Natural History Museum of Jamaica’s state-of-the-art exhibition gallery opened

ON SUNDAY, August 31, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange officially opened the Natural History Museum of Jamaica (NHMJ) Exhibition Gallery, by way of a ribbon-cutting exercise. Construction had started in 2009, and it was completed a few years later.

“The Natural History Museum of Jamaica, with its visionary leadership embodied in the person of Tracy Commock, continues to offer opportunities for our young people, and everyone, to learn about the environment that has shaped our identity as Jamaicans. I am heartened by the renewed interest that this exhibition gallery has generated, particularly in areas such as conservation and sustainable development,” Grange told the gathering.

“Pivotal to the development of this new, state-of-the-art gallery were the efforts of former executive director [of the Institute of Jamaica], Anne Marie Bonner, whose leadership was essential in realising this dream. I also thank the Culture Health Arts Sport and Education Fund and Japan ICooperation A, who provided the bedrock on which this foundation has been laid.”

This exhibition gallery is the museum’s prime facility showcasing the rich diversity of plant and animal life in Jamaica and the impact they have on our heritage. The objectives are to: “deliver a modern, world-class visitor experience; highlight Jamaica’s unique ecosystems through six immersive dioramas; and inspire learning, pride, and environmental stewardship among all visitors”.

It is a permanent space depicting Jamaica’s natural environments. The ‘Geology’ section was designed to look like one of Jamaica’s mystical limestone caves, complete with hints of the hidden life that thrives inside. Here, visitors can view the island’s rocks and minerals up close while learning how Jamaica itself was shaped through powerful evolutionary geological forces.

The ‘Coral Reef’ diorama immerses patrons into the dazzling world of a thriving coral reef, with lifelike 3D models of reef creatures, alongside real marine specimens from the museum’s collection. Visitors are treated also to surprising stories, including how a shark helped to solve a murder mystery.

The ‘Wetlands’ section is modelled after a mangrove wetland. It recreates the quiet beauty of tangled red mangrove roots, and some of the creatures that shelter along the shore. It highlights how wetlands serve as nursery and protector for countless species.

The ‘Dry Limestone’ diorama is modelled after St Catherine’s Hellshire Hills, the largest intact dry limestone forest in the Caribbean. It consists of replicas of hardy plants and unique wildlife that survive in this rugged ecosystem, a rare treasure of Jamaica’s natural heritage.

The forest ‘Canopy’ is alive with the sounds and colours of Jamaica’s bird species. Surrounded by displays of foliage and feathers, visitors experience the vibrant upper world of the wet limestone rainforest, a realm usually viewed only from below.

The ‘Understory’ intends to give patrons an insight of what lies beneath the green canopy of a wet limestone rainforest, where butterflies and other insects, and a variety of plants thrive in the dull light. It’s a close look at the smaller, often-overlooked life of the forest floor.

Outside of the dioramas are other displays. The ‘Foyer’ or waiting area is the first area where patrons are surrounded by a sneak-peek of Jamaica’s biodiversity. Nature-themed art is on display and there is an audiovisual introduction to the museum.

Also on display is a Jamaican giant galliwasp, which was returned to the island on April 24, 2024. This museum specimen, nicknamed ‘Celeste’ by the repatriation team members, has been preserved in alcohol for at least 170 years. It is thought to have been collected in Jamaica in the 1850s. It became part of the Hunterian Museum, University of Glasgow collections in 1888. It will reside in the NHMJ on permanent loan from The University of the West Indies.

Visitors can learn about Jamaica’s deep connections to ganja through plant specimens, by-products, visuals and sounds. The section tells about the history of ganja in Jamaica since its introduction in the 1600s from Eurasia. The legal challenges associated with its usage over the years, medical breakthrough, as well as the milestone of decriminalisation and licence distribution through amendment of the law are also mentioned.

Scheed Cole of 360 Recycle Manufacturing Limited is the sculptor who created the convincing and lifelike pieces from a recycled composite called 360RM. Grant aid also came from the Tourism Enhancement Fund, while Amazing Concrete Finishes installed the exhibition gallery foyer and the gift shop floors.

The project lead is Tracy Commock, director, NHMJ. Her staff includes Leonard Wright, Shemere Lawes, Patricia Parchment, Keron Campbell, Elizabeth Morrison, Leleka Johnson, Kareen Parks-Swaby, Janelle Morris, Tona Rattigan, and Albert Stewart.

Keron Campbell, botanist, says, “A space we are proud of in terms of look and feel that is on par with museums we have all visited overseas. Our visitors and especially the children will be engaged, learn so much and definitely be able to appreciate our ecosystems and biodiversity through the different media which we have used to present this to them.”

“It’s a proud moment to see the official opening of the NHMJ’s renovated exhibition gallery! My hope is that as visitors walk these spaces, they will leave with both wonder and knowledge in equal measure. As they journey through, there is the opportunity to celebrate Jamaica’s natural heritage, embrace its stories, and be inspired to protect it for generations to come,” Eartha Cole, education outreach officer, told The Gleaner.