About the Collection
What the museum calls its Environmental Halls is funny little corner of miscellaneia in the museum. Like everywhere else, it has dioramas--recreations of different North American environments with particular focus on New YOrk State. Like everywhere else, it is educational. Interesting facts about forests ecology and agriculture in the New York region are to be found. But there is an uncanny valley these halls cannot seem to bridge. Come take a look and you'll feel it. Some is that the halls are old. Some exhibits go back to the 1950s and beyond. Which is find for models of Mammals, but not for agricultural technology or forest conservation advice. Curiosity should bring you here and a highlight or two. But don't plan on spending hours here.
What You Will See
The museum dioramas were intended to transport visitors to locations few in the 19th century had the ability to visit, to see unfamiliar animals in an approxomation of their native habitat: moose in Alaska or extinct rhinoceros in Tanzania. But the Hall of North America forests suffers from the burden of familiarity. Yes, coastal plain forests differ from Rocky Mountain juniper forests, but to most people, tress are trees. People have been to forests in North America. While there are a few highlights worth your time, do not feel bad passing through this hall quickly. You can immerse yourself in a real forest just across the street in Central Park. Add in forest-conservation science that now feels like timber industry fact sheets, and it makes for an interesting visit. Go through quickly.
Why You Should Go
Permanent Collection believes there should be more bad art in museums. When everything is a splendid work of profound genius, visitors become innured. Contrast is necessary for deep appreciation. These two basement halls serve that purpose perfectly. This is like a museum of museums--a time-capsule of mid-century conservation science. If you find yourself unimpressed with the new fossil galleries or the renovated North American Mammals, come down here to see what you could be experiencing. And come see the giant mosquito.
