The Scoop On The American Museum Of Natural History’s Power Of Poison Exhibit

The-Power-of-Poison-AMNH-AMNH-C.-Chesek1 — Rattle Snake Skull from The Power of Poison exhibit at AMNH; photo by C. Chesek

For centuries, poison has played a potent role in everything from nature and medicine to myths and literature. The Power of Poison is a brand new exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History that lets visitors take a deeper look at how poison has been used throughout history in these mediums, for purposes both good and evil.

Entering the exhibit, you’ll weave through the dark, jungle-inspired layout while learning about some of the most dangerous purveyors of poison, like the aggressive wandering spider, the bullet ant, and the eyelash pit viper. Those who are really brave can come face to face with some live golden poisonous frogs (but don’t worry—the ones in the exhibit are harmless!).

Life-sized, three-dimensional displays will transport you to a world of fantasy, with scenes that show the three ill-intentioned witches from Macbeth stirring a cauldron of poison, the Alice In Wonderland Mad Hatter hosting his never-ending tea party, and Snow White slumbering after snacking on the infamous tainted apple. The exhibit even features iconic historical figures that experienced their own bitter brushes with poison, like Emperor Qin and Cleopatra.

To be fair, The Power of Poison also explores how science has allowed the discovery of ways to use poison for benevolent causes. You will learn about a variety of toxic plants that have been used to combat everything from an irregular heartbeat to cancer.

For an even more hands-on experience, make a pit stop at the science lab where a skilled “doctor” will present a whimsical slideshow detailing a real world poisoning case, then use a combination of toxicology and assistance from volunteers to solve it. After that, you will have a chance to solve a few puzzling poison mysteries on your own.

Suitable for all ages, The Power of Poison runs through August 10, 2014. For more information, visit: amnh.org

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