Celestial Constellations

The American Museum of Natural History is one of the world’s preeminent scientific, educational, and cultural institutions. Since its founding in 1869, the museum has pursued its mission through a broad program of scientific research, education, and exhibitions. Each year, approximately 5 million visitors experience the museum’s 40-plus permanent exhibition galleries, the Rose Center for Earth and Space, and the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation. The museum’s collections, only a tiny fraction of which are on view, surpass 34 million specimens and artifacts. The museum’s David S. and Ruth L. Gottesman Library and Research Center contains nearly half a million volumes of illuminated monographs, reprints, and original rare books.