Carnegie Museum of Natural History: The Dioramas!

The first time I encountered a museum quality diorama depicted an three dimensional snapshot of an ecosystem was in 1968 when my grandfather died. In an effort to distract us kids, from the heaviness all around us, we were shuttled off to Washington, D.C. to spend a couple of days with cousins we'd never met before and they took us to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. It was love at first site.

Over the years the charms of those exhibits, now basically, gone have worn off. The Smithsonian has taken to focusing on different aspects of its collection and the mammal dioramas are adequate, but not as amazing as the dinosaurs, and marine life areas of the museum.


So what a delight to discover at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History the halls of North American and African mammals. Not only beautifully and meticulously designed to express the animate essence of the models, they actually at times spill out of their glass enclosures to allow you to step right into their imaginary worlds. Enjoy!