sol 



No. 50 — 8- 



■500 



The Museum of Natural History* 



Report of the Curaton 



To the Directors and Members of the City Library Association : — 

 \(y The fourth annual report of the Museum of Natural History is hereby 

 — respectfully submitted. 



^ At this time, when the near future is so full of promise for a rapid 

 ^L. development of this department of the Association, it seems fitting that 

 the first place in this report should be given to an account of the Science 

 Building, which is now in process of construction and will, it is hoped, be 

 occupied before the next annual meeting 



Science Building* 



The plans for this structure as drawn by the architects, Gardner, Pyne 

 and Gardner, call for a building of generous dimensions, fifty feet wide 

 by one hundred and' fifty feet long. It is placed northeast of the Art 

 Museum and at sufiicient distance to permit of the extension of that build- 

 . mg in accordance with the original designs. In architectural effect the 

 Museum of Science will make a worthy companion of the structure de- 

 voted to art. The materials used in construction are Pompeian brick, 

 Indiana limestone, and terra cotta. A most attractive feature wall be the 

 portico at the south end, Mdth its massive foundation and pediment, sup- 

 . ported by four columns of polished granite. 



In its interior plans and appointments, especial care has been taken to 

 secure economy of space and adequate provision for the different phases 

 of museum work. At the left of the main entrance hall a room has been 

 set apart for the reference library of science to be maintained by the 

 Catherine Howard Memorial fund. Opposite the library will be the office 

 of the curator, where the administrative work of the museum will be 

 centered. Beyond these two rooms is the main exhibition hall, forty-six 

 feet wide by one hundred and twenty-three feet long and over twenty feet 

 high. This room will permit of a simple and systematic arrangement of 



