GENERAL GUIDE TO THE HU5EUM 



INTRODUCTION 



THE American Museum of Natural History was founded and incor- 

 porated in 1869 for the purpose of establishing a Museum and 

 Library of Natural History; of encouraging and developing the 

 study of Natural Science; of advancing the general knowledge of kindred 

 „. . subjects and to that end, of furnishing popular instruction. 



For eight years its temporary home was in the Arsenal in 

 Central Park. The corner stone of the present building in Manhattan 

 Square was laid in 1874 by President U. S. Grant, and in 1877 the first sec- 

 tion (South Central Pavilion) was completed. 



L c t'o ^ ie Museum is located at 77th Street and Central Park 



West, and can be reached by the 8th or 9th Avenue surface 



cars, the 6th or 9th Avenue elevated to 81st Street station, or by the subway 



to 72nd or 79th Street station. The Museum is open free 



., . . every day in the year; on week days from 9 a. m. to 5 p. m., 



on Sundays from 1 to 5 P. M. 



The Museum building is one of the largest municipal structures in the 

 City, and has cost approximately $5,000,000. The South Facade is 710 

 feet in length; the total area of the floor space is 470,789 square feet, or 

 about 10 acres, of which 271,886 square feet are open to the public. The 

 building when completed is designed to occupy all of Manhattan Square. 



The building is erected and largely maintained by the City, through 

 Adminis- the Department of Parks. Building funds are provided for by 

 trationand issues of Corporate Stock, which have been made at intervals 

 Support since 1871. The annual appropriation, known as the Mainte- 

 nance Fund, is devoted to the heating, lighting, repair and supervision of 

 the building and care of the collections. 



The Museum is under the control of a self-perpetuating Board of Trus- 

 tees, which has the entire direction of all its activities as well as the guardian- 

 ship of all the collections and exhibits. The Trustees give their services 

 without remuneration. 



The funds which enable the Trustees, through the scientific staff, to 

 purchase specimens, to carry on explorations and various forms of scientific 

 work, to prepare and publish scientific papers and to enlarge the library 

 are raised by contributions from the Trustees and other friends. These 

 contributions come from three sources — namely, (1) the Endowment 

 Fund, (2) Membership Fund, (3) voluntary subscriptions. 



There are at present about 2,500 Members. Annual Members con- 

 Member- tribute $10 a year for the support of the Museum; Life Mem- 

 ship bers make a single contribution of $100. Membership fees are 

 of great service in promoting the growth of the institution. 



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