La Grande Galerie de l'Evolution

[kerouac]

I prefer to leave coverage of the main tourist attractions to the tourists, because they do a fantastic job of seeking out new angles and look upon these places with a wonderment that I have mostly lost. I pretty much see the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe or Sacré Coeur each and every day (at least from a distance), so they have been transformed into fixtures for me rather than sources of fascination.

It isn't the same with places I rarely go, and as a non-parent, the Grande Galerie de l'Evolution is one of them. It is a must for anyone with children in France as well as being one of the most obligatory treks imaginable for school groups. I think I went the last time maybe about 8 years ago, so I felt I was due for a return visit, even more so because my ticket for the botanical hothouses entitled me to a discount for any other sites of the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle.

Even if the building were empty, it would still be fantastic. I was able to see the inside more or less in ruins in the early 1990's. It had been closed since 1966 because it was falling apart due to war damage that had never been repaired. President Mitterrand decided to take action in 1991 and for one brief weekend, there was an incredible sound and light show. People could enter and stand on one of the side galleries while colored spotlights animated the dusty animals with jungle noises and windows would light up as the history of the museum was told. (Only the French...)

Then the whole place was closed up for a complete renovation. It reopened in 1994. The entrance is on the left side of the building now.

There is no "intelligent design" in this place -- It is 100% evolution, all to the glory of Mendel and Darwin.

The ground level is devoted mostly to sea creatures -- whale skeletons and naturalized fish.

I'm sorry, but I'm as thrilled as a little kid in such places, although I am even more thrilled when I am able to go when it isn't full of little kids.

Sea animals are fine, but I am always impatient to get to the fluffy, furry stuff.

The next level up is where you start getting down to business.

I'm afraid they can't claim that no animals were harmed in the creation of this museum. But they don't seem to hold it against us.

The MNHN has the largest collection of insects in the world --> more than 100 million specimens . 15 million are still waiting to be fully studied. I remember going to a special exhibition many years ago which displayed insects. Wow, you really had to squint to see a lot them. I remember learning that fleas are among the only serial rapists of the animal world. Those poor lady fleas!

Anyway, in the Grande Galerie, there are a few insect interludes, but generally creatures big enough for you to appreciate.

I went up another level. It's impossible not to keep looking at the African parade as you ascend.

Other animals are always awaiting you in any case.

But I knew that what I wanted to see again at the next level was a side gallery that had impressed me immensely in the past -- the gallery of extinct and nearly extinct animals.

The dodo greets you at the entrance. It is perhaps the most cruelly exterminated animal in history, and it was done so fast that there is not even a single stuffed example preserved. The gallery can only present a plaster cast, made from a dead dodo hundreds of years ago.

The gallery of extinction is somber and dark (yes, I know that is a bit redundant, but there is a slight nuance), so you'll have to excuse the quality of the photos. Digital cameras work miracles in dark places where you can't use a flash, but they are only partial miracles.

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Oh well, maybe the animals had better luck on other planets.

I exited and continued to wander around. This was not really a scientific visit for me, just visual. Yes, I am often a superficial person.

If anybody goes with science in mind, I can assure you that there are a million audiovisual displays, information cards, presentation of the evolution of pollution and many other things. I can't really compare with the natural history museums of most other countries, but I'm pretty sure that this one ranks among the best.

For people who want to see something else in the neighbourhood as well, I will point out that it is right next door to the Paris mosque (on the left).

Anybody interested in the rest of the Jardin des Plantes can check out this other thread that I made: anyportinastorm.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=paris&action=display&thread=3931&page=1

[Jody]

Thank you so much for the posting! I'm puttng it on my list for spring. We've been tot he Jardin des plantes but I guess this was closed when we were there as it's been several years now.
Again many thanks and an exalt!

[denise]

:)Wow! how have I missed this?.....perfect for a January afternoon followed by mint tea and cakes in the Mosque.

Thanks Kerouac.

Denise
Love from England

[geordy]

Went a few trips back when we were staying near by....yes...a delightful building and exhibitions! My ex boss' Maman's spiders were on display!

[mez]

Nov 6, 2010 12:03:45 GMT -5 kerouac said:

I pretty much see the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe or Sacré Coeur each and every day (at least from a distance), so they have been transformed into fixtures for me rather than sources of fascination.

This statement made me smile. I feel the same way about the Harbour Bridge (on which I travel for my daily commute) and the Sydney Opera House. I must say that sometimes spending time with wide-eyed tourists does make me stop to appreciate the sites I take for granted.

Your post is fabulous. I rarely visit natural history museums - not really my thing - but I did enjoy the visual trip.

Thanks,
Mez.

[Darcy]

Thank you, this was wonderful! I was wondering as I was looking at all the beautiful animals if they had, at one time, been alive or if they were manmade recreations.

Have you been to the mosque since the renovations have been completed? I'm sure the courtyard tiles, water features, etc., must be beautiful now. For anyone who hasn't been, the restaurant as well as the tea room, which Denise mentioned, has a very nice lunch menu.

Maybe kerouac will give us a photo essay on the mosque.

[sunshine817]

I'm fairly convinced I could drop DS there with a few euros for lunch and leave him there the rest of the day -- he absolutely loves the place, and would be perfectly content spending the day wandering from display to display, and wouldn't stop for lunch until he fell over! I wouldn't have to go back to collect him until closing time, at which point I'm sure I'd need two guards to drag him to the exit.

Some of the cards include the story of the animal - including a rhino that was part of the menagerie of Louis XVI. (!!!)

[phread]

I pretty much see the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe or Sacré Coeur each and every day (at least from a distance), so they have been transformed into fixtures for me rather than sources of fascination.


This statement surprised me. I have Parisian friends who have lived here their entire lives and never tire of seeing the sights. I have an ET view from my litchen (which means I see it alot, since I work mostly from home) and I never tire of it. Never tired of the Golden Gate when I lived in SF, either. I think its just a state of mind.....

[kerouac]

There are certain sights which I continue to find breathtaking... like driving along the voie Georges Pompidou at night, or crossing any of the bridges on foot in central Paris at sunset. Actually, of the other three I mentioned, I must admit that Sacré Coeur can still impress me sometimes -- such as the view of it from metro Rome glowing in the sun. And when returning from CDG after a trip -- seeing Sacré Coeur as the RER approaches Paris tells me that I am home.