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The American Museum of Natural History and How It Got That Way
The American Museum of Natural History is one of New York City's most beloved institutions, and one of the largest, most celebrated museums in the world. Since 1869, generations of New Yorkers and tourists of all ages have been educated and entertained here. Located across from Central Park, the sprawling structure, spanning four city blocks, is a fascinating conglomeration of many buildings of diverse architectural styles built over a period of 150 years. The first book to tell the history of the museum from the point of view of these buildings, including the planned Gilder Center, The American Museum of Natural History and How It Got That Way contextualizes them within New York and American history and the history of science.
Part II, "The Heavens in the Attic," is the first detailed history of the Hayden Planetarium, from the museum's earliest astronomy exhibits, to Clyde Fisher and the original planetarium, to Neil deGrasse Tyson and the Rose Center for Earth and Space, and it features a photographic tour through the original Hayden Planetarium.
Author Colin Davey spent much of his childhood literally and figuratively lost in the museum's labyrinthine hallways. The museum grew in fits and starts according to the vicissitudes of backroom deals, personal agendas, two world wars, the Great Depression, and the Cold War. Chronicling its evolution―from the selection of a desolate, rocky, hilly, swampy site, known as Manhattan Square to the present day―the book includes some of the most important and colorful characters in the city's history, including the notoriously corrupt and powerful "Boss" Tweed, "Father of New York City" Andrew Haswell Green, and twentieth-century powerbroker and master builder Robert Moses; museum presidents Morris K. Jesup, Henry Fairfield Osborn, and Ellen Futter; and American presidents, polar and African explorers, dinosaur hunters, and German rocket scientists.
Richly illustrated with period photos, The American Museum of Natural History and How It Got That Way is based on deep archival research and interviews.
Part II, "The Heavens in the Attic," is the first detailed history of the Hayden Planetarium, from the museum's earliest astronomy exhibits, to Clyde Fisher and the original planetarium, to Neil deGrasse Tyson and the Rose Center for Earth and Space, and it features a photographic tour through the original Hayden Planetarium.
Author Colin Davey spent much of his childhood literally and figuratively lost in the museum's labyrinthine hallways. The museum grew in fits and starts according to the vicissitudes of backroom deals, personal agendas, two world wars, the Great Depression, and the Cold War. Chronicling its evolution―from the selection of a desolate, rocky, hilly, swampy site, known as Manhattan Square to the present day―the book includes some of the most important and colorful characters in the city's history, including the notoriously corrupt and powerful "Boss" Tweed, "Father of New York City" Andrew Haswell Green, and twentieth-century powerbroker and master builder Robert Moses; museum presidents Morris K. Jesup, Henry Fairfield Osborn, and Ellen Futter; and American presidents, polar and African explorers, dinosaur hunters, and German rocket scientists.
Richly illustrated with period photos, The American Museum of Natural History and How It Got That Way is based on deep archival research and interviews.
278 pages, Hardcover
Published May 14, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 29, 2019
The American Museum of Natural History and How It Got That Way by Colin Davey is a book I requested from NetGalley and the review is voluntary. This is certainly the book for any those who love history. I have always wanted to visit this giant time capsule but haven't made it yet.
This book is great in taking the reader through all the aspects of getting the Museum and land and all the problems that went with it. There were unique politically instances, Mason traditions for the cornerstone, and all the expansions. There are many significant expeditions described that lead to more treasures added to the growing collection and expanding museum. (This was my favorite section.) I really didn't understand just how big it really is! The book is divided into two parts and part one starts a bit slow but hang in there, it gets better and the wealth of information is great!
This book is great in taking the reader through all the aspects of getting the Museum and land and all the problems that went with it. There were unique politically instances, Mason traditions for the cornerstone, and all the expansions. There are many significant expeditions described that lead to more treasures added to the growing collection and expanding museum. (This was my favorite section.) I really didn't understand just how big it really is! The book is divided into two parts and part one starts a bit slow but hang in there, it gets better and the wealth of information is great!
May 7, 2019
I’ve always loved museums and their history, so I was quite excited to see this. When I first scrolled through my Galley copy, I was worried that the book would be too technical, or too reliant on the reader already being familiar with the museum itself–but that was thankfully not the case! It was engaging and not at all technical and helped give me an appreciation for the process of establishing a museum.
Davey constructs a comprehensive history of the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) from its first inklings through to modern day revampings of exhibits and the planetarium. He does so by combing through immense amounts of primary sources, citing letters, figures, and speeches from museum board members about how to best expand and fund the museum. It gives a human connection to what might have been a very dry timeline of facts and figures.
The little maps of the museum, showing the new buildings added, were immensely helpful to understanding how the museum grew–Davey definitely wants this to be accessible to more than just frequent museum goers. I have never been to the AMNH, or New York itself, but I easily understood what buildings faced what and where exhibits ended up.
In addition to the general museum history, Davey provides deep dives into the dinosaur exhibits, the history of the Peary Arctic Expedition, and the Akley African Expeditions. Both of the expeditions were heavily funded and influenced by the museum and it’s members, bringing back and influencing key exhibits. These are the only bits dedicated to the collections/exhibits–if you are wanting a detailed history of these, this isn’t where to look; rather, it’s a history of the museum building, first and foremost.
The book closes out with a comprehensive history of the Hayden Planetarium (now the Rose Center) and its history of exhibits over the years.
This was a very enjoyable read, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone interested in the AMNH itself, museums in general, or architecture.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to review!
(Cross posted on my blog.)
Davey constructs a comprehensive history of the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) from its first inklings through to modern day revampings of exhibits and the planetarium. He does so by combing through immense amounts of primary sources, citing letters, figures, and speeches from museum board members about how to best expand and fund the museum. It gives a human connection to what might have been a very dry timeline of facts and figures.
The little maps of the museum, showing the new buildings added, were immensely helpful to understanding how the museum grew–Davey definitely wants this to be accessible to more than just frequent museum goers. I have never been to the AMNH, or New York itself, but I easily understood what buildings faced what and where exhibits ended up.
In addition to the general museum history, Davey provides deep dives into the dinosaur exhibits, the history of the Peary Arctic Expedition, and the Akley African Expeditions. Both of the expeditions were heavily funded and influenced by the museum and it’s members, bringing back and influencing key exhibits. These are the only bits dedicated to the collections/exhibits–if you are wanting a detailed history of these, this isn’t where to look; rather, it’s a history of the museum building, first and foremost.
The book closes out with a comprehensive history of the Hayden Planetarium (now the Rose Center) and its history of exhibits over the years.
This was a very enjoyable read, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone interested in the AMNH itself, museums in general, or architecture.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to review!
(Cross posted on my blog.)
December 27, 2025
I first visited the American Museum of Natural History on a uni trip in 2021. I spent the whole day from opening to closing time at the museum, yet still didn’t manage to cover the entire expanse of it (as is the case for most museums.) I remember feeling so overwhelmed and having to stop every once in a while to process something I’d seen. Getting my brain to try and grasp the fact that all I was seeing existed on the same small planet, in the same universe, that feeble little me existed on, felt like a herculean effort.
This year in November, I decided to go once again with my mom, acting as a sort of tour guide but still a humble viewer, seeing many things I’d already seen as if for the first time. Again, I felt in awe of all there was to see, but this time I was so intrigued by the institution itself and wondering what it takes for a place like this to come to be. So I picked this book up.
The book is split into two parts. The first covers the very beginnings of the museum, the notable people who helped shape the place as it presently is, and the stories behind some of the most iconic artifacts in the museum, such as the Cape York Meteorites, the elephants of the Akeley African Hall and of course, the iconic dinosaur exhibits. The second part focuses on the history of the original Hayden Planetarium, which no longer exists and has been replaced by the Rose Center for Earth and Space.
The story of the AMNH begins in 1872, the year the museum was given its home on Central Park West on a site then known as Manhattan Square. At the time, the United States comprised only 37 states and NYC consisted only of Manhattan. In just the first chapter, I learned so much of NYC’s rich history and was fascinated by all the important personalities I was introduced to like Andrew Haswell Green, a founder of not just Central Park and the AMNH, but also the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the New York Public Library, and the Bronx Zoo. He was coined the Father of New York City for his role in uniting all five boroughs of the city.
My absolute favorite parts of the book were the chapters covering some of the most significant expeditions in the museum’s history. Robert Peary’s numerous expeditions to Greenland in search of the Cape York meteorites and eventually, the North Pole. Carl Akeley’s expeditions to Africa with Theodore Roosevelt to acquire the famous elephants and later, the silverback gorilla. Colin Davey’s detailed account of these expeditions makes this book an excellent glimpse into what it takes to acquire such a collection as the AMNH’s.
Although a lot of the figures mentioned in this book were terribly problematic (such as the explorer Robert Peary and the later mentioned aerospace engineer Wernher von Braun), Davey focuses solely on their contributions regarding the museum and fails to mention those problematic aspects, such as von Braun being a part of the Operation Paperclip program. For this reason, I’d recommend doing your own research during or after reading the book to further educate yourself on these figures.
The author, however, does touch on some of the controversies addressed throughout the history of the museum such as the removal of the Roosevelt statue which depicted him on horseback towering over semi-nude figures of an African and Native American, and the return of the remains of Inuit people that the museum had on display for decades after they had died following their arrival to NYC from Greenland with Peary (I recommend this video by Vox if you want to know more about Peary and the Inuit.)
Two of the main sciences that were still obtaining amazing discoveries in their respective fields during the expansions taking place at the museum were paleontology and aerospace engineering. Due to these discoveries, we get to see how the museum halls adapted accordingly in order to keep up with the latest revelations. In the second half of the book, I was filled with a sort of second-hand grief reading about all the early exhibits of the original Hayden Planetarium knowing that it no longer existed, but I simultaneously found my excitement building up as the planetarium evolved into the space I now know. To this day, the Cosmic Pathway remains one of my favorite parts of the museum.
To end this very long review, I can confidently recommend this book to anyone who is interested in NYC history and museum studies or even some of the more niche topics discussed such as the history of taxidermy and the habitat dioramas, the invention of the dinosaur mount, and the early years of aerospace engineering and the feat of sending man to space.
This year in November, I decided to go once again with my mom, acting as a sort of tour guide but still a humble viewer, seeing many things I’d already seen as if for the first time. Again, I felt in awe of all there was to see, but this time I was so intrigued by the institution itself and wondering what it takes for a place like this to come to be. So I picked this book up.
The book is split into two parts. The first covers the very beginnings of the museum, the notable people who helped shape the place as it presently is, and the stories behind some of the most iconic artifacts in the museum, such as the Cape York Meteorites, the elephants of the Akeley African Hall and of course, the iconic dinosaur exhibits. The second part focuses on the history of the original Hayden Planetarium, which no longer exists and has been replaced by the Rose Center for Earth and Space.
The story of the AMNH begins in 1872, the year the museum was given its home on Central Park West on a site then known as Manhattan Square. At the time, the United States comprised only 37 states and NYC consisted only of Manhattan. In just the first chapter, I learned so much of NYC’s rich history and was fascinated by all the important personalities I was introduced to like Andrew Haswell Green, a founder of not just Central Park and the AMNH, but also the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the New York Public Library, and the Bronx Zoo. He was coined the Father of New York City for his role in uniting all five boroughs of the city.
My absolute favorite parts of the book were the chapters covering some of the most significant expeditions in the museum’s history. Robert Peary’s numerous expeditions to Greenland in search of the Cape York meteorites and eventually, the North Pole. Carl Akeley’s expeditions to Africa with Theodore Roosevelt to acquire the famous elephants and later, the silverback gorilla. Colin Davey’s detailed account of these expeditions makes this book an excellent glimpse into what it takes to acquire such a collection as the AMNH’s.
Although a lot of the figures mentioned in this book were terribly problematic (such as the explorer Robert Peary and the later mentioned aerospace engineer Wernher von Braun), Davey focuses solely on their contributions regarding the museum and fails to mention those problematic aspects, such as von Braun being a part of the Operation Paperclip program. For this reason, I’d recommend doing your own research during or after reading the book to further educate yourself on these figures.
The author, however, does touch on some of the controversies addressed throughout the history of the museum such as the removal of the Roosevelt statue which depicted him on horseback towering over semi-nude figures of an African and Native American, and the return of the remains of Inuit people that the museum had on display for decades after they had died following their arrival to NYC from Greenland with Peary (I recommend this video by Vox if you want to know more about Peary and the Inuit.)
Two of the main sciences that were still obtaining amazing discoveries in their respective fields during the expansions taking place at the museum were paleontology and aerospace engineering. Due to these discoveries, we get to see how the museum halls adapted accordingly in order to keep up with the latest revelations. In the second half of the book, I was filled with a sort of second-hand grief reading about all the early exhibits of the original Hayden Planetarium knowing that it no longer existed, but I simultaneously found my excitement building up as the planetarium evolved into the space I now know. To this day, the Cosmic Pathway remains one of my favorite parts of the museum.
To end this very long review, I can confidently recommend this book to anyone who is interested in NYC history and museum studies or even some of the more niche topics discussed such as the history of taxidermy and the habitat dioramas, the invention of the dinosaur mount, and the early years of aerospace engineering and the feat of sending man to space.
April 24, 2019
The American Museum Of Natural History And How It Got That Way
by Colin Davey
2019
Empire State Editions/ Fordham University Press
5.0 / 5.0
When I visited NYC years ago, one of the things I most enjoyed were the museums. One of my favorites- and most interesting, to me-was the American Museum of Natural History. When I saw this book available as an ARC, I was excited and pleased to be sent an e-book copy.
The history of the museum, founded by Albert S. Bickmore in 1872, is as fascinating as the exhibits. The site finally chosen for the museum was then known as Manhattan Square (renamed Theodore Roosevelt Park in 1958)and was located on Eighth Ave., now known as Central Park West. Architects Vaux and Mould began plans for a 14th Century gothic style building. The museum opened in December 1877 to sold out seats and a private tour given to President Hayes. The first wing would be named The Bickman Wing, after its founder.
There were many challenges in keeping this museum going and growing.
Each chapter centers on different Halls or displays. The origins, influences, and ideas that came together to make these exhibits. The detailed history, central to the museum, was detailed and engaging. The lives of Bickmore, Jessop and Osborn were central and influential in the building of the museum. The dinosaur collection, the largest in the world, draws the most attendance. The Hall of North American Birds and the Hayden Planetarium (since demolished and rebuilt as the Rose Center for Earth and Science) are also amazing stories.
This is well
written and researched, the history is so influential and inspiring. Thanks to Fordham University Press and the author for sharing this e-book ARC.
#TheAmericanMuseumOfNaturalHistoryAndHowItGotThere
#NetGalley
by Colin Davey
2019
Empire State Editions/ Fordham University Press
5.0 / 5.0
When I visited NYC years ago, one of the things I most enjoyed were the museums. One of my favorites- and most interesting, to me-was the American Museum of Natural History. When I saw this book available as an ARC, I was excited and pleased to be sent an e-book copy.
The history of the museum, founded by Albert S. Bickmore in 1872, is as fascinating as the exhibits. The site finally chosen for the museum was then known as Manhattan Square (renamed Theodore Roosevelt Park in 1958)and was located on Eighth Ave., now known as Central Park West. Architects Vaux and Mould began plans for a 14th Century gothic style building. The museum opened in December 1877 to sold out seats and a private tour given to President Hayes. The first wing would be named The Bickman Wing, after its founder.
There were many challenges in keeping this museum going and growing.
Each chapter centers on different Halls or displays. The origins, influences, and ideas that came together to make these exhibits. The detailed history, central to the museum, was detailed and engaging. The lives of Bickmore, Jessop and Osborn were central and influential in the building of the museum. The dinosaur collection, the largest in the world, draws the most attendance. The Hall of North American Birds and the Hayden Planetarium (since demolished and rebuilt as the Rose Center for Earth and Science) are also amazing stories.
This is well
written and researched, the history is so influential and inspiring. Thanks to Fordham University Press and the author for sharing this e-book ARC.
#TheAmericanMuseumOfNaturalHistoryAndHowItGotThere
#NetGalley
August 14, 2019
This book is filled with so much information and illustrations about The American Museum of Natural History. I highly recommend reading it before visiting the museum. This is a book that you will want to add to your permanent collection.
January 14, 2021
As an unofficial and self-proclaimed tour guide of the American Museum of Natural History, I couldn’t pass up this title. I was hoping for something similar to another book on ‘The Museum,’ Dinosaurs in the Attic by Douglas Preston, a collection of anecdotes and tidbits chronicling the colorful history of AMNH and its explorers. Preston’s book was last reissued on 1993, prior to the renovations of the dinosaurs halls and Hayden Planetarium, so I hoped this book would supplement Preston’s. How it Got That Way serves more as a reference for understanding the museum’s past and development, focusing on hard facts and dates as opposed to the stories of the museum’s founding and enterprises provided by Preston. Davey’s history covers some of the same ground as Preston (such as the expeditions of Akeley and Peary), however, with much less narrative flair as Preston. Davey also does not give much attention to the somewhat controversial history of AMNH’s founding - many artifacts in its collections were attained without permission, an understanding that has gotten more press in recent years and been addressed by the museum itself - that I hoped Davey would discuss in his book.
Where the book does shine is in the second part with its history of the planetarium. As mentioned before, Preston’s work was written prior to the re-opening of the planetarium and does not have much to say on its history. How it Got That Way provides a thorough account of the planetarium’s founding and development, as well as a “visit” to the old planetarium accompanied by a map and pictures, which I greatly enjoyed.
It does feel as though the first part of the book was an add on - a recorded history of the planetarium being the initial purpose of the book, with the history of the museum being added to lengthen the book (Dewey hints as much in the foreword, and his passion for the subject of the planetarium in particular is clear). As a passionate fan of the museum, it was still a relatively quick and enjoyable read. For museum studies enthusiasts, I would definitely suggest a read for Dewey’s thorough recording of the architectural and financial development of AMNH. For those looking for a more casual introduction to the museum, start with Preston’s Dinosaurs in the Attic, after which you can give Part 2 of How it Got That Way, which will serve as a nice complement to the former.
Where the book does shine is in the second part with its history of the planetarium. As mentioned before, Preston’s work was written prior to the re-opening of the planetarium and does not have much to say on its history. How it Got That Way provides a thorough account of the planetarium’s founding and development, as well as a “visit” to the old planetarium accompanied by a map and pictures, which I greatly enjoyed.
It does feel as though the first part of the book was an add on - a recorded history of the planetarium being the initial purpose of the book, with the history of the museum being added to lengthen the book (Dewey hints as much in the foreword, and his passion for the subject of the planetarium in particular is clear). As a passionate fan of the museum, it was still a relatively quick and enjoyable read. For museum studies enthusiasts, I would definitely suggest a read for Dewey’s thorough recording of the architectural and financial development of AMNH. For those looking for a more casual introduction to the museum, start with Preston’s Dinosaurs in the Attic, after which you can give Part 2 of How it Got That Way, which will serve as a nice complement to the former.
July 15, 2019
I've never been to the museum this book discusses, but if I ever do get to go, I'll be looking at it with a different perspective. I love museums, not only for the knowledge they hold but also for their history. Knowing how this one came to be fascinated me. Sometimes it can be hard to remember that there was once a time that discovery and knowledge were socially important and explorers would undergo brutal challenges to bring back specimens.
I found the politics of the museum's origins a little dry, but still interesting how one man's agenda could be pushed through while another is ignored for decades.
I'm glad I was granted a copy of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a review. I learned a great deal and was entertained in the process.
I found the politics of the museum's origins a little dry, but still interesting how one man's agenda could be pushed through while another is ignored for decades.
I'm glad I was granted a copy of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a review. I learned a great deal and was entertained in the process.
July 3, 2019
I don't read a lot of non-fiction but this was an interesting background for the famous New York City Museum. Opening in 1869, visitors have watched it grow to what is now a mammoth structure. The book is divided into sections and how each new president expanded not only the building but the collection and concept as well. History fans will love this book. Full of facts and drawings. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
August 16, 2020
I received a free electronic ARC copy of this work of art from Netgalley, Colin Davey, and Empire State Editions. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read The American Museum of Natural History and How it Got That Way of my own volition, and this review reflects my personal opinion of this work. I am pleased to recommend this work to friends and family and will gift it to birthday grands coming up.
This is the complete story of the Museum of Natural History down by Central Park in NYC. Covering four city blocks and housed in many different styles of buildings, the history of the museum is as engrossing as some of the history it presents to us. This is not a quick read - it took me several months to give it the attention it deserves. This should be a must-read for teens before visiting the museum, or between visits. All adults need to spend some time with the attention to detail and intricate involvement it has required to share with us this fascinating collection of the history of the world we live in. This book moved AMNH to the top of my bucket visit.
pub date May 14, 2019
rec April 30, 2019
Empire State Editions
Reviewed on January 20, 2020 at Goodreads, Netgalley, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, Kobo, and Googleplay. Not available for review on BookBub.
This is the complete story of the Museum of Natural History down by Central Park in NYC. Covering four city blocks and housed in many different styles of buildings, the history of the museum is as engrossing as some of the history it presents to us. This is not a quick read - it took me several months to give it the attention it deserves. This should be a must-read for teens before visiting the museum, or between visits. All adults need to spend some time with the attention to detail and intricate involvement it has required to share with us this fascinating collection of the history of the world we live in. This book moved AMNH to the top of my bucket visit.
pub date May 14, 2019
rec April 30, 2019
Empire State Editions
Reviewed on January 20, 2020 at Goodreads, Netgalley, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, Kobo, and Googleplay. Not available for review on BookBub.
February 5, 2020
As the title tells us, this is a history of the American Museum of Natural History from its inception to the present. It’s comprehensive and detailed, with many photos, plans and accounts of the expeditions undertaken to obtain exhibits. The second part concentrates on the Hayden Planetarium and its replacement, and I found this section less interesting, with perhaps just too much detail, especially about the necessary fund-raising. Overall I enjoyed the book, incorporating as it does the development of New York City itself, with mini-biographies of the many interesting personalities involved over the years. However, I don’t think I’ve ever read a book, however academic a text, where only a third of it is the actual text and fully two thirds comprises notes, the index and the bibliography. That’s quite an imbalance, even if possibly an unavoidable one, and I did feel a bit cheated when the book abruptly ended a third of the way through! Worth reading for anyone interested in or familiar with this particular Museum or just museums in general.
July 11, 2019
Fascinating Historical Record and Very Readable
This wonderful history of the American Museum in NYC could be dry reading for some, but I loved it. Besides getting to know the 'movers and shakers' over the past 150 years, we also get a fun glimpse into the lives of those persons. It is hard to imagine a time when the boroughs were separate cities and there was plenty of open land all around. The book helps us to imagine a Manhattan Island that is so undeveloped that they just mark multiple sections of land for different projects. Do you want a world-class park? Take these 2 sections and a bit more. We'll put a museum across the street here and a zoo over there. It is like Sim City! I found it fascinating.
This wonderful history of the American Museum in NYC could be dry reading for some, but I loved it. Besides getting to know the 'movers and shakers' over the past 150 years, we also get a fun glimpse into the lives of those persons. It is hard to imagine a time when the boroughs were separate cities and there was plenty of open land all around. The book helps us to imagine a Manhattan Island that is so undeveloped that they just mark multiple sections of land for different projects. Do you want a world-class park? Take these 2 sections and a bit more. We'll put a museum across the street here and a zoo over there. It is like Sim City! I found it fascinating.
July 22, 2019
This is a fascinating account of how the American Museum of Natural History took shape, which I found particularly interesting as I have visited this museum on several occasions. As a visitor you are so intrigued by and in awe of the collections, you don't stop to think about the history of the buildings or how the museum itself came to be, and this book fills in those gaps.
There is a wealth of information in these pages, and a ton of interesting facts which have obviously been well-researched, and I would recommend this to anyone, regardless of whether they have visited the museum or not. A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at one of new York's most famous institutions.
NOTE: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
There is a wealth of information in these pages, and a ton of interesting facts which have obviously been well-researched, and I would recommend this to anyone, regardless of whether they have visited the museum or not. A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at one of new York's most famous institutions.
NOTE: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
May 16, 2019
ARC from Netgalley.
I thought this was an interesting book, but as the early portions state, it's sort of two book topics mashed together. There's stuff about the early founding and building of the museum, pieces about highlights of the collection, and certainly some interesting tidbits. I found the early parts tough going; the "Great Man" approach feels a little out of step with contemporary history and museum studies writing.
I thought this was an interesting book, but as the early portions state, it's sort of two book topics mashed together. There's stuff about the early founding and building of the museum, pieces about highlights of the collection, and certainly some interesting tidbits. I found the early parts tough going; the "Great Man" approach feels a little out of step with contemporary history and museum studies writing.
June 1, 2023
If you're interested in the American Museum of Natural History and/or the Hayden Planetarium this is the book for you! From the early days of planning to its completion and onward, THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY AND HOW IT GOT THAT WAY, tells all and is an easy read. I highly recommend this book.
August 1, 2019
The interesting history of the museum of natural history. I highly recommend it. Very detailed and beautiful. Not a coffee table book, but quite the amazing read!
August 12, 2019
Davey does a good job of not making this dry and I really liked the way the book is divided and laid out. It makes it a quick, but interesting, read.
July 28, 2020
I love books that deliver exactly what the title says💕 I definitely think this is worth a read. It's well structured and a good guide.
August 14, 2023
I bought this book because of how interested I was with the architecture of the museum and wanted to read a book that focused on that topic. After reading the first few pages I quickly learned that the book also went into how the museum got their artifacts and what each museum president did. That aspect of the book made it so much more interesting. I learned about people who helped the museum grow with either donations or expeditions and read about the original Hayden planetarium which I didn't know was a thing. This book made me want to go to the Museum of Natural History again(for the 500th time)
October 22, 2019
The book was fantastic. I had the honor and pleasure to frequently visit there on trips to my grandparents in NYC. So I could imagine many of the wings and items pretty vividly.
The writing was great. I think the sections were great, going into details of how certain items ended up there and how the dioramas were set up. Fascinating to read all the history. I had never really stood still about how for instance the meteors actually got to the museum.
Even if you have never visited the museum, if you are a history buff, or museum fan, you will thoroughly enjoy this book.
The writing was great. I think the sections were great, going into details of how certain items ended up there and how the dioramas were set up. Fascinating to read all the history. I had never really stood still about how for instance the meteors actually got to the museum.
Even if you have never visited the museum, if you are a history buff, or museum fan, you will thoroughly enjoy this book.
April 20, 2019
I received an advanced digital copy of this book from the author, Netgalley.com and Fordham University Press. Thanks to all for the opportunity to read and review.
The only thing more interesting than a museum is it's history. How it came to be and grew until no trip to New York City is complete without stopping there for a visit.
The history of AMNH is as rich as it's collection and Mr. Davey has done a wonderful job of pulling together it's story. For a museum fan like myself, it was almost like being given the keys to the collection itself!
5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommended.
The only thing more interesting than a museum is it's history. How it came to be and grew until no trip to New York City is complete without stopping there for a visit.
The history of AMNH is as rich as it's collection and Mr. Davey has done a wonderful job of pulling together it's story. For a museum fan like myself, it was almost like being given the keys to the collection itself!
5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommended.
May 4, 2019
The American Museum of Natural History and How it Got That Way is a solidly informative piece of work that concisely explains, well, how the museum got that way. Davie starts at the very beginning, when the museum was just an idea, before any land was broken, stone shaped, or specimen shot. He works through the various proposed sites and competing concepts (such as a separate Paleozoic Museum), explains how the destruction by fire of the Barnum museum influenced things, and also presents men of vision and money and competing agendas, as well as a few who were more than a little corrupt. I had no idea, for instance, that the notorious Boss Tweed was so involved early, though of course it makes sense given his power and the timing.
Once the museum opens in 1877 (there’s a nice digression tale about the hunt for the long-lost time capsule), Davie goes through the successive directors and wings/buildings as they’re constructed, such as the Roosevelt Memorial entrance/rotunda, the Akeley African Hall, the famed dinosaur exhibits and the Hayden Planetarium, closing with an epilogue that looks forward to the upcoming Gilder Center addition.
Along the way we follow a few of the various expeditions that stocked the Museum. Such as Peary’s trips to Greenland (an exhibition that brought the world’s largest asteroid to the gallery)and his many attempts to reach the North Pole or safaris to Africa (one of the truly moving stories in this book) to bring back elephants and gorillas, among other specimens. To be honest, I wish we had delved into those expeditions a bit more fully, and others as well, such as Chapmans’ Asian forays, which are touched upon but only briefly. The same is true for the construction of the exhibits themselves—I would have like more about their design, planning, execution, such as how the great blue whale was hung for instance. We do learn some of this, such as the use of habitat dioramas, but I could have done with more. That complaint, however, is also a bit of praise, in that it shows how engaging Davie’s text is that I wished for more of it. The writing is fluid and inviting throughout, and Davie does a nice job of always bringing us back to a human touch amidst the history and dates and floor plans and the like. For anyone who has ever wandered the sprawling halls of this great institution with wander-filled eyes, this is an interesting foray into how it came to be. 3.5 stars
Once the museum opens in 1877 (there’s a nice digression tale about the hunt for the long-lost time capsule), Davie goes through the successive directors and wings/buildings as they’re constructed, such as the Roosevelt Memorial entrance/rotunda, the Akeley African Hall, the famed dinosaur exhibits and the Hayden Planetarium, closing with an epilogue that looks forward to the upcoming Gilder Center addition.
Along the way we follow a few of the various expeditions that stocked the Museum. Such as Peary’s trips to Greenland (an exhibition that brought the world’s largest asteroid to the gallery)and his many attempts to reach the North Pole or safaris to Africa (one of the truly moving stories in this book) to bring back elephants and gorillas, among other specimens. To be honest, I wish we had delved into those expeditions a bit more fully, and others as well, such as Chapmans’ Asian forays, which are touched upon but only briefly. The same is true for the construction of the exhibits themselves—I would have like more about their design, planning, execution, such as how the great blue whale was hung for instance. We do learn some of this, such as the use of habitat dioramas, but I could have done with more. That complaint, however, is also a bit of praise, in that it shows how engaging Davie’s text is that I wished for more of it. The writing is fluid and inviting throughout, and Davie does a nice job of always bringing us back to a human touch amidst the history and dates and floor plans and the like. For anyone who has ever wandered the sprawling halls of this great institution with wander-filled eyes, this is an interesting foray into how it came to be. 3.5 stars
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