A "Night" at the American Museum of Natural History

No visit to NYC is complete without a trip to the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), celebrated not just because of its fantastic and comprehensive collection but also for playing a starring role in the "Night at the Museum" film starring Ben Stiller and Robin Williams.

And of all its attractions, the 94-foot-long blue whale model is the most iconic. Serving as the focal point of the massive Hall of Ocean Life, the whale is so popular that galas, dinners, even sleepovers are held under the massive sea creature.

A note from the writer: this is a pre-pandemic tale.

The AMNH opened in 1869, after a charter was signed by then-Governor of New York, Theodore Roosevelt Sr., father of the future US president.

Located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, right across from Central Park, the AMNH takes up an area equivalent to 18 city blocks and has a collection of over 34 million specimens, from ancient fossils to outer space rocks.

 

And out of this huge collection, only about 1% is ever on display; making what's currently featured the best of the best.

The museum runs one of the world’s largest scientific research programs, with hundreds of researchers working across disciplines from entomology to astrophysics.

It maintains its own DNA research lab, working on biodiversity genomics, evolution, and conservation genetics.

The AMNH also offers behind-the-scenes tours where you can explore scientific labs, specimen storage, and fossil prep areas not open to the public.

The museum is a leader in education, hosting public lectures, summer science camps, and teacher-training programs that reach worldwide audiences.

It has traveling exhibits that go global; including those on climate change, space, mummies, and my personal favorite.. ancient civilizations.

More than 5 million people visit annually, making it one of the most visited natural history museums in the world.

And among its most popular attractions are the cultural halls showcasing human origins and the ethnic diversity and societal richness of every race on earth.

The scale models of ancient cities are my favorite! (Being a huge history buff.)

The detail was incredible! Check out this scale model of ancient Persian Isfahan.

What's astounding is apart from the huge leap in technology, we are biologically the same as these ancient people.

Meaning our brain size is the same, our capacity for relationships and creative pursuits.. and our backs getting sore as we age.

The fascination for scary / funny / wacky masks is another thing we share with ancient humans.

Man, these people were imaginative!

Reminded me of the 90's Alec Baldwin movie, The Shadow.

Salam Alaikum, my dear sir.

A shot of Turkish coffee is exactly the jolt of energy needed to explore the entirety of the museum.

Wasn't he a character in the Mummy movie starring Brendan Fraser?!

Stoked to see an actual giant Olmec head! Legends of the Hidden Temple anyone?

Greeted the Easter Island statue as if it was an old friend form a childhood book.

Not sure if fertility or voodoo statues!

I'm pretty sure this was an artifact from the video game Uncharted or one of the Assassin's Creeds.

Among the most fascinating exhibits were those that featured tribal shamans / holy people.

Before the advent of modern medicine, humans relied on such rituals to get better or just drive away curses and evil spirits.

One of the highlights of my visit that day was seeing actual shrunken heads! Popular among several tribes in South America, these heads were shrunken to monkey-sized proportions to trap vengeful spirits as well as protect headhunters.

In the last few years however, there has been a move by major American museums to remove the heads and other sensitive items due to ethical concerns surrounding colonial legacy, racist interpretations, and the need for respectful engagement with indigenous communities. 

Today, the shrunken heads and other such sensitive artifacts are no longer on display at the AMNH.

The truth is that these artifacts were often acquired through means tied to colonial expansion, and their display reinforced racist stereotypes, leading to calls for their repatriation and a broader movement to decolonize museum collections.

Personally however I don't know how to feel about this, as while I do understand the ethical grounds for such actions, it was their presence in museums in the first place that got me interested in history, archeology, and science as a child. 

In fact some of my fondest childhood memories include the anticipation of visiting these museums to see the awesome displays.

I'm just glad I was able to see the items in person, and can relive the memory through photographs.

The museum’s Dinosaur Halls contain one of the largest collections of dinosaur fossils on the planet; including a fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex and a towering Titanosaur too big to fit in one room.

Ma, I made it! I'm a star with my own display case!

Pre-historic sashimi!

Always happy to see a Wooly Mammoth!

As well as a Giant Sloth!

One of my dino faves! The one with a derpy face!

The Dimetrodon was another fave thanks to the late 80s cartoon Dino-Riders.

The rest of the gang is complete!

This parade of African Elephants was rather EPIC.

What an awesome job to have, to lay-out and display these beautiful creatures in such life-like poses.

The closest I'll voluntarily get to a Komodo Dragon.

Deep sea creatures all on display!

Another highlight was seeing this coelacanth! Known as the "living fossil", they were thought to have gone extinct at the same time as the dinosaurs, but were astonishingly rediscovered in the wild in 1938.

This museum is also paradise for people who love precious stones!

I always get a kick every time I run into artifacts from my native land!

Looks like Pre-Spanish Filipino tribal armor and weapons!

They even have an ancient Quran! Much of the Philippines was Islamic before the Spaniards arrived.

Fantastic collection!

Of course, the AMNH has comprehensive exhibits showcasing Native American culture.

Including this diorama of the early settlers of New Amsterdam (which eventually became New York after the British took over) interacting with the local Native Americans.

A moving exhibit at the AMNH was the Hall of Human Origin, which traces the path of human evolution.

Among its most important residents are Turkana Boy, an incredible 1.7 million year old skeleton preserved by being buried in volcanic ash.

And the astounding 3.2 million year old Lucy, preserved under sediment!

As well as our distant cousin, the Neanderthal, who we actually shared the earth with for over 10,000 years. Homo sapiens and Neanderthals, in fact, cross bred, and their DNA is found in our genome.