Museum Treasure Hunt (Exhibition)

Exist Dates

1959 July 3 - 1960 May

Biographical or Historical Note

abstract

Exhibition. Opened July 3, 1959 and closed September 8, 1959, then reinstalled October 1959 and closed May 1960. Located in Section 5, Floor 2 in the Corner Gallery at the American Museum of Natural History from July 3, 1959 to September 8, 1959 and possibly located in Section 13a, Floor 1 at the American Museum of Natural History for the reinstallation. Museum Treasure Hunt consisted of 37 black-and-white photographs with captions, which were chosen to add meaning to a Museum visit by calling attention to exhibits or aspects of exhibits that might have been otherwise overlooked.

Summary

Museum Treasure Hunt consisted of 37 black-and-white photographs with captions, which were chosen to add meaning to a Museum visit by calling attention to exhibits or aspects of exhibits that might have been otherwise overlooked (1, p. 1). The exhibition was reinstalled in the North American Mammal Corridor (possibly what was later the Hall of Small Mammals, which opened in 1963) from October 1959 to May 1960.

Highlights (1, p. 1-3; 2):

*"Meshie", a chimpanzee raised by Museum scientist Harry Raven

*A 2,000 year-old Peruvian woven mantle with cat faces in the pattern, loaned by the Honorable Herbert Hoover

*A nest of termites in a habitat group of African birds

*Leo the Lion

*Brontosaurus tracks

*A cast of Joe Louis' knockout fist

*Birds mounted by a young Theodore Roosevelt

*A snowshoe rabbit hiding from a Canada lynx in a habitat group

*Fossil remains of small camels

*A fairy tern

This is a condensed summary of the exhibition. For additional information, see Sources and/or Related Resources.

Sources

(1) American Museum of Natural History. Press Release. "Corner Gallery Photographs Point the Way to Exciting Adventures on a 'Museum Treasure Hunt.'" July 3, 1959. Departmental Records, DR 101. American Museum of Natural History Library.

(2) American Museum of Natural History. Vertical Files. Temporary Exhibition: Museum Treasure Hunt, 1959. American Museum of Natural History Library Special Collections.

(3) American Museum of Natural History. Annual Reports, Departmental. "Report from the Chairman of the Department of Exhibition and Graphic Arts July 1, 1959 - June 30, 1960." [1960]. Departmental Records, DR 098. American Museum of Natural History Library.

---

Related Corporate, Personal, and Family Names

American Museum of Natural History. Corner Gallery.
Location of exhibition 1959 July 3 – 1959 September 8 (1, p. 1)

Hoover, Herbert Charles 1903-1969
Loaned Peruvian mantle for exhibition. Referred to as "Honorable Charles Hoover" in Musuem documentation. Most likely the former Secretary of State and son of former President Herbert Hoover, although it could have been President Hoover (Hoover, Herbert 1874-1964) (1, p. 2).

Related Resources

American Museum of Natural History. Annual Report. New York: American Museum of Natural History, 1959-1960: 56.

American Museum of Natural History annual reports, 1902-2001.
"Report from the Chairman of the Department of Exhibition and Graphic Arts July 1, 1959 - June 30, 1960." [1960].

American Museum of Natural History press releases, 1933-1990s.
"Corner Gallery Photographs Point the Way to Exciting Adventures on a 'Museum Treasure Hunt.'" July 3, 1959.

American Museum of Natural History Special Collections photographic drawers
Repository: AMNH Special Collections. [Black and white photo print of exhibition on view]

American Museum of Natural History Special Collections vertical files
Repository: AMNH Special Collections. [Black and white photo print featured in exhibition with captions]

---