A Morning at the Museum
Where else to spend a bone-chilling Sunday morning but at a two million square foot building filled with a century’s worth of natural treasures, not to mention sharks, an adorable sea lion, and the most amazing space movie that would hold up next to any Oscar winning documentary. In addition, while the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) at 81st and Central Park West exhibits an endless array of ancient artifacts, it continues to be relevant on so many levels; it entertains us, wows us, and makes us think. If one were to need large scale evidence that our planet is undergoing tremendous environmental changes, the AMNH does a good job at educating us as well.
Sea Lions (Photo Credit: K2 Studios)
Sea Lions: Life by a Whisker, just under 45 minutes, is a treat for all ages as it introduces us to the rare Australian sea lion which year by year gets closer to extinction. Through spectacular scenery and compelling underwater filming, we see the dangers they face not only from ocean predators, but from the almost invisible fishing nets cast into the ocean which the marine mammal is unable to see. It’s this combination that has reduced their numbers from about 85,000 to 12,000 in just the last 20 years. The dramatic Australian cliffs overlooking the Indian Ocean provide stunning visuals as we follow Ranger Dirk Holman on one of his regular drives to count the sea lion population and root for a sea lion family trying to stay alive. Holman travels to the California coast where the sea lion population has been growing steadily to learn about the Marine Mammal Rescue Center which rescues sea lions and nurtures them back to health and ultimate release back to the ocean. It’s a satisfying film on many levels because we’re given hard evidence about a disappearing species, we see humans doing good rather than doing harm, and because the sea lions themselves are just so darn cute. (This movie is slated to run until February 27, 2022).
Saturn’s rings (Photo courtesy of AMNH)
Next up, we head up to the Hayden Planetarium’s Space Theatre for Worlds Beyond Earth, which is simply breathtaking because of its use of NASA’s own space mission data. Through computer imagery, we know what it feels like to fly through Saturn’s rings, or duck down in our seat when a sea of space rocks appear to come barreling towards us. It’s inspiring and it’s thrilling to see thousands of satellites spinning around the earth, be introduced to the other worlds in the solar system and understand that by viewing the images sent back by the Galileo and Magellan spacecrafts, we know more about what makes our planet tick. The film makes a great case for the existence of the U.S. space program because seeing how one planet dried up, and another lost its magnetic field, we may want to pay more attention to claims of climate change, so our world doesn’t suffer a similar fate. (Attn parents of small children: it was evident that some were overwhelmed by the movie’s thunderous opening and needed to be taken out of the theatre. There is no end date for this movie at the time of this writing.)
Exhibition about the removal of Theodore Roosevelt’s statue. (Photo by MJ Hanley-Goff)
Addressing the Statue examines the issue of The Equestrian Statue of Theodore Roosevelt which stood at the entrance to the museum since its unveiling in 1940. While the statue’s intent was to honor Roosevelt for his devotion to the natural world and his family connection to the museum, it also presented what the museum considered, “a racial hierarchy that the Museum and members of the public have long found disturbing.” The exhibit presented a history of the statue’s creation, evidence of what the artists and planners intended a century ago, and comments from the public on what the statue, and its removal, means to them. The statue was removed earlier this month and is scheduled to be placed on display at the Teddy’s Presidential Library in North Dakota as part of an exhibit that will encourage more thoughtful discussions about race in America. (The physical exhibit ended, but remains online at amnh.org/exhibitions/addressing-the-statue)
Covid vaccination site overseen by the big blue whale. (Photo by MJ Hanley-Goff)
Get Your Covid Vaccinations! The museum also does its part in serving the public, and for the foreseeable future, the lower level of the Hall of Ocean Life where the big blue whale hangs is now a NYC Covid-10 vaccination site. Don’t worry though, the popular 94-foot long, 21,000-pound fiberglass whale is still there, and can be viewed from the museum’s upper level. (For more vaccination information: amnh.org/covid-vaccination)
Top photo: Front of the Museum of Natural History during the removal of Theodore Roosevelt’s statue. Photo by MJ Hanley-Goff
