The “Objects of Wonder: From the Collections of the National Museum of Natural History” Exhibition (Washington D.C., U.S.A.)

 

“Objects of Wonder: From the Collections of the National Museum of Natural History” exhibition

The “Objects of Wonder: From the Collections of the NationalMuseum of Natural History” exhibition, opened just last March 10, 2017, presented 145 rarely displayed artifacts and specimens from the extraordinary collections of the Smithsonian Institute’s NationalMuseum of Natural History. 

Check out “National Museum of Natural History”

 

What do collections tell?

The temporary exhibition, which will remain on view through 2021, will examine how scientists use Smithsonian Institute's collections to enlighten and illuminate our understanding of nature and human culture.

 

Remains of accomplished naturalist and herpetologist Robert Kennicott who contributed hundreds of pieces to the Smithsonian during his life. He died in 1866, at the age of 30, during one of his expeditions in the Alaskan wilderness.

Here, we explored the breadth and splendor of the Museum’s collection through some of their most significant and beautiful artifacts and specimens which Smithsonian Institute researchers examine with a variety of scientific tools to reveal hidden complexities while cultural communities turn to these collections to revitalize their traditions. 

Celebrating Creativity : The Tuxtla Statuette 

From their astonishing scale to surprising form to awe-inspiring rarity, personally experiencing these objects created moments of wonder and curiosity that can’t be found elsewhere. 

 

"Blue Flame," lapis lazuli from Afghanistan

Objects featured in the exhibition include:

• Martha (the last known passenger pigeon) - one of the Smithsonian Institute’s greatest treasures, it is the last living individual of her species.  In life, Martha lived at the Cincinnati Zoo where she was visited by long lines of people and, when she died in 1914, the passenger pigeon became extinct as, only decades earlier, her species had been widespread and abundant in North America but was heavily hunted for food.
• The “Blue Flame” - one of the world’s largest and finest pieces of gem-quality lapis lazuli, this massive piece, weighing over 250 pounds, was mined high in a remote valley of Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush Mountains. The name is derived from the Persian word, lazhward, meaning “blue.” Characterized by its intense blue color, lapis lazuli, has been valued as an ornamental stone and pigment for more than 6,000 years.
• The Pinniped fossil - represents one of the earliest members of the group of animals that includes living seals, sea lions and walruses, it was discovered, beautifully preserved and nearly complete, by an amateur paleontologist who donated it to the NationalMuseum of Natural History so that it could be studied by scientists.
• The 1875 painted Tsimshian House Front from Canada - one of the best examples of Native Alaskan design artwork, it is widely acknowledged as one of the very best examples of Northwest Coast formline art design artwork. It tells the story of the mythical Undersea Chief Nagunaks and his connection with the clan that lived in the house.
• Original hand-colored illustrations from “The Birds of America” by John James Audubon - pages of the volume, which weighs 50 lbs., are turned twice a week so most of the beautiful illustrations can be seen throughout its time on display.
• An earwax plug from a baleenwhale which has layers (like tree rings) that track age, growth and environmental conditions throughout its life.
• Tuxtla Statuette - used to decipher the epi-Olmec writing system, which represents both syllables and words

 

"Martha," the last passenger pigeon

The exhibition also features a remarkable wall of 500 insect specimens (representing the dazzling diversity of the prolific animal group) and visually striking displays of exotic wood, tiger cowries and tiny deep-sea corals.

Antique Japanese samurai armor

 

Bark cloth from Polynesia

Activities here include:

• Listening to a Tsimshian (Pacific Northwest Native) storyteller recount the family history painted on a 38-foot-long house front as specific parts of the design light up.
• Watching a jumbled fossil slab come to life as the bones reassemble themselves into a lifelike animation
• Testing your observational skills by playing an interactive touch screen game about the objects on display.

 

The Pinniped fossil

Objects of Wonder: From the Collections of the National Museum of Natural History: 2/F, NationalMuseum of Natural History, Washington D.C., U.S.A.