The Gilder Center embodies the Museum’s mission of science and education in every way—from sparking curiosity and wonder through new exhibits in strikingly designed spaces to providing new research and educational facilities that are situated in close proximity, reinforcing the central role of natural history collections in scientific discovery. The new building also enhances the visitor experience by establishing continuous pathways through the Museum’s four-block campus, connecting buildings that were constructed over the course of nearly 150 years. In the words of Ellen Futter, President Emerita of the AMNH, the Gilder Center “fulfills a critical need at a critical time: to help visitors to understand the natural world more deeply, to appreciate that all life is interdependent, to trust science, and to be inspired to protect our precious planet and its myriad life forms. This opening represents a milestone moment for the Museum in its ongoing efforts to improve science literacy while highlighting for our visitors everything the Museum has to offer.” NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo has called the project “one of the greatest examples of what a long-term partnership between cultural institutions and the local community can be.
