American Museum of Natural History Research Library
author: American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History. Hall of Petrology.; Hall of Petrology; Petrology; Rock History; Hall of Petrology and Economic Geology; Geology; Hall of Petrology and Economic Geology; Hall of Petrology or Rock History
birth: 1937
death: approximately 1950-1952
Permanent exhibition. Opened approximately 1938 and closed approximately 1950-1952. Located on Floor 3, Section 7a. The Hall of Petrology at the American Museum of Natural History was closely associated with the Hall of Geology and Invertebrate Palaeontology. The Hall of Petrology or Rock History presented a graphic visualization of the basic processes of rock formation, petrology, and ore deposits as well as the application of the science of geology to modern life and the industrial world (1, 1938, p. 2; 1, 1939, p.7). Plans for the hall were prepared by Curator Chester A. Reed, and WPA artists Frank Vallone, Paul Brabazon, and Andrew R. Janson created volcano paintings on curved surfaces. Models of New Jersey and New York were produced by A.H. Niles and I.C. Conforti (1, 1937, p. 12).
The hall featured paintings of famous volcanoes, including those of Mt. Lassan, Mt. Pelee, Vesuvius, Sakurajima, and Kilauea (1, 1937, p. 12). The hall also exhibited specimens of magma, intrusive igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks, structural geology, metamorphic rocks, economic geology and ore-bearing rocks, with exhibits depicting the processes that produce coal, the history of coal in the United States, and the interior of the earth (2, 1949, p. 26). Draftsman M.P. Gagliardi worked on a relief model of the Hudson Submarine Canyon based on coast and geodetic survey maps and sonic depth sounding which were supplied by Dr. A.C. Veatch. A relief model of Bryce Canyon by WPA artists was installed as entrance feature (1, 1937, p. 12).