You may not think the Museum of Natural History will have much to offer for a history paper, but you’ll be surprised at what you can find here! It’s great if you have an interest in anthropology, sociology, scientific movements, the history of science in the United States (which would be a fabulous topic!), presidents (mostly Teddy Roosevelt), explorers (the library has all of Margaret Mead’s books), space exploration (at the Rose Center for Earth and Space, a beautiful new facility), Native American cultures and history, the history of the museum itself, or the role of museums in America or New York.

Although not all of the exhibits may be relevant to American history, they are fascinating in and of themselves. Whether or not you’ve already decided on a topic, you may find inspiration in them. They also cover human biology and evolution; geological exhibits; mammals from around the world; plants from around the world; fish from around the world; birds, reptiles, and amphibians (yes, from around the world); and of course the ever-popular dinosaurs. The anthropological exhibits include studies of several Native American groups as well as African, South American, Middle Eastern, and Asian cultures. Perhaps the most impressive of these is the display on the Native American cultures of the Northwest. The masks and totem poles that loom out of the dimly lit hall are worth the trip by themselves.

But wait, there’s even more. The museum has also put together special exhibits, such as one on Albert Einstein and another on the Vietnam War that could prove useful for research in American history. Check the museum’s website for the most current exhibits [http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/?src=toolbar#currex].

To supplement the exhibits, the museum organizes several workshops, lectures, and performances [http://www.amnh.org/programs/?src=toolbar]. Many of these programs occur after school and in the evenings and are available to high school students. Some may require a fee. You should definitely call in advance, since most of these are on a first-come, first-served basis and have limited space; note that the earlier lectures are typically more geared towards high school students and often include question and answer time. Call or visit the website for a calendar of events.

Once you have been through the exhibits and/or have a focused topic, you should visit the library on the fourth floor. Although it is non-circulating and closed-stack (you cannot take books out!), you can view books from the collection while you are there and can make photocopies (for 20 cents a page). You can photocopy pictures but will have to pay an additional fee and credit the museum when you use them. Some of the less accessible material (because it is fragile or valuable) can only be viewed on slides.

You can call ahead to ask about the library’s resources, or look at the online catalogue [http://libcat.amnh.org]. Computers are available at the library. Most materials are not related to history, but if your topic concerns natural history or science in any way, it will be a helpful resource.

Check out the Discovery Room on the upper level for hands-on fun. Call to get in, but don’t be discouraged by having to make an appointment—it was designed especially for high school students. Here you can do experiments with seismography, use microscopes, and manipulate real data using astrophysics programs on the computers provided. For an additional fee, you can see Imax movies, or if you’re really adventurous, you can travel to the ends of the universe and back in the Rose Center’s Space Theater. On a side note, for those of you looking for a job or internship, the museum offers several, both paid and unpaid.

Never underestimate how much this museum could help your paper. Even information that doesn’t at first glance seem to relate directly to your topic could probably be of some use to you. For example, learning about early Native American civilizations and other cultures that helped lay the foundations for modern society is very interesting and will apply to many paper topics.

Stop and look at the commemorative material about Theodore Roosevelt in the Rotunda and the Memorial Hall at the main entrance (the big entry room at the top of the stairs with the really cool dinosaur in the middle of it). Look up at the walls of the Rotunda and read the Roosevelt quotes. The museum put those words up there for a reason. Think about them as you’re walking through the exhibits and ask yourself why the institution chose to highlight them as you enter the museum—why, no matter what material you come to study, those words are the first and probably the last thing you see. How do they influence your thoughts as you gather your research? There is an amazing amount of information in the Museum of Natural History; make sure to take advantage of this incredible resource.