Episode 1 of 3

Advocacy and Petition

When: 1868-12
Where: New York
Part of: Founding of the American Museum of Natural History

Albert Bickmore advocated for a natural history museum in New York, leading to a petition by prominent citizens in December 1868.

Bickmore devised the idea in 1861, arguing New York was the best location for a national museum. After Barnum's American Museum burned in 1868, calls for a new museum increased. Eighteen prominent New Yorkers wrote to the Central Park Commission in December 1868, requesting the creation of a natural history museum.

Sources

American Museum of Natural History Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-25

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