Chocolate Exhibition | American Museum of Natural History

The Chocolate Shop is now closed.

Valentine Candy The American Museum of Natural History has opened The Chocolate Shop in conjunction with its new exhibition, Chocolate, which tells the delicious story of this popular treat, from its humble beginnings two thousand years ago in the tropical rain forests of Central and South America to the present day. On view at the Museum from June 14 through September 7, 2003, Chocolate explores the legends, history, ecology, economics, and enduring allure of this delectable indulgence and features more than 200 objects, including pre-Columbian ceramics and ritual objects, European silver and porcelain chocolate services, 19th- and 20th-century cocoa tins and advertisements, holiday and festival candy molds, botanical specimens, and agricultural tools. Chocolate and its national tour were developed by The Field Museum, Chicago. This project was supported, in part, by the National Science Foundation.

Located on the third floor, adjacent to the Chocolate exhibition, The Chocolate Shop offers a broad selection of merchandise from such vendors as Godiva, SweetBliss, David Burke Gourmet Pops, Scharffen Berger, Seattle Gourmet, MarieBelle, Rocky Mountain Chocolate, Splendid Specialties, Green and Black Organic, Vosges, Astor, Art Coco, Endangered Species, Chocolove, Dagoba, Chocoholics, Long Grove, Sugar Plum, Kencraft, Moonstruck, Beyond the Moon, LunaStele, Kings Cupboard, and One World Projects.

Shoppers can chose from a wide array of unusual items and gifts, from chocolate candy bars to chocolate-scented soaps and votive candles. Martine's Chocolates has created a line of milk chocolate "cards" exclusively for the Museum, featuring dinosaur and animal motifs in white chocolate relief. In addition, free gourmet tastings will take place each weekend either in The Chocolate Shop or in the Chocolate Café, which has been created by Restaurant Associates on the fourth floor.

Merchandise offered in The Chocolate Shop includes:

Vinyl umbrella by Lulu Guiness with scattered candy pattern ($30)
Vinyl tote by Lulu Guiness with scattered candy pattern ($125)
Chocolate dinosaur egg with molded baby dinosaurs inside ($14.95)
Variety of rolled, colorful Chocolat Menier vintage French posters ($19.95)
Rectangular tin tray adorned with Chocolat Menier vintage French poster illustrations ($25)
Milk chocolate 2 x 3½-inch "cards" with animal or dinosaur images in relief designed exclusively for the Museum by Martine's Chocolates (available after July 7) ($12.50)
S'mores in the shape of a dinosaur ($5.95)
Tin in the shape of a crescent moon filled with 8 oz. of delectable chocolates ($19.95)
Three-tier dessert stand with plates embossed with "Thé, Café, et Chocolat" ($125)
Assorted chocolate from chocolatiers Scharffen Berger, Vosges, and MarieBelle ($5.00–$29.95)
Assorted cookbooks and books on chocolate including Chocolate: The Nature of Indulgence by Ruth Lopez ($3.95–$50.00)
Hot chocolate–scented bath salts ($12)
Chocolate Body Shake, a milky bubble bath ($15)
Chocolate-scented soap in the shape of a chocolate bar ($4)
Chocoholic gift pack including Chocolate Body Shake, bar of soap, and lip gelati ($25)
Chocolate incense sticks ($10)
Aunt Sadie's premium chocolate-scented candle in votive tin ($16.95)
VHS cassette of the I Love Lucy episode "Job Switching" featuring the famous candy factory sequence ($11.95)
I Love Lucy wall mount featuring Lucy and Ethel in chef's hats at candy conveyor belt ($29.95)
A variety of chocolate-flavored pasta ($6.95)
Selection of edible chocolate-covered ants and other insects (under $3)
Selection of organic candies in gift packs ($4.95–$19.95)
T-shirt with the Chocolate exhibition logo ($19.95)
Chocolate exhibition jumbo box of assorted chocolates ($14.95)
New York caramel taxi crunch, chocolate covered popcorn ($6.95)
Washable cotton "Chocolate Lovers" apron with truffle design ($30)
Kitchen linens set including all-cotton towel and apron with truffle design ($20)

Museum Shop

The main Museum Shop features architectural details that mirror the Museum's exhibition halls. A dramatic reproduction of a 34-foot rock wall cast from a site in eastern Washington State adorns one wall, a railing shaped like a stegosaur's backbone enhances the Shop's unique staircase, and six fossil casts of pterosaurs soar overhead. The Shop's inventory is as spectacular as its design. Its first level contains a wide array of items for children, including books, videos, toys, and t-shirts. The book balcony, on the Shop's mezzanine level, houses the most comprehensive collection of natural history books in New York City, along with a large selection of CDs and videotapes. The third level, on the Museum's second floor, features a broad selection of merchandise with themes related to human cultures, the natural world, and the universe. Some of the highlights include a wide assortment of crafts from around the world (Africa and Mexico in particular); reproductions of objects in the Museum's collections; a line of scarves, ties, glassware, and jewelry based on the Museum's Rare Book Collection that are either exclusive to the Museum or produced under license for limited distribution; an outstanding selection of objects tied to the Museum's mineral and fossil collections; and an extended line of jewelry based on Museum pieces. Proceeds from purchases support the Museum's educational programs and scientific research.