>Hello Museum-L folks - I am new on the list and have been enjoying it
>very much. Since people are asking for advice on what to visit, I
>thought I would add a more specific question. I am going to be in
>Amherst for the first time next week. I won't have a car, so I would
>have to take the train or a bus or something, but what is interesting to
>visit in the Amherst area? I have information about the Mead Art Musuem
>and the Emily Dickinson House, but is there anything else? Thanks very
>much!Ann P. Wagner
>
>Curatorial Assistant, Prints and Drawings, NPG, Smithsonian
>Institution Internet [log in to unmask]
>tel (202)357-1356 fax (202)786-2565


Hello Ann~

Now you're in my territory. In addition to the Dickinson Homestead and the
Mead Art Museum on the Amherst College campus, there is the Pratt Museum of
Natural History. This is a gem of a museum for a campus of this size. The
collections span 150+ years of scientific research at Amherst and today
number about 80,000 specimens in 8 different collections. Strongest is
Vertebrate Paleontology (3rd best in New England) and, in particular, the
oldest and largest dinosaur track collection in the world from the early
Jurassic deposits of the Connecticut Valley. This research collection is
open only to groups by appointmnet, however, there are enough exhibits in
the Museum's 15,000 sq ft of exhibit halls to keep you busy.  Topics
include evolution of vertebrates (incl. humans), geologic history and
processes, paleoecology, minerals, invertebrates, and paleobotany.

Hours until Labor Day Sat. 10-4; Sun. 12-5. After Labor Day add on weekdays
9-3:30.

Our web site is up & running, though exhibit info. won't go on for another
month:
http://www.amherst.edu/~pratt/

Enjoy. . .

Linda Thomas

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