The American Museum of Natural History, on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, grew from Albert S. Bickmore’s 1861 vision for a national natural history institution into one of the country’s leading centers for research, education, and public exhibition. Established in 1869, it opened in 1871 in Central Park’s Arsenal before moving to a purpose-built home on Manhattan Square in 1877. It expanded steadily through new wings, lecture spaces, and galleries as collections and expeditions grew. Its vast complex now includes dozens of halls, a planetarium, and a library, while its holdings and scientific work reach far beyond what can be publicly displayed.

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

New York, New York · USA