About the Collection
These goregous collection of detailed dioramas are among the most popular halls in the museum. The African and North American Halls draw the crowds, but do not forget the Asian Hall (with its smaller elephants), the Small Mammals Hall and the comprehensive collection of local mammals--which in this town mainly means rodents. See the big things, but take time n the side halls and upstairs to discover you own favorites. The North American Hall, after its 2012 renovation, is particularly impressive.
What You Will See
Mammals preserve and display extraordinarily well (visit the Birds, the Ocean and the Reptiles for comparison). The skin, hair, eyes, horns, claws and hooves appear more lifelike than feathers, fins or scales. You obviously came to see the animals, large and small (but especially the large ones). But take an extra moment and see what else you see. The intricate diorama's are designed with care in consultation with naturalists to recreate entire habitats. Each has small details to reward careful visitors. Visit the highlights of the animal kingdom in their own habitat without leaving the Upper West Side.
Why You Should Go
Together with the fossils upstairs, the Mammal Halls form one of the two pillars of the museum. If you don't see an elephant or a bear, you have not really visited the museum. First-time patrons know to see them. Long-time members return again and again to revisit old friends and try to find some small new detail. It is not a queston of seeing some mammals--the question is how many. North America is detailed, Africa is iconic, Asia has exotic wonders, the primates are charming and the small mammals are adorable. See them all if you can--but see at least one. They are hard to miss.
