Nature's Museums

by Carla Yanni

Yanni (art history, Rutgers U.) examines the relationship between architecture and science in the 19th century by considering the physical placement and display of natural artifacts in Victorian natural history museums. She begins by discussing the problem of classification, the social history of collecting, as well as architectural competitions and case studies of particular museums such as the Hunterian Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons, the Cambridge University Library, and the Museum of Practical Geology. Final chapters look at natural history museums today, and at the role of architecture in the social structure of knowledge. Includes numerous illustrations. Text is printed in very small font. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Genres: History, Architecture, Natural History, Museums, Reference, Nonfiction

216 pages, Paperback

First published February 4, 2000

Reviews

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thorough from an architectural perspective and a great introduction to the social construction of science as seen through its museums. Yanni has a great talent for translating complex back-and-forths between scientists, architects and government officials in a way that is both fun and interesting to the reader. I only wish there was MORE of it. Some points of argument, namely regarding the Oxford Museum, rested too heavily on the repetition of concepts already well-accepted by historians of science in the 1990s, as far as I know, namely the idea that the "supplantation" of religion by science was not actually true and many scientists used natural history to affirm their belief in Divine Creation, and the rehashing of theories surrounding cabinets of curiosities. She also brings up some super interesting things about the development of museum as spectacle, ending it with looking at the Museum of Creation and Museum of Jurassic Technology. I really wish spectacle had occupied a bigger part of the discussion. It feels like it could be developed into a great book on its own!

Nevertheless, very solid introductory book for the social construction of science and its symbolization in architecture during the Victorian period.

[John Sappington · Rating 5 out of 5]

A small but hearty book of immense quality,

detailing the history of natural history museums in the UK. I absolutely loved this book, its introduction was nicely broad and pulled together many larger ideas of the field. It served as a trusty historical account of much history, and the appendix conclusion was also quite interesting.