MILSTEIN HALL OF OCEAN LIFE | American Museum of Natural History

The Milstein Hall of Ocean Life. © Denis Finnin / AMNH

The Milstein Hall of Ocean Life at the American Museum of Natural History, one of New York's best-known grand spaces and home to the celebrated 94-foot-long model of a blue whale, reopened to the public on Saturday, May 17, 2003. The Hall's classic lines and visually arresting elegance have been restored and reinvigorated with cutting-edge exhibition technology and the latest scientific research on the mysteries of our vast water planet, of which only 5 percent of the deep ocean has been explored. The 29,000-square-foot Hall has been transformed into a fully immersive marine environment with high-definition video projections, interactive computer stations, hands-on models, 14 renovated classic dioramas, and eight new ocean ecosystem displays that transport visitors from the rainbow-hued profusion of life in the Indo-Pacific coral reefs to the flickering bioluminescence of fishes in the eerie darkness of the deep sea. The new Milstein Hall of Ocean Life highlights as never before the drama of the undersea world and its diverse and complex web of vertebrate, invertebrate, and plant life.

The monumental model of a blue whale, one of the most beloved icons in New York City, resculpted and repainted to more accurately reflect the look of blue whales at sea, now serves as ambassador to the open ocean—the largest habitable space on Earth, covering almost two-thirds of the planet. The Hall's original skylights have been retrofitted with a shimmering blue light effect, which, combined with an undersea soundscape, creates the illusion of the whale floating in a "virtual ocean"—from its sun-dappled surface waters through its darkest depths. The Hall is now home to models of more than 750 sea creatures, 80 percent of which (or about 600) are newly fabricated models, ranging from tiny green bubble algae to a 14-foot-long whale shark to computerized glowing jellyfishes.

"When visitors step into the rejuvenated Milstein Family Hall of Ocean Life they are immediately confronted by the vitality, the immensity, and the mystery of the seas, and through a unique marriage of leading-edge 21st-century technology and classic diorama artistry, they come to an understanding of the critical importance of the oceans to all life on Earth," said Ellen V. Futter, President of the American Museum of Natural History. "This hall will serve to broaden the public's interest in the oceans, just as the Rose Center for Earth and Space has expanded interest in the universe. This spectacular renovation enables visitors to the Museum to explore the great frontier of the ocean depths just as they have explored outer space and the inner workings of the Earth in the Rose Center, taking journeys along the way through the planet's diverse ecosystems and visiting the world's rich variety of cultures. We are proud to name the new Hall of Ocean Life in honor of the Museum's great benefactors, Irma and Paul Milstein, and also to thank the City of New York—the Office of the Mayor, the New York City Council, the Department of Cultural Affairs—and the Borough President of Manhattan for their crucial support."

The 2½-year renovation of the Hall began long before the Hall closed to the public in January 2002 with the restoration of several dioramas on the lower level. The renovation blends the classic artistry of the Hall's original dioramas with a range of modern, high-tech exhibitry to guide visitors from the origin of life in the ancient oceans 3.5 billion years ago to the latest research on the breeding habits of humpback whales.

"For years this wonderful Hall has educated millions of schoolchildren in New York City and beyond about the importance of oceans," said Irma Milstein. "We are thrilled that we have been able to help with this marvelous renovation, and that future generations will continue to appreciate the beauty of the sea and to understand the critical role that water plays on our planet."

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said, "The wonderful restoration of the Hall of Ocean Life is the latest example of the great things we can build and achieve through public-private partnerships. I invite all New Yorkers to visit this impressive sight at the American Museum of Natural History and enjoy its exhibits that so masterfully capture the beauty of nature."

"On behalf of my colleagues in the City Council, I am delighted to have played a role in the beautiful restoration of the Milstein Family Hall of Ocean Life," said Gifford Miller, Speaker of the New York City Council. "Visiting the Hall of Ocean Life—with its signature blue whale—is a formative memory for New Yorkers and visitors to our City alike. I am delighted that the Council could help ensure that the Hall of Ocean Life will delight future generations."

Swiss Re Global Head of Communications Walter Anderau noted, "The video wall sponsorship emphasizes the paramount importance Swiss Re places on supporting the communities it serves. Incorporating sustainable development, through contributions, active participation and programs, is an integral part of our management practice."

Renovated Hall Features New and Refurbished Exhibits Informed by Latest Science
Michael J. Novacek, Provost, Senior Vice President, and Curator in the Division of Paleontology, noted, "The American Museum of Natural History has always championed science and research, and the Milstein Family Hall of Ocean Life continues this tradition. What visitors see is the product of vital cross-disciplinary collaboration and years of research and exploration. Curators from the Museum's divisions of Paleontology and Vertebrate and Invertebrate Zoology have worked together to create a hall that reflects both the ocean's great evolutionary story and the state of its currently endangered ecosystems."

"A vast abundance and staggering diversity of life are to be found in the ocean," said Museum ichthyologist and the Hall's lead curator, Melanie L. J. Stiassny, Axelrod Research Curator in the Museum's Division of Vertebrate Zoology. "The ocean is a source of vital biological resources and it is also the motor of all life-sustaining processes. Without it the rivers would cease to flow, lakes would dry up, and desert would engulf the land. No matter where on Earth you may live, your life, and all life around you, depends absolutely on the oceans."

Highlights of the renovated Milstein Family Hall of Ocean Life include:

The Hall's blue whale under construction. © Denis Finnin / AMNH

Nip-and-tuck "cosmetic surgery" on the 94-foot-long blue whale model brings a new look to an old friend. The whale's new, more accurate look—eyes that no longer bulge and a tail that is more tapered and svelte—reflects discoveries about blue whales made since the model was installed in 1969. Sculptors have shaved down the whale's bulging eye sockets, trimmed the tail, corrected the blowhole with a protective lip around it, added a navel, and applied more than 25 gallons of fresh paint—a mixture of cobalt and cerulean blue. The 21,000-pound blue whale model, based on a female found in 1925, is sculpted in fiberglass and polyurethane. It is the largest model of the largest creature that has ever lived on Earth. However, as big as these animals are, we still know remarkably little about how blue whales live because these rare and elusive animals spend most of their time below the surface and migrate to remote waters.
Renovation and restoration brings new life to 14 classic dioramas on the lower level, including the popular depictions of elephant seals on Mexico's Guadalupe Island, a pod of leaping dolphins depicted off the coast of California, now joined by a school of tuna and several seabirds, and northern sea lions in Alaska's Pribiloff Islands. All the dioramas have been cleaned and enhanced with new lighting, new exhibit text reflecting the latest science, and in some cases, new background paintings and new models added to illustrate compelling stories of ocean life. For example, in the Dolphin and Tuna diorama, schools of tuna, bait fish, flying fish, and seabirds have joined the short-beaked common dolphins to re-create the energy of a typical multi-species feeding frenzy in the East Pacific waters and to demonstrate the interdependence of species within marine ecosystems. Also, hands-on bronze models now accompany many dioramas to help illustrate certain scientific points. Near the Andros Coral Reef diorama, a touchable model of a coral polyp enlarged 30 times its actual size gives visitors the opportunity to examine up close the delicate creatures that create massive coral reefs.
The two-story Andros Coral Reef diorama has been completely overhauled. Located on the west end of the hall, this diorama, depicting the thriving sea life around the coral reef, was originally completed in 1935. After a thorough cleaning and the installation of new fiber optic lighting, the diorama's vibrant original colors and detail are now revealed. A short video presentation features archival film footage from the Museum's 1920s expeditions to the Andros reef of The Bahamas, coupled with new video showing current research being conducted by Museum scientists in the same location. In addition, the mezzanine-level depiction of life above the Andros coral reef, hidden from public view for the last 30 years, has been uncovered and restored, including the background painting of the Bahamian sea and sky by noted artist Francis Lee Jaques. The painting presents a vista of islands with waving palm trees, a quiet lagoon, and a tropical sky dotted with towering rain clouds. Text panels on the mezzanine level of the diorama highlight the ways in which the land and ocean interact to determine climate and life in this part of the world.

New exhibits and habitat displays continue on the Hall's mezzanine level:

Two new "Tree of Life" wall displays flanking the main entrance to the hall highlight the extraordinary diversity of marine life. These displays expand upon the "Spectrum of Life" exhibit found in the adjoining Hall of Biodiversity, which shows how all life is interconnected through an intricate web of evolutionary relationships. Such relationships are determined through a method of scientific analysis called cladistics, which the American Museum of Natural History helped pioneer and is still advancing today. One wall depicts a profusion of marine plant and invertebrate life; the other displays marine vertebrates including sharks, bony fishes, and lobefin fishes and their relatives, the tetrapods (the limbed animals including birds and mammals). On each wall, an array of more than 80 models covers everything from microscopic marine plants (enlarged many times their normal size) to a blue shark to a scuba diver. Interactive computer stations provide details about the lives and evolutionary kinship of these organisms and their "place" in the ocean.
Two "Life in Water" displays explore the unique challenges of life in the aquatic realm, introducing visitors to the intriguing biological adaptations (features, behaviors, and physiology) necessary for living in the dense viscous medium of water. Text panels, diagrams, models, and video and animation sequences reveal the amazing adaptations seen in a selection of marine vertebrates and invertebrates, which are perfectly suited for underwater locomotion, respiration, feeding, and reproduction.
Eight new ocean ecosystems on the mezzanine level, accompanied by high-definition video projections, have been created to showcase the extraordinary diversity of marine habitats. The displays present a "porthole" on key ocean environments inside which many of the Museum's historical models "float" alongside newly fabricated creations. The displays are nestled within the newly restored arches and supportive piers on the mezzanine level, re-creating the original Hall's architectural rhythm. Video screens mounted in the upper half of each arch feature high-definition images of each marine ecosystem, many shot exclusively for the Hall by award-winning underwater photographer Norbert Wu, from frigid Antarctic waters to the Great Barrier Reef along the coast of Australia to the dark abyss of the Pacific. The eight new ocean ecosystem displays are:

Coral Reefs: A brilliant assemblage of coral includes the colorful creatures that make their home in and around these undersea paradises.
Kelp Forests: Giant kelp depicted in three sections from the holdfast on the sea floor to the kelp canopy floating at the surface. Also, a depiction of the rocky shores of New England features the abundant life found near tide pools.
Polar Seas: Undersea stalactites of ice extend down from the frozen surface of Antarctic waters to the sea floor where an unexpected diversity of life thrives in these frigid waters.
Mangrove Forests: A red mangrove tree (including roots, trunk, and canopy) provides a home to fish, crabs, and migrating birds. Also, a seagrass bed features models of animals such as sea turtles, queen conch, and resident conchfish.
Estuaries: A series of wharf pilings, colorfully encrusted with barnacles, sea lettuce, and anemones, modeled after ones found in the Hudson River are used to highlight the estuarine ecosystems of the world where ocean-going fish mix with freshwater species.
Continental Shelf: The sloping edge of continental land masses become undersea terraces, the "bread baskets" of the ocean, featuring large schools of fish and invertebrates.
Sea Floor: Undersea areas once thought to be inhospitable teem with life, including a hydrothermal vent system featuring a brilliant colony of tube worms and a set of whale bones colonized by mussels, crabs, snails, and bacteria. The variety of bizarre life forms that make their home on the deep sea floor demonstrates that sunlight is not essential to all life.
Deep Sea: Large schools of bioluminescent fish, glowing jellies, and other gossamer creatures engaged in daily vertical migration from the ocean depths to the surface waters flicker and flash in the dark abyss.

An exhibit highlighting the evolution of life in the ancient oceans features three of the Museum's luminous historical dioramas built in the 1960s using wax models to depict the diversity of ocean life in the Ordovician, Permian, and Cretaceous periods (from 450 to 70 million years ago). Also featured is a spectacular sea floor slab from the late Jurassic Period, containing the fossilized remains of an ancient ancestor of modern horseshoe crabs and the tracks of its last journey before it died 150 million years ago. Panels showcase several fossil specimens, including a trilobite, brachiopod, and ammonite. All of them were once the dominant forms of undersea life, and all are now extinct or relegated to marginal habitats. Also on display is one of the earliest signs of the earliest life on Earth, a stromatolite formed by cyanobacteria.

New Technologies Present Mysteries of the Sea
The Ocean Wall, a large-screen, high-tech video orientation on ocean ecosystems, transports visitors further into the heart of the ocean realm. High-definition video footage of undersea life, animations, graphics, and an evocative soundtrack are presented on an 18' x 8' video screen. The Ocean Wall, one of the Hall's many new elements designed to transform the space into an immersive experience, shows a six-minute video featuring animations that explain how the oceans were formed followed by a montage of video showing marine life worldwide shot by top underwater cinematographers, as well as information about human interaction with oceans. Between showings of this video, the Ocean Wall features closeup images of whales, dolphins, and seabirds, with accompanying ambient sound. Through the use of compelling imagery and text, the video conveys the extent of biodiversity on our water planet and the ways that humans depend upon ocean resources. The Ocean Wall is generously funded by Swiss Re.

Hall Restoration Reflects Museum's Current Marine Research
The Milstein Family Hall of Ocean Life will educate the public about current research into the beauty and mystery of our ocean planet. This information expands on themes developed in other permanent exhibition halls at the Museum, such as the oceans' impact on shaping weather patterns and climate, and humankind's threat to the health of the oceans, topics explored in the David S. and Ruth L. Gottesman Hall of Planet Earth in the Rose Center for Earth and Space, and in the Hall of Biodiversity. Displays also explain how a variety of creatures flourishes in areas of the ocean once thought to be inhospitable to life, a topic explored in the new Space Show in the Rose Center for Earth and Space, The Search for Life: Are We Alone?, narrated by Harrison Ford.

Much of the Museum's outstanding original marine research is being spearheaded by the Museum's Center for Biodiversity and Conservation (CBC), founded in 1993. The CBC's work includes a Madagascar-based project, led by Howard Rosenbaum, that is using remote sensing and geographic information systems analysis to track humpback whales in one of their major breeding grounds in the Southern Hemisphere. Research led by the CBC, in conjunction with the Wildlife Conservation Society, has resulted in passage of the first law governing "ecotourism" and whale watching in the Malagasy waters off the east coast of Africa.

CBC scientists, under the leadership of Daniel Brumbaugh, are also conducting research on the world's third-largest barrier reef, near the Bahamian island of Andros, where the local government recently initiated one of the world's first reserve networks to protect tropical marine ecosystems. This project seeks to develop conservation management strategies based on what scientists learn about the physical, biological, and cultural processes affecting barrier-reef populations. It also continues a Museum connection to Andros that extends back to the 1920s when Roy Waldo Miner, at the time curator of living invertebrates, led several expeditions to the island to create the Hall's famous two-story Andros Coral Reef diorama.