Dinosaurs and Space: My Visit to the American Museum of Natural History
By Shibananda Paul
My trip was to the American Museum of Natural History with my two other friends on April 16. We spent most of our time in the Rose Center for Earth and Space. The architecture of the building looked really modern, and inside, there was a giant sphere that tried to recreate things like the universe, stars, and planets. I liked this part because there was a lot of lighting, which was good for taking pictures. But also, the displays and videos helped me a lot to understand space better. We stood under a huge model of the sun and read about the Big Bang. Also, there were updated pictures of our galaxies. I couldn’t read about the source for my eyesight, but I am pretty sure those were captured by our brand-new James Webb Space Telescope. Downstairs, they also preserve some parts of the satellite telescope. That colorful X-ray vision of galaxies made us think how beautiful our universe is and how little we know. The more we try to understand the universe, the more it doesn’t miss the chance to shock us with its way more beauty.
After that, we went to the dinosaur section. But the thing that made me laugh was when I saw the museum was stopping us from using the elevator because we didn’t pay. We realized the student key was only valid to get in, but did not give access to the elevator, the same as IMAX. But we found the stairs and visited the T. rex skeleton. It was huge and very cool to see in person. I’ve seen pictures before, but standing in front of it made it feel more real. I guess they don’t have all the bones of dinosaurs, but they made up some to get a rough idea of what it should look like in a miniature form underneath every skeleton.
At one point, we got really confused trying to find the exit. We kept walking in circles and ending up in the same spot again and again in front of the deer, which felt like it was laughing at us. With the big crowd around us, it started to get frustrating. We were bumping into people and couldn’t figure out which way to go. But then we turned it into a little game, like a mission to escape. We laughed and said we were playing a “find the gate” quest. Finally, after a few tries, we found the right way out and felt like we solved a puzzle together.
It was hard to stop and read because so many people were trying to take pictures. Still, I had a great time overall, from smooth entry to a clean environment. But one thing we did mistake was going at peak hour and having to push through people, and some sections were overcrowded. I’m glad CUNY students get in for free, and I think everyone should check it out at least once. The museum made me more curious about science and history, and it was a fun way to learn outside of class. And walking out felt like I’d traveled across millions of years in just a few hours.
Overall, the museum visit was a fun and unforgettable experience. I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did, but seeing everything up close made it feel more real than reading about it in books or on an online platform. It reminded me that learning doesn’t only happen in classrooms. Sometimes, just walking around and seeing things with your own eyes can teach you more than a lecture. I’m glad this extra credit gave me the chance to explore something new, and now I actually want to visit the other museums too, not just for points, but because it was honestly worth it.
Pic.1: Taking picture for credit Pic.2: Astronomic parts
Pic.3: Group picture with team
