| September 22, 2002 |
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Wonder Bound
In  centuries past, before the dawn of giant museums and research institutes, individuals studied and wrote about the natural world around them. Wealthy Europeans collected objects and specimens as they traveled the world, and they cataloged their findings in books. Today, the Smithsonian Institution studies these natural history books to compare historical descriptions with modern specimens. This site features images from the historic books and explains why they're still important. You can compare the Smithsonian to museums from the 1700s or view a naturalist's handbook from 1818. Some entrepeneurs even considered collecting specimens as a means to make money. Unfortunately, bug infestations destroyed many early collections, so books and sites such as this are all we have left of the pioneering days of natural history. (in Museums and Exhibits) |
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