I don't know anything about a previous/old ocean hall, but I do know why they built the replica of the Right Whale that is currently exhibited. The SI's website provides great information about it: http://ocean.si.edu/ocean_hall/whale_model.html and this educator booklet is 16 pages focused completely on the whale: http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/whale/smithsonian_siyc_fall08.pdf Good luck with your search, Melissa Kipp Science Museum of Long Island On Sat, Aug 1, 2009 at 9:09 AM, Deb Fuller <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Hi all, > > I have a random question - in the National Museum of Natural History's > old ocean hall, they had a life-sized replica of a blue whale. There > was a story behind it, something like there was a real whale there at > one time but it shrank as it dried out and the replica was made. I > always loved that replica. In the new hall, there's a replica of a > North Atlantic whale instead. > > Does anyone know why the switch was made? > > Deb Fuller > > ========================================================= > Important Subscriber Information: > > The Museum-L FAQ file is located at > http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed > information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message > to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read > "help" (without the quotes). > > If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to > [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read > "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes). > ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).