MY VISIT TO THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ON MAY 19,2011.

Every large city in the world has its great museums and New York City is no exception. One of New York's great museums is the American Museum of Natural History which is located at Central Park West and 81st Street in Manhattan. When I visit the museum I usually take a bus into Manhattan from our home in Eastern Pennsylvania. The bus terminates at the Port Authority Bus Terminal which sits directly above major subway lines making travel to the museum quite simple via the "B" and "C" lines. Surface transportation (buses and cabs) are plentiful and you might want to take a cab if you visit with two or more people. There is an admission to enter the museum and they will accept what you can afford to pay. One caveat: avoid going to the museum during holiday weeks such as Easter and Passover, Thanksgiving and Christmas because the crowds are large and you might end up waiting for hours to get in. Food service is available inside the museum as is delicious, authentic ethnic food available from street vendors outside the museum. Like any large city New York is loaded with restaurants at all price levels and you will find food from every country in the world.

PLEASE CLICK ON THE PHOTOGRAPHS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND A LARGER PICTURE.

Beautiful thematic tilework at the 81st subway station directly below the museum entrance.





The Main entrance of the American Museum of Natural History undergoing construction. Teddy Roosevelt strikes an heroic equestrain pose at the entrance.




If you enter the museum through the second story entrance you are greeted by this dinosaur reaching for the sky or some tasty vegetation at the top of a tall tree (or is he reacting to the carnivore next to him).



To get to the mineral hall you walk through the Hall of American Mammals.

Nine foot tall Alaskan Grizzlies.



A lynx searches for a rabbit near Mt. Jacques Cartier on the Gaspe Peninsula in Quebec, Canada.



This jaguar in the Mexican Sonoran Desert might be guarding one of those "lost" silver mines.



We are getting closer to the gem and mineral exhibit when we see several of our ancient ancestors.



Life on the Ukranian Steppes was not pleasant during the last ice age.



Splat! was the sound heard in the Northern Hemisphere when this giant struck Greenland.



This meteorite is supported by columns that go down three stories to Manhattan bedrock.



Finally, the rocks, minerals and gem hall.

Gold is first on the left as you enter the mineral hall. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to photograph gold through the thick safety glass.








A view of some of the cases holding the systematic collection.



A changing exhibits case currently dedicated to the minerals of Burma.



These cases were constructed so little toddlers could press their noses up against the glass.



The beryl display in the one of the thematic cases.



This multi-ton block of Bisbee, Arizona azurite and malachite holds lots of treasures.



The display case of large, museum quality specimens next to the systematic display. The large apophyllite from Brazil in the lower right corner is about a meter long.



These individual specimens are some of my favorites.

Titanite, Switzerland? No, certainly Austria about 6cm long. One of the finest in existence.



Erythrite Schneeberg, Germany about 10cm by 10cm.



Calcite, Cumbria, England about 25cm high. A unique trilling of butterfly twins.



Now the gem room which is next to the mineral displays in it's own secure spot.

One of six panels containing gems from worldwide localities.



The "Star of India" and its humble neighbors.



The opal panel in the gem room.



The precious metals panel in the gem room.



Welcome to Central Park, across from the museum, which is a lot safer than the stands at a professional sporting event.



A glacially scoured outcrop of Manhattan Schist, the rock that supports those tall buildings.





On my way home I photographed this beautiful geology related tilework in the tunnel that connects two subway lines near Rockefeller Center.



In closing, New York City today is many times safer and cleaner than the city I first experienced over 40 years ago. Young people, professionals and blue collar, built the city into what it is today, world class. You have to take the same precautions you take when you visit any city but you will be amazed with the number of people pushing baby carriages and walking dogs in the many residental areas that have sprung up in the last 20 years. Whenever you visit New York you should put this museum at the top of your list of things to do.

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