Though I have never visited the Museum of Natural History, I was able to appreciate how the museum came to fruition. This book takes us along from land acquisition, to controversies, to building, to expanding. I know that when I finally visit the museum I will have a greater appreciation for not just the exhibits, but the museum itself.

This book is a very interesting read. It tells the history of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. There are also many pictures in the book, which makes it even more fun. The author goes in-depth on the history. I recommend this book for people who have been in New York City or who will go, or to people who are interested in history.

As the title tells us, this is a history of the American Museum of Natural History from its inception to the present. It’s comprehensive and detailed, with many photos, plans and accounts of the expeditions undertaken to obtain exhibits. The second part concentrates on the Hayden Planetarium and its replacement, and I found this section less interesting, with perhaps just too much detail, especially about the necessary fund-raising. Overall I enjoyed the book, incorporating as it does the development of New York City itself, with mini-biographies of the many interesting personalities involved over the years. However, I don’t think I’ve ever read a book, however academic a text, where only a third of it is the actual text and fully two thirds comprises notes, the index and the bibliography. That’s quite an imbalance, even if possibly an unavoidable one, and I did feel a bit cheated when the book abruptly ended a third of the way through! Worth reading for anyone interested in or familiar with this particular Museum or just museums in general.

I received a free electronic ARC copy of this work of art from Netgalley, Colin Davey, and Empire State Editions. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read The American Museum of Natural History and How it Got That Way of my own volition, and this review reflects my personal opinion of this work. I am pleased to recommend this work to friends and family and will gift it to birthday grands coming up.

This is the complete story of the Museum of Natural History down by Central Park in NYC. Covering four city blocks and housed in many different styles of buildings, the history of the museum is as engrossing as some of the history it presents to us. This is not a quick read - it took me several months to give it the attention it deserves. This should be a must-read for teens before visiting the museum, or between visits. All adults need to spend some time with the attention to detail and intricate involvement it has required to share with us this fascinating collection of the history of the world we live in. This book moved AMNH to the top of my bucket visit.

Great book for someone who is interested in museums or interested in the American Museum of Natural History.

Who doesn't love a good museum? This book almost gave me the experience of being there. I felt like I was getting a private guided tour.. It was very readable and packed with information and a wonderful reading experience. Highly recommended.

The book was fantastic. I had the honor and pleasure to frequently visit there on trips to my grandparents in NYC. So I could imagine many of the wings and items pretty vividly.
The writing was great. I think the sections were great, going into details of how certain items ended up there and how the dioramas were set up. Fascinating to read all the history. I had never really stood still about how for instance the meteors actually got to the museum.
Even if you have never visited the museum, if you are a history buff, or museum fan, you will thoroughly enjoy this book.

An absolutely fascinating read! Recommend for fans of history, New Yorkers, and intersections of both.

This book is filled with so much information and illustrations about The American Museum of Natural History. I highly recommend reading it before visiting the museum. This is a book that you will want to add to your permanent collection.

The interesting history of the museum of natural history. I highly recommend it. Very detailed and beautiful. Not a coffee table book, but quite the amazing read!

Highly detailed, and well-written history of one of the most popular destinations in New York, from the 19th century to the present day. Very informative about all aspects - the plans, the buildings, the expeditions, everyone involved. Would highly recommend this to anyone interested in natural history, the history of natural history, museums; in fact, anyone. From early days its role as an educational resource was important; and it was fascinating to read about the battle between those who felt it should be closed on Sundays (it being the Sabbath), and those who wanted it opened for the workers who only had one day off - Sunday, and wanted to experience it. We also see the total shift from collecting specimens to stuff (including Mountain Gorillas!!!) to conservation.

This is a fascinating account of how the American Museum of Natural History took shape, which I found particularly interesting as I have visited this museum on several occasions. As a visitor you are so intrigued by and in awe of the collections, you don't stop to think about the history of the buildings or how the museum itself came to be, and this book fills in those gaps.

There is a wealth of information in these pages, and a ton of interesting facts which have obviously been well-researched, and I would recommend this to anyone, regardless of whether they have visited the museum or not. A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at one of new York's most famous institutions.

NOTE: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

I've never been to the museum this book discusses, but if I ever do get to go, I'll be looking at it with a different perspective. I love museums, not only for the knowledge they hold but also for their history. Knowing how this one came to be fascinated me. Sometimes it can be hard to remember that there was once a time that discovery and knowledge were socially important and explorers would undergo brutal challenges to bring back specimens.
I found the politics of the museum's origins a little dry, but still interesting how one man's agenda could be pushed through while another is ignored for decades.

I'm glad I was granted a copy of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a review. I learned a great deal and was entertained in the process.

Fascinating Historical Record and Very Readable
This wonderful history of the American Museum in NYC could be dry reading for some, but I loved it. Besides getting to know the 'movers and shakers' over the past 150 years, we also get a fun glimpse into the lives of those persons. It is hard to imagine a time when the boroughs were separate cities and there was plenty of open land all around. The book helps us to imagine a Manhattan Island that is so undeveloped that they just mark multiple sections of land for different projects. Do you want a world-class park? Take these 2 sections and a bit more. We'll put a museum across the street here and a zoo over there. It is like Sim City! I found it fascinating.

I don't read a lot of non-fiction but this was an interesting background for the famous New York City Museum. Opening in 1869, visitors have watched it grow to what is now a mammoth structure. The book is divided into sections and how each new president expanded not only the building but the collection and concept as well. History fans will love this book. Full of facts and drawings. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I'm very interested in museums (particularly natural history museums) and history, so I thought this book would be a great fit for me. It turned out that I enjoyed it, but it didn't live up to my expectations. I found the writing quite dry and almost textbook-like. There are so many interesting stories in the history of the museum, but they're not shared in interesting ways. It's also two books smashed together with the early part about the founding and building of the museum being the most dry, and the sections about highlights of the collection being more what I wanted to read.

I have visited the American Museum of Natural History many times both as a student and later as a teacher. It was always one of the most anticipated trips of the school year and never a disappointment.
After reading this book, I have gained an even deeper appreciation of this museum especially in terms of its historical significance and all those that shaped it throughout the years. This book would be great to use as a supplement when teaching the history of New York and perhaps even before visiting the museum itself.

As a New Yorker The American Museum of Natural History is an iconic New York museum one m family loved to visit.This fascinating book shares with us so many facts about the museum its layout special exhibits ba real treat of a read for me.Thanks @netgalley @fordhamuniv.press

The American Museum of Natural History and How It Got That Way by Colin Davey is a book I requested from NetGalley and the review is voluntary. This is certainly the book for any those who love history. I have always wanted to visit this giant time capsule but haven't made it yet.
This book is great in taking the reader through all the aspects of getting the Museum and land and all the problems that went with it. There were unique politically instances, Mason traditions for the cornerstone, and all the expansions. There are many significant expeditions described that lead to more treasures added to the growing collection and expanding museum. (This was my favorite section.) I really didn't understand just how big it really is! The book is divided into two parts and part one starts a bit slow but hang in there, it gets better and the wealth of information is great!

The front matter of the book do describe this as two piece put together, and it really feels that way. The collections pieces were more interesting to me personally than the building-and-administration pieces, although as a non-resident of New York City that may be a personal perspective. In an era of sociological analyses and microhistories, the "Great Man" perspective didn't seem as engaging for real museum studies enthusiasts. Will probably appeal to more casual fans and the nostalgic.