FIELD
TRIP TO THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY IN NEW YORK CITY
June 2, 2011
SPECIAL TREAT
Bob stands
beneath the impressive entrance to the American Museum of Natural History, which
on this day was under reconstruction. This was Camille’s favorite museum as a
child. There aren’t many places a young animal lover can go to see life
sized stuffed elephants on display inside!
FAVORITES
The zebras and
giraffes shown here are two great examples of the incredibly life-like work in
these dioramas which were created in the 1920’s.
ART, THEN
AND NOW
We found primitive
art from long ago as well as diorama-inspired contemporary art.
LOOK AT
THE SIZE OF THAT…
Bob admires a fine
specimen of a giant crocodile, much like the ones he encountered as a young boy
growing up in Africa.
Camille was blown
away by this slice of Sequoia, a section from the “Mark Twain Tree”
which was 1,341 years old when it was cut down in 1891.
The “Mark Twain” measured 331 feet in height and 90 feet in diameter
and might have lived another 1,000 years! There is a good write up about
the Mark Twain about halfway down this page.
NEW BONES
Another of life
mysteries: How is it that a snake, which seems so fluid and flexible
contains so many bones? Museums are places where one both discovers
answers and finds new questions.
REALLY OLD
BONES
Camille remembers
the day some 50 years ago when her father, strolling through the dinosaur
exhibit with his young wife and family, hid behind a post and let out a
prehistoric yell and startled some of the other museum goers. He called it
the cry of the African Bell Bird. In those days, John P had quite a sense
of humor.
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