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National Museum of American History Plate. Photo by George Martin from South Park, CO., USA –

Top 10 Unbelievable facts about the American Museum of National History

The American Museum of Natural History is a museum in , . The museum is located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in Theodore Roosevelt Park right across the street from .

The Museum was founded in 1869  and has advanced its global mission to discover, interpret and disseminate information about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe through a wide-ranging program of scientific research, education, and exhibition.

The American Museum of Natural History occupies more than 186,000 square meters (2,000,000 square feet). It is one of the largest museums in the world.

1. The American Museum of Natural History is known for the buildings within it, exhibitions, and scientific collections that it holds

Benjamin Banneker statue in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. The statue is within an exhibit entitled “The Founding of America”. Photo by Frank Schulenburg – Wikimedia Commons

The museum complex comprises 28 interconnected buildings housing 45 permanent exhibition halls, in addition to a planetarium and a library. It is renowned for its exhibitions and scientific collections, which serve as a field guide to the entire planet and present a panorama of the world鈥檚 cultures.

2. It is one of the most prominent museums and scientific research centers, to say the least

With its trademark dioramas and extensive collections, the American Museum of National History on the Upper West Side is one of the most prominent museums and scientific research centers in the world. Photo by Amanda –

With its trademark dioramas and extensive collections, the American Museum of National History on the Upper West Side is one of the most prominent museums and scientific research centers in the world.

 It encompasses four city blocks and consists of 27 interconnected buildings with 45 permanent exhibit halls 鈥� with a $235 million expansion to come.   Its physical vastness aside, it also has over 200 working scientists and sponsors over 100 annual field exhibitions. Thus, it was, and still is, a pioneer in discovering and circulating information on human culture, the natural sciences, and the universe.

3. The Museum used to be located within Central Park in the early years

Pendulum Hall in the National Museum of History and Technology. photo unattributed –

In 1871, after much pleading, fundraising, and petitioning, the first of the museum鈥檚 exhibits went on display at its original location in the Central Park Arsenal building. The museum was conceived by Albert S. Bickmore and backed by prestigious men like J. P. Morgan, Andrew Haswell Green, and even Theodore Roosevelt. By 1876, the museum had over a million visitors each year, which was almost 10% of all Central Park visitors.

By 1877 it became clear that the flourishing museum needed more space, so it moved to Manhattan Square-a chunk of land across the street from Central Park between West 77th and 81st streets.

The American Museum of Natural History has a huge digital gallery with vintage photos of the museum.

4. The American Museum of National History would have been the largest building in North America at the Time

Hip Hop turntable, National Museum of American History. Photo by Sagie from New York, United States –

Architects Calvert Vaux (who helped design Central Park), and J. Wrey Mould had grand plans to occupy the entire Manhattan Square space. These plans included a domed, five-story square around a Greek cross with four courts and an octagon-shaped crossing. Vaux also planned for the museum鈥檚 edifice to be 700 feet long on each side, centered around a massive tower called the 鈥淗all of the Heavens.鈥�

In fact, according to New York 1880, Architecture and Urbanism in the Gilded Age, the American Museum of National History would have been the world鈥檚 largest museum and the largest building in North America at the time, if these plans hadn鈥檛 been altered.

The new museum didn鈥檛 get off to a great start-by 1886 attendance was one-sixth of what it was at the Arsenal. You鈥檒l learn more about this rocky start next.

5. There are spectacular things that you cannot miss to see at the American Museum of Natural History

National Museum of American History, Washington DC. Taken in June 2007. The photo was taken by CillanXC –

Lucy is one of the most complete skeletons of early hominids ever found. She鈥檚 over three million years old (we think she looks great for her age) and was discovered in 1974 in Ethiopia.

She鈥檚 a pretty big deal not just for her age and completeness, but for the fact that her knees show us that she walked upright.

Tricked by her boyfriend into delivering a briefcase to a supposed business contact, Lucy was surgically implanted with a powerful chemical that leaks into her body and gives her superhuman powers, setting her on an adventure that.

6. Among the list of things, you must see at the American Museum of Natural History would be complete without the Great Blue Whale

National Museum of African American History and Culture. Photo by GordonMakryllos –

Among the list of things, you must see at the American Museum of Natural History would be complete without the Great Blue Whale, which you literally cannot miss. It is seriously huge.

Located in the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life, the Great Blue Whale is 94 feet long and weighs 21,000 pounds. It鈥檚 a great reminder of the majesty and beauty of the blue whales, which unfortunately have been hunted to near extinction in the wild. It鈥檚 also just really cool.

Another thing you cannot miss to see in the American Museum of National History is our weird cousin, the Dimetrodon. The oldest relative to mammals is Dimetrodon, who sits right at the intersection of the evolutionary tree that has dinosaurs, reptiles, and birds on one side and humans on the other.

7. Scary, yes but you will also find dead animals at the American Museum of National History

Judy Woodruff, PBS News Hour Anchor/Managing Editor, delivered remarks at the Nancy Pelosi donation ceremony at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Photo by Digitaleffie –

There are also horny dead animals found in the American Museum of national history. This include dinosaurs鈥� skeletons that are pretty amazing and certainly amazing.

Be rest assured, yes, the museum of natural history is suitable for children.

8. You will also get to see The Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest in the American Museum of National History

Gor茅e Island Rock, a gift from sculptor Ed Dwight to his friends, Bernard and Shirley Kinsey. The Kinseys donated the rock to the National Museum of American History. The rock comes from Gor茅e Island, Senegal. On this island stood the Slave House, where white slavers processed kidnapped Africans for transport overseas into slavery (largely in the United States and Caribbean). Photo by Sarah Stierch –

Located in the Hall of Biodiversity, the Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest exhibit is a beautiful tribute to some of the most unique vegetation and wildlife in the world.

The real-life Dzanga-Sangha rainforest is located in Africa and houses some of the highest concentrations of forest elephants and lowland gorillas in the world.

9. There are thousands of amazing exhibits at the American Museum of Natural History, and it鈥檚 well worth a trip (or three) to check them all out.

Chrome engine (National Museum of American History). The photo was taken by VillageHero from Ulm, Germany –

Since getting to the real Dzanga-Sangha rainforest requires a lot more time and resources than getting to the natural history museum, make sure you take the time to stop by this marvel.

Get to learn about the efforts to protect it from agriculture, timber, and mining operations.

10. The Museum almost came to a close due to financial problems

National Museum of American History, on the National Mall in Washington, DC. The photo was taken by Lorax –

During its early days at both the old and new locations, the museum ran into financial troubles, mostly because it bought expensive collections; in 1874 it purchased a fossil invertebrate collection for $65,000.

According to Dinosaurs in the Attic: An Excursion into the American Museum of Natural History by Douglas Preston (who worked for the museum), the museum hoped to pay for it with a public subscription fee. Unfortunately, the public wasn鈥檛 interested in the collection, leading to serious debt.