "behind the scenes"  book that less than  ten
percent of ALL exhibits are on display (I believe its called "Dinosaurs in
the Attic). It has a good chapter on the meteorite collection. I agree that
they could fit many more specimens even in a room that size. My other beef
would be is - why do they keep the room so dark?  I tried to take photos but
they just don't come out (even w/ flash). 

 
 Unfortunately, the Willamette meteorite is not accessible during the
 renovations being done to the Hayden Planetarium.  This work is scheduled to
 continue until the year 2000, and the museum evidently has not arranged to
 relocate the meteorite during this period. What a shame!!  I even asked if
 there was any way I could be taken into the construction area JUST to take a
 picture of it ...."Sorry, no." was the reply. >>

A friend of mine asked to be taken to photograph some specimens for a lecture
he was giving. They told him it would COST $3.00 per photo. No kidding. He
never bothered complaining to the higher ups, but instead went to the museum
in Washington DC. He was given an escorted tour thru-out the collection and
was told take as much time as you want with the specimens.  Seems that these
people feel as a national museum the taxpayers really own the museum so the
personnel are very friendly. 
 So it doesn't suprise me at what the NYC museum did.

Kevin