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By Melissa Francis
The exhibit is a combination of manuscripts, plants and animals (some of which are alive), all identifying the life's work of naturalist Charles Darwin. His personal notebooks and journals allow for an intimate look at a man of great thought and intellect.
Darwin studied nature in many forms and this is presented perfectly by the AMNH. The tools in which he used to assist his evolution theory were displayed with background information. This gave adults, as well as children, an understanding of evolution and its finder.
There are a number of educational films throughout the exhibit. Short and to the point, they add a new dimension to the exhibit. There were a couple of interactive displays, live animals and live plants, not just microscopes and data he collected over the years. His personal life was also just as interesting. (He debated marriage, but eventually married his cousin and lost his daughter at ten years old to a virus.)
Walking through, one learns the life of a man and his dedication to understanding nature and its plethora of inhabitants. This is a personally gratifying experience, as one becomes absorbed in this perfect evolutionary path that was recreated in a learning environment.
One interesting visual display was near the end of the exhibit. Orchids were displayed beautifully, being lit from underneath. The orchids glistened as you left this delicate experience. The particular orchid that was displayed was presented with the insect that has the ability to extract pollen from the long, slender throat of this plant. Amazing! This vision just accentuates the ideas and discoveries of a man that lived in conjunction with nature and helped advance science and theory. It was a gorgeous experience and worth the $16 student admission fee. General museum admission is included with the specified exhibit ticket.
Don't just stick with the Darwin exhibit, the American Museum of Natural History is chock full of great exhibits, from the solar system, to gems and rocks, to animals and civilizations. This is a great way to spend an afternoon learning a thing or two.
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eed to get away from the hot summer days? Try having an educational stroll through a museum. The American Museum of Natural History has great exhibits to enliven your brain. One that is for everyone is the Charles Darwin exhibit, which runs through Aug. 20.
