Hall of Early Mammals
Dates
- Existence: 1953 - 1991
Summary
Abstract:
Historic, permanent exhibition. Opened approximately 1953 and closed 1990-1991. Located on Floor 4, Section 5. The Hall of Early Mammals at the American Museum of Natural History focused on the origins of mammals and their evolution from the Mesozoic to Cenozoic periods and exhibited primitive fossil mammals (1, 1953, p. 64; 1, 1962, p. 37). The hall was revised as part of the Museum's ten-year exhibition program to update and create halls, reopening in May of 1965 (2, 1964/65, p. 3-4). Curators for the hall included Bobb Schaeffer and Mary B. Patsuris (2, 1957/58, p. 37-38).
Description
The Hall of Early Mammals was known also the Giant Sloth or Paleocene Hall and many specimens were moved here from the Hall of Late Mammals. The Hall of Early Mammals exhibited extinct primitive mammals such as Diprotodon, Phobosuchus, Meniscotherium, Ectoconus, Phenacodus, Coryphodon, Uintatherium, Orycteropus, Macrauchenia, Toxodon, Scarritta, Hapaclops, Megalocnus, Glyptodon, Panochthus, Oxyaena, Deltatheridium, and Tarsius, as well as other fossil animals such as fish and a Pleistocene tortoise from India. A highlight of the hall was a group of giant ground sloths from South America that included Mylodon and Lestodon (1, 1953, p. 64-67; 1, 1956, p. 69). Dioramas presented Eocene and Paleocene lake life from Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah, exhibits on the evolution of primates, bats, and insectivores. Exhibits on fossilization, fossil collecting, preparation, and interpretation were on view and visitors could examine the evolution of non-dinosaur reptiles, and the skull and restoration of Andrewsaurchus (1, 1962, p. 37; 3, 1972, p. 66).
In the early 1990s the Halls of Early and Late Mammals were closed to make way for the Hall of Primitive Mammals and the Paul and Irma Milstein Hall of Advanced Mammals (2, 1990/91, p. 1). Many of the same fossil specimens from the previous halls can be viewed in the current halls.
REFERENCES
(1) American Museum of Natural History. General Guide to [the Exhibition Halls of] the American Museum of Natural History. New York: American Museum of Natural History, 1953-1962.
(2) American Museum of Natural History. Annual Reports. New York: American Museum of Natural History, 1957/58-1990/91.
(3) American Museum of Natural History. American Museum of Natural History: An Introduction. New York: American Museum of Natural History, 1972.
Information for the hall appears in the following Museum publications:
American Museum of Natural History Annual Reports for years 1954 (page 50); 1955 (page 42); 1956 (page 32); 1957 (page 37); 1958 (page 37, 38); 1961 (page 55); 1962 (page 47); 1963 (page 70); 1964 (page 3); 1968 (page 10); 1982 (page 4); 1990 (page 1)
American Museum of Natural History General Guides for years 1953 (Floor plans, page 64); 1956 (page 69); 1958 (page 69); 1962 (page 13, 37, 45); 1964 (page 13, 44)
American Museum of Natural History: Pictorial Guide 1967.
American Museum of Natural History: An Introduction 1972 (page 5, 7)
American Museum of Natural History Official Guide for years 1984 (page 22); 1993 (page 50)
Alternative Name Forms
Outline:
- Uncontrolled name from AMNH publications (dates of use by year)
- Third Fossil Hall (1953)
- Third Fossil Hall -- Age of Mammals (1953)
- Paleocene Hall (1954, 1960)
- Giant Sloth Hall (1955, 1956, 1958)
- Hall of the Giant Sloth (1957, 1958)
- Hall of Early Mammals (1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1984, 1990)
- Early Mammals (1962, 1964, 1967, 1993)
- Hall of Early Fossil Mammals (1982)
Places
-
New York (N.Y.)
- Note: Floor 4, Section 5. Additional location information: 1956, 1958 General Guides indicate Hall Number 4-T.
Topics
Found in 4 Collections and/or Records:
[Agriochoerus] / LL "John C. Germann 1944"
Painting of two spotted mammals, one walking, the other grazing on tree, blue sky visible. May have been displayed in historic AMNH Hall of Early Mammals.
History of life #4
Scarrittia / LR "John C. Germann 1941"
Painting of two striped animals in landscape, trees, foliage in background. Makers mark visible. May have been displayed in historic AMNH Hall of Early Mammals.