Architecture for Dinosaurs: The Building of the American Museum of Natural History (Exhibition)

Exist Dates

1987 August 6 - 1987 December 13

Biographical or Historical Note

abstract

Exhibition. Opened August 6, 1987 and closed December 13, 1987. Located on Floor 2 in the Akeley Gallery at the American Museum of Natural History. Architecture for Dinosaurs: The Building of the American Museum of Natural History, an Arthur Ross Exhibit of the Month, featured hand-colored renderings of facades, photographs, and original architectural plans that documented the growth of the American Museum of Natural History.

Summary

Architecture for Dinosaurs: The Building of the American Museum of Natural History, an Arthur Ross Exhibit of the Month, featured hand-colored renderings of facades, photographs, and original architectural plans that documented the growth of the American Museum of Natural History. The material came primarily from the Museum Library and other departmental offices of the Museum (1, p. 1). The exhibition was a result of an ongoing long-term project of the Library and the Plant Manager's Office to restore and catalog the Museum's collection of historically architectural valuable plans. (2, p. 62).

Highlights (1, p. 1-2):

*A letter from Museum founder Albert S. Bickmore to President Ulysses S. Grant reminding Grant of his commitment to preside over the laying of the Museum's cornerstone in 1874

*Photographs showing the nearly-completed elevated railroad on Columbus Avenue in New York City

*Early photographs of the Museum's exterior

*Blueprints and serial photographs documenting the construction of the Hayden Planetarium

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. "Museum's 118-Year Architectural History is Subject of New Exhibition." July 7, 1987. Departmental Records, DR 101. American Museum of Natural History Library.

(2) American Museum of Natural History. Annual Report. New York: American Museum of Natural History, 1987-1988.

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Related Corporate, Personal, and Family Names

American Museum of Natural History. Akeley Gallery.
Location of exhibition 1987 August 6 – 1987 December 13 (1, p. 1)

American Museum of Natural History. Department of Exhibition.
Installed exhibition (2, p. 60)

American Museum of Natural History. Department of Library Services.
Related department (2, p. 62)

Related Resources

American Museum of Natural History. Annual Report. New York: American Museum of Natural History, 1987-1988: 60, 62.

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

American Museum of Natural History press releases, 1933-1990s.
"Museum's 118-Year Architectural History is Subject of New Exhibition." July 7, 1987; "Museum Programs & Exhibitions, October 1987." August 17, 1987; "Museum Programs & Exhibitions, November 1987." September 11, 1987.

American Museum of Natural History Special Collections vertical files
Repository: AMNH Special Collections [Rotunda article, photocopy of page from 1987-1988 Museum Annual Report, drafts of label text]

subjectOf

Architecture for Dinosaurs lecture slides, 1992.
Date of resource: 1992; Possibly a related lecture

Rotunda
"Dinosaurs Past and Present." (October 1987)

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