3 
INTRODUCTION. 
The Guide locates, by means of plans and a system of num- 
bers, the principle objects of interest in the Halls, Courts, Alcoves, 
and Galleries. The diagrams are accompanied by brief des- 
criptions. The Columbian Rotunda and the Columbus Me- 
morial Halls are described first because of the historical signific- 
ance attached to them. Then follow descriptions of the Courts 
and Departments. The latter are taken up separately in the order 
of their usual sequence, beginning with Natural History — Geology, 
Botany, and Zoology — and concluding with the Departments relat- 
ing to Man and His Works — Anthropology, Industrial Arts, and 
the Rail Way. 
If a general view of the entire Museum is desired, it is sug- 
gested that the Departments be visited in the order above indi- 
cated. After viewing the Columbian Rotunda (see page 9) the 
visitor may proceed through the Reading Room and Lecture 
Hall to the West Pavilion, where are installed the collections 
of Geology (see page 27). The Halls should be visited in the fol- 
lowing order: 35, 36, and 59 — Paleontology; 60 and 61 — Geo- 
graphic Geology; 62, 63, and 64 — Meteorites and Mineralogy; 
65 — Dynamic Geology; 66 Lithology; 67 to 80 inclusive — Econ- 
omic Geology. 
Returning to the West Court through Hall 35 the Botanical 
collections maybe reached by the stairway in Alcove 102. The cir- 
cuit of the galleries should be made from the West to the North, 
then to the East and finally to the South Gallery. The Botanical 
collections are arranged on a geographical basis, and begin on the 
South Gallery with specimens from Asia, Europe, Africa, and 
follow with the South and North American Series. (See page 91.) 
The Laboratory of Physical and Psychical Anthropology will 
be found on the gallery at the extreme end of the East Court. 
(See page 129.) 
