American Museum of Natural History. Hall of Mongolian Vertebrates.

Exist Dates

1931 - 1952

Biographical or Historical Note

abstract

Permanent exhibition. Opened approximately 1931 and closed approximately 1950-1952. Located on Floor 4, Section 5. The Hall of Mongolian Vertebrates at the American Museum of Natural History exhibited fossils collected during the Central Asiatic Expeditions (1921-1930) led by Roy Chapman Andrews (1, 1934, p. 115).

The hall occupied the corner Southeast Pavilion, where the Marine Reptiles of Fossil Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fishes were exhibited before moving to a smaller corridor between the Osborn Hall of the Age of Mammals and the Hall of Dinosaurs. The hall was under rearrangement starting approximately 1927-1928 (1, 1928, p. 90). When it reopened with specimens from the Central Asiatic Expeditions in 1931, it was still referred to as Marine Reptiles. The Bashford Dean Memorial Exhibit of Fishes was located in the Southeast tower off of the Hall of Mongolian Vertebrates (1, 1931, p. 111; 1, 1947, p. 108-116; 1, 1949, p. 19).

The Hall of Mongolian Vertebrates featured famous fossils including Protoceratops and its eggs, Andrewsarchus, and Baluchitherium. A life-size relief of Baluchitherium was modeled on the wall. (1, 1934, p. 45). Many of the specimens were moved to other fossil halls after 1949 and remain on display as of 2017.

Sources

American Museum of Natural History General Guides for years: 1934 (Table of Contents, 115); 1935 (Table of Contents, 115); 1936 (page Table of Contents, 115); 1939 (page 45); 1943 (page 45); 1945 (page 45); 1947 (page 45); 1949 (page 45)

(1) General Guide to the Exhibition Halls of the American Museum of Natural History. New York: American Museum of Natural History, 1934-1949.

Information for the hall appears in the following Museum publications:

American Museum of Natural History Annual Report for year 1927 (page 32, 47)

American Museum of Natural History General Guides for years: 1928 (page 97); 1929 (page 97); 1930 (page 97) 1931 (page 111); 1932 (page 111-113); 1933 (page 111-113); 1934 (Table of Contents, 115); 1935 (Table of Contents, 115); 1936 (page Table of Contents, 115); 1939 (page 45); 1943 (page 45); 1945 (page 45); 1947 (page 45); 1949 (page 45)

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Related Corporate, Personal, and Family Names

Andrews, Roy Chapman, 1884-1960
As leader and zoologist, Andrews was chiefly responsible for fundraising and organizing the Expedition. Andrews traveled the U.S. to raise awareness and funds for the Central Asiatic Expeditions (1, 1934, p. 115).

Central Asiatic Expeditions (1921-1930)
Expedition collected material for hall (1, 1934, p. 115).

Related Resources

subjectOf

Historic Halls of the American Museum of Natural History
Curated digital images of permanent halls in the American Museum of Natural History Library, Digital Special Collections.

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