November 07, 2005

Darwin's 'crown jewels' at Natural History Museum

The "Darwin" exhibit opening Nov. 19 at the American Museum of Natural History will feature the scientist's "crown jewels" -- original specimens and his notebooks showing the "eureka moment" he first described natural selection -- many items that haven't been together in nearly 170 years, since they were on the H.M.S. Beagle, the New York Times writes in its preview of the exhibition.

Darwin's Bible, magnifying glass, telescope and pistol are all part of the collection along with 33 beetles, butterflies, moths and flies he collected. The $3 million exhibition will also display live Galápagos tortoises and horned frogs from South America.

The show, billed as the "most in-depth exhibition ever mounted on Charles Darwin," was conceived three years ago as part of the museum's series on thinkers, explorers and scientists. But it opens as 51 percent of Americans reject the theory of evolution, according to an October CBS News poll. Another poll cited by the Times reports that 38 percent of Americans believe creationism should be taught in schools instead of evolution.

The museum's docents and public-education staff are being trained on how to respond to challenges to the exhibition, which only mentions intelligent design as a form of creationism. Niles Eldredge, the exhibition's curator, told the Times: "We might change some minds."

"Darwin" will be on display until May 29, 2006. It requires an extra fee on top of regular museum admission. Including museum and Rose Center admission, it's $25 for adults, $16 for children and $20.50 for seniors and students. The show is free for museum members.

Update: 'Darwin' extends run at Natural History Museum until August 20

November 7, 2005 08:40 AM in Kids, Museums, Upper West Side

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