Joel A. Bartsch, president and CEO of the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS), has dedicated decades to curating and expanding one of the most renowned museums in the United States. With a background in Earth sciences and museum curation, Bartsch has worked across multiple institutions, including the Lyman House Memorial Museum in Hawaii and the California State Mining & Mineral Museum.
photo credit: Agsftw / Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0
Since rejoining HMNS in 1991 and assuming leadership in 2004, he has overseen significant enhancements to its permanent and special exhibits, ensuring a dynamic and educational experience for millions of visitors annually.
The Permanent Exhibitions in the Houston Museum of Natural Science
With an average attenance of over 2 million people every year, the Houston Museum of Natural Science is one of the most popular museums in the United States. It was established in 1909 by the Houston Museum and Scientific Society. This organization aimed to provide a free institution for residents of Houston interested in education and science.
Although the museum’s popularity is due to its large amount of special exhibits, the museum possesses permanent exhibits that inspire and facilitate creative thoughts; one such exhibit is the Cabinet of Curiosity.
The Cabinet of Curiosity is a permanent exhibition that captures the essence of a museum. The collections of the exhibit first gained popularity in the renaissance, with its popularity reaching its peak in the Victorian era. Artificial and extraordinary items were collected and displayed in cabinets with multiple compartments, serving as a reflection of the desire of man to find their place in the larger context of nature. The evolution of the collection gave it more importance which made it acquired by noblemen, gentlemen, and royalty.
The Cullen Hall of Gems and mineral permanent exhibit houses over 450 extraordinary mineral specimens, including an emerald crystal weighing over 2000 carat. The exhibit was an early addition to the museum by John Milsaps, a devoted collector of minerals and fossils. In 1995, the museum made acquisitions from the Ed and Ann David Collection in New Jersey and another from Spain. This elevated the museum’s exhibit to prominence.
The Halls of Ancient Egypt exhibit provides visitors of the museum the opportunity to convey the aspects of Egyptian life. It captures the role of the Nile River and other elements of ancient Egypt. It shows the fashion and sophistication through the artifacts like jewelry, tools, and weapons. The exhibit also displays the death and religion of ancient Egyptians, focusing on striving for the afterlife. The exhibition’s final section shows coffins, decorated Sarcophagi, and preserved human mummies from the Old Kingdom. The recent renovation of the exhibit led to an increase in the square foot space to 12,500. It houses 92 cases of artifacts and objects.
The John P. McGovern Hall of Fame is a permanent exhibit celebrating the indigenous people of America for their outstanding diversity and stunning accomplishments and continues the rich and cultural traditions. The artworks include ceramic, feathers, and beadworks and cover topics like hunting in the arctic.
The Farish Hall of Texas Wildlife is a permanent exhibit on the museum’s second floor. The diorama displays have been since the museum’s inception. There are over 425 specimens that represent over 250 spies on display; more than 20 percent of these species are under threat. The museum serves as a monument to history and showcases diversity.
The recently renovated George W. Strake Hall of Malacology focuses on the study of malacology and the conversation of the oceans. Malacology studies invertebrates called mollusks; these creatures possess unsegmented bodies with over 100,000 different species ranging from tiny snails to 60 feet long squid. These invertebrates are crucial to the marine environment and are a food source for most.
The focus of the Hall is on the territory of mollusks and their role in the ocean’s ecosystem.
