Quest for the Divine Mushroom: An Ancient Rite Rediscovered (Exhibition)

Exist Dates

1959 January 30 - 1959 March 29

Biographical or Historical Note

abstract

Exhibition. Opened in January 30, 1959 and closed March 29, 1959. Located in Section 2, Floor 1 in the Corner Gallery at the American Museum of Natural History. "Quest for the Divine Mushroom: An Ancient Rite Rediscovered" was an exhibition of the discovery of an ancient Mexican mushroom rite by Dr. Valentina P. Wasson and her husband, R. Gordon Wasson, represented in photographs, text and sound recordings.

Summary

"Quest for the Divine Mushroom: An Ancient Rite Rediscovered" was an exhibition of the discovery of an ancient Mexican mushroom rite by Dr. Valentina P. Wasson and her husband, R. Gordon Wasson, represented in photographs, text and sound recordings. Certain species of mushrooms were consumed by some cults in Mexico to produce a state of ecstasy and hallucination. The Wassons were accompanied to Mexico by Dr. Roger Helm, Director of the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris who, in cooperation with Sandoz Ltd, did research to determine the possible value for treatment of psychiatric disorders. Photographs, taken by Allan Richardson, captured the effects of the mushrooms on Maria Sabina, a healer. Also on view were close-up photographs of three of the hallucinogenic species. The exhibit was on view in the Corner Gallery of the American Museum of Natural History from January 30 through March 29, 1959.

Sources

American Museum of Natural History Press Release, January 30, 1959. Departmental Records, 101; American Museum of Natural History Library Archives.

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Related Corporate, Personal, and Family Names

American Museum of Natural History. Corner Gallery.
Location of exhibition.

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