{"id":97,"date":"2010-10-01T04:25:04","date_gmt":"2010-10-01T04:25:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pim.com"},"modified":"2014-10-16T12:19:58","modified_gmt":"2014-10-16T16:19:58","slug":"milstein-hall-of-ocean-life","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/paulandirmamilsteinfoundation.org\/education-and-youth\/milstein-hall-of-ocean-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Milstein Hall of Ocean Life"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Milstein Hall of Ocean Life<\/h1>\n

American Museum of Natural History<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

When the children of Irma and Paul Milstein were young, their parents \u2013 like so many before them – took them to visit the American Museum of Natural History<\/strong>. The place that held the greatest fascination was the \u201cWhale Room.\u201d By the time the Milstein children grew up and had children of their own, the iconic Whale Room had become a frayed relic. Wanting to recapture the awe of the \u201cWhale Room\u201d for future cohorts of children, Irma Milstein, long-time Board member of the Museum, and her family, spearheaded the refurbishment of that legendary Hall.<\/p>\n

In 2003, the beloved blue whale returned to its perch, suspended high above the 19,000 square foot exhibit floor, its arrival heralded by newspapers across the U.S. The famed 1930s and 1960s dioramas were updated with new background paintings and fiber-optic lighting. Leading-edge technologies produced striking visual effects. New displays were linked to schools via state-of-the-art hardware.<\/p>\n

The great mammal\u2019s spectacularly renovated home was re-born as the Irma and Paul Milstein Family Hall of Ocean Life<\/strong> and, with that event, the venerable \u201cWhale Room\u201d entered the 21st century.<\/p>\n

The Milsteins’ leadership didn’t end with capital improvements. It was followed with hands-on engagement in continuing and new program initiatives. The assets of Milstein Hall of Ocean Life<\/strong> are being leveraged with a series of innovative public and scholarly programs. Among the new uses of the legendary Hall:<\/p>\n