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Museum
National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris
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The
National Museum of Natural History in Paris was closed for many years
after WW II, undergoing extensive repair and redesign. It reopened its
galleries to the public in 1996, and is a spectacular tribute to both the
"classic" style of the old museum and the contemporary knowledge
we have of nature and exhibition techniques.
The
ground-floor gallery exhibits life under the sea, and includes beautifully
displayed examples of fishes, crustaceans, mollusks (including the giant
squid, below) and sea birds. The gallery s dark, with blue lights to give
visitors the feel of being under water. |
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one goes to the upper levels, the flora and fauna show representatives of
the lands. Monkeys and birds climb alongside the central elevator, and
African animals parade down the central gallery (above).
All
this is housed in a building that retains its 18th-century style. There is
a pleasant cafe at one end of the main gallery, and a well-stocked
bookstore downstairs. There is a modest entry fee. A visit here is highly
recommended for fans of nature and/or architecture. At the Jardin des
Plantes off Rue Cuvier. |
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Scientists
wishing to use the study collections should make arrangements well in
advance of an intended visit. Though the collections and library are
excellent, the museum suffers the universal problem of being short
staffed.
Shown
at left is a section of the vast underground temperature/humidity
controlled building that houses the zoological collections. It is known as
the Zooteque, and is nearly as large as the public museum building. It
lies, concealed, under the courtyard in front of the museum itself. |
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