Exploring Cleveland's Museum of Natural History

Cleveland Museum of Natural History

I'm in Cleveland for the Society of American Archivist's annual convention this week (and presenting on Friday! more about that later in the week).  In between sessions and workshops I actually managed a whole day with nothing scheduled.  So, after a little research online, I planned to spend the day at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.  I'm probably not the person an average museum browser wants to go to the museum with.  I'm there looking at text panels and artifact mounting choices as much as the exhibits themselves- looking at what works, what choices I'd make in designing a similar exhibit, etc.  It means I take way longer looking at stuff than others want to, and I'm boring in what I focus on.  But I was going by myself, so I didn't have to feel guilty about being boring today.


The first room I went in consisted of dioramas of artifacts and animals - heavy on the taxidermy- similar to what you'd see in most museums.  I get it. You want to show the entire culture, history, archaeology, flora, and fauna of North America and you've got one room to do it.  There are limited ways that's going to happen.  There were a surprisingly large number of small children there today and the animals clearly grabbed their attention the most.  I enjoyed listening to the chatter between kids and parents- so very similar no matter what museum you're in! My favorite was a little girl asking if an animal was an alligator or a crocodile and her dad telling her to read what the card said, because when we read, we learn things.  She was very proud to discover all on her own that it was an alligator.



This museum has Balto.  The actual dog.  There was a very nice little explanation of who he was and why he was in Cleveland as well as a more modern (and I thought very well done), hands-on touch screen that let you watch silent film clips
from the news on Balto and the Serum Run; as well as a game where you got to pick your team of animals to pull a sled and see if you'd make it to Nome.  With an explanation of why you'd win the race when you picked the right sled animals or why you'd lose the race when you picked a team of chihuahuas or cats to pull the sled (yes, cats. Who wouldn't pick that team once just to see what would happen?).

Smilodon, a.k.a. Saber-tooth Cat

 The dinosaurs included interesting information and I got to see a mammoth and saber-toothed cat. There was a special, temporary exhibit looking at the "Largest Dinosaurs on Earth" which had some amazing science and hands-on activities to look at how giant dinosaurs might have lived. It went "beyond the bones" into the science of how animals so large could breathe, eat, move, etc.  Incredible, and well worth going to the museum just for this while its there.  And there was a table where kids got to put on their scientist hat and dig with a little tool kit. Very similar to what we keep trying to figure out how to fund with archaeology.

Be a paleontologist!

I was particularly interested in the geology, Earth sciences, and Gems & Minerals section since that's what we'll be designing next.  Cleveland has the coveted "shake table" we're cutting from our design. It was cool, well done, and the kids I watched really liked it- which means I'm going to have to come up with something interactive that's even better (well, equally cool. You can't really do better than an earthquake simulator) so I'm not disappointed in myself. That eternal challenge of limited funds and limited space!  But I'm working on a few cool possibilities. 

See volcanoes and earthquakes that have 'recently' been active? Those are plates for you

 Last, but by no means least, there was the outdoor Live Animals section.  Who'd expect that in a museum? It was great- otters, foxes, a bobcat, and a very tame coyote who was showing off some of her tricks for a photographer while I was there.  The information on each species included why these particular animals were there.  They made sure to explain that these particular animals were too tame to be set into the wild, but not good pets in general! I thought that was very well done. I can't wait to see the new habitats that are being planned!

Charcoal the Coyote shows off for a photographer

A little female red fox

Otters Linus & Lucy enjoyed a fishy snack and some play

Like any good museum staff, I was both thrilled and insanely jealous to see all of the plans the museum has for its renovations.  Added space! New exhibits! Fancy new animal enclosures! More hands-on interactive for kids and adults! Everything you want to see, they are working on.  I wasn't overly impressed with my first look at Cleveland, now I want to move here and design exhibits for the Natural History Museum.  It combines the personality and warmth of a small museum with the collection scale of a large museum into a wonderful learning experience for kids and adults alike.  I can't wait to come back and see the finished renovations in 2020 (unless they do hire me and I'm back sooner? I'll be watching their website for job openings!)