Founded in 1869, NYC’s American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) is easily one of the greatest institutions in the world. Located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, this museum includes 45 permanent exhibition halls filled with scientific, educational, and cultural treasures as well the Hayden Planetarium and New York State’s official memorial to Theodore Roosevelt.
I’ve enjoyed learning so much from my visits to the AMNH. But last month, I was happy to discover that some of this museum’s temporary and permanent exhibits can also provide an amazing travel experience. All in the space of one afternoon, I was able to travel back in time to the ancient lands of Egypt and Peru, visit vibrant Cuba, and then sit back and relax while I was “transported” into outer space:
I. Mummies : My first stop was to the museum’s new Mummies exhibit. Developed by Chicago’s Field Museum and featuring one of the largest collections of mummies housed in North America, this ticketed exhibition showcases the ritually preserved remains of 18 individuals from ancient Egypt and pre-Columbian Peru. Many are on view for the first time since the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.
This exhibit consists of three parts: Mummies Revealed, Mummies in Peru and Mummies in Egypt.
Most Peruvian mummies were not embalmed, and their organs were left inside.They were also sat in a crouched position with their legs drawn up against their chests.
The mummies were then buried in accessible underground pits. This would allow living family members to bring food and drink to the graves of their loved ones. Some would even remove the mummies in order to take them to special events.
In contrast, Egyptian mummies would usually have their organs removed, and they would be laid flat with their legs extending outward. They were then encased in a wooden coffin and a stone sarcophagus within a secure tomb.
So interesting, but I especially enjoyed viewing the facial reconstructions of what two of the Egyptian mummies may have actually looked like. This included the remains of a middle-aged woman who was mummified during the Roman Period (30 B.C. – 395 A.D.) and was placed in a gold masked coffin that has been called the “Gilded Lady”.
When: Now to January 7, 2018.
Times: Timed entry only
Location: LeFrak Gallery, fourth floor
Tickets: Purchase General Admission + One or SuperSaver Admission tickets to see Mummies
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II. ¡Cuba!
The Mummies exhibit was a great experience, but I was looking forward to “visiting” vibrant Cuba to explore its rich biodiversity and culture.
Afro-Cuban Religion, and
When: Now- August 13, 2017
Times: Timed entry only
Location: Gallery 3, third floor
Tickets: Purchase General Admission + One or SuperSaver Admission tickets to see !Cuba!
Check it out!
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III. Dark Universe
After visiting Ancient Egypt and Ancient Peru and then traveling on to Cuba for a bit, I felt like I could use a little rest. And what better way to recharge my batteries than to sit back in a comfy chair and watch the museum’s wonderful space show Dark Universe?
As I sat in a darkened audience filled with adults and kids, this show’s amazing graphics and Neil deGrasse Tyson‘s melodic narration kept me both entertained and informed. While soaring through space to our Milky Way galaxy, I had a great time learning so many things about our universe and about space exploration.
When: Permanent Exhibit
Times: Monday–Friday: Every half hour, 10:30 am–4:00 pm, except on Wednesdays, when first show begins at 11 am
Saturday–Sunday: Every half hour, 10:30 am–5 pm
Captioning devices are available.
Location: Hayden Planetarium Space Theater
Tickets: General Admission
Great way to spend an afternoon! Let us know if you’ve visited any of these exhibits and what you thought!
Travel Gal Kim Swidler 