Visiting Senckenberg Natural History Museum in Frankfurt brought back plenty of childhood memories, of being 10 years old and going on educational tours with my family. I remember waking up at dawn and boarding these big busses to Manila with 200 other children, being queasy and terribly car sick along the way and quickly forgetting the discomfort once I lay my eyes on butterflies, gardens, science exhibits, or what have you that we were seeing that day. I was filled with wonder in this way that only a child could experience.
Now all grown up, seeing the exhibits at Senckenberg first washed me with sadness, followed by curiosity and lots of questions.
How could we lose so much biodiversity in so little time? How did we not see the value of these animals, their right to life? Why did we let it come down to this, where they only exist in closed display cabinets? What kind of people do we have to be to see beautiful creatures and immediately want to put it on a cage, pin it on paper, or use it as a rug? What will it take for us to do better and realize life takes many forms and we are not the only one?
Some exhibits were downright difficult for me. I look at the climate change gallery, the fossils of mammoths, or the installations on plastic pollution and all I could think about is, “I’m so sorry.”
Not everything is gloom, of course. I loved the colorful sea shells and coral reefs that brought more memories of being a child walking with my parents along the coast carpeted by sea shells, learning more about sea turtles and their evolution, and my favorite gallery, the deep sea.
It has always been a fascination. It is dark and cold, desolate with crushing pressure, yet life finds a way, not just to survive but thrive.
My favorite bit of science trivia is learning the name of the bioluminiscent molecule and how it works: luciferin. It is a naturally luminous substance that when oxidized by an enzyme called luciferase, creates a chemical excitation that makes luciferin molecules glow.
Animals with specialized light organs then light up in the middle of this darkness, or symbiotic bacteria help them do so. Isn’t that the coolest thing? There will always be light.
We spent a good three hours wandering around the museum and I suppose I am glad to see waves of loud children roaming about this place, too. It belongs to them, as it should. They are excited, impressed, and just in awe of everything they see. I hope they will do better.
Markus + Micah 
Stunning photos – it’s been so long since I’ve visited a museum. I love how you took us along with you!
And this – “Some exhibits were downright difficult for me. I look at the climate change gallery, the fossils of mammoths, or the installations on plastic pollution and all I could think about is, “I’m so sorry.” It’s such a painful thought sad to imagine how much of life we’ve failed to see because we were too ignorant.
LikeLike
What a beautiful museum! I share your thoughts about how it’s much harder as an adult to not see things. We have the context the children don’t and we see how much has changed in our lifetime. It’s hard to face the reality of how broken things have become.
LikeLike
I agree, and I just really hope we all can do our part in making things better. Sometimes I feel helpless, but this is not true. Even in small ways, I know there is something I can do, for example with the sea turtles or just being more plastic-conscious. I feel like it will help if everyone finds the empowerment and belief that even the small things we do matter, because ultimately they do, and it is better than just despairing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I absolutely agree. Small things matter and we have to try.
LikeLike
Ah! the exhilaration & the grief of such wonderful spaces – I love Natural History Museums too (I always look for the Dodo Bird). I hope the children do better too, given the mess we are leaving them.
LikeLike
Why do you always look for the dodo? I saw a video on PBS about what doomed the dodo. And yes, I feel lile they really do not have any choice but to do better if the planet is to remain functional. Lately, I have been seeing lots of green innovations from The Netherlands and it gives me hope.
LikeLike
I fell in love with the Dodo at my very first Natural History Museum in London (and maybe because of Alice in Wonderland). I was both enamoured and saddened by the plight of this strange looking bird.
LikeLike
I forgot the Dodo after you mentioned Alice in Wonderland. That is my favorite book ever and I love it that you love it, too!
LikeLike
The children and I have played with and around the Lewis Carrol books and the movies that have grown out of them so often through the years. The imagery and allegory is also very enticing. So happy to meet a fellow Alice.
LikeLike
What did you think of the last Tim Burton adaptations?
LikeLike
I am not a huge fan of Tim Burton – he is a little too scary for me (I know, I know). But I do love Johnny Depp (and they do collaborate so much!) so I did enjoy it. I love Alice in this adaptation as well. I’m not sure how I feel about the hinted at romance between Alice & the Mad Hatter: it was at once “awwwww” and “huh?!!!”
LikeLike
Natural history museums are fabulous and SNHM seems to be one that is too. I like that our museum here is fully interactive so kids (and adults) get to engage with many of the exhibits. Here is a photo of Linda and a dinosaur at Boola Bardip 😂
https://share.icloud.com/photos/030h5cmxnVJr1yKcgG6E9Y_Iw
LikeLike
Oh, thanks for sharing, I really appreciate that! I noticed that Markus noticed everything that can be touched in the museum, which highlights the impact of interactive exhibits. I can really see how the experience changes if you can really immerse yourself in it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure. I was always fascinated by the static displays as a kid, but the interactive approach to displays these days is fantastic.
We have been quite successful here in bringing back a number of species from the brink of disappearing forever such as the Grass Wren and even some that were thought to have disappeared altogether such as the Western Swamp Tortoise (which I have seen crossing the road where I am at the moment).
LikeLike
This makes me so happy! There is hope. I wish we can do the same for the sea turtles.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is absolutely much hope, Micah. The secret to success is perseverance, which is what you are doing with the sea turtles.
LikeLike
Yes! It is so sad to know that so many of the creatures are no longer with us! (Was that turtle really as big as your photo suggests?) Sad but also good that it is documented;, how can we have any thoughts or make judgements about the past if they are not documented? Cancelling the past is not the way forward. PS. I learned the other day that fish make music! Fascinating!
LikeLike
That is the best way of putting it, you are right. We have to know, we have to face the facts, and learn. Thank you for the perspective. And yes, it is that huge. It was so fun to learn more about sea turtles and see the bones – the carapace and plastron are so cool. Fish make music as in sing? Tell me more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will try…but I only caught a few minutes of the programme (I shall do a search of the catch up tv). Apparently when coral reef gives birth to new coral the babies are carried off on the currents only dropping down to the sea floor when they ‘hear’ fish ‘voices’. If the fish are there near the sea floor then that is where new coral should plant itself. Sorry, this is not very technical or scientific but it’s how I remember it. I’ll keep you posted if I find the programme. 🐟🐠🐡🤿
LikeLike
That sounds so amazing. Will watch the link you sent and learn more. I have been thinking about planting corals actually – when I was a child, there are plenty near us and people sell the corals to tourists. Of course, now we have no idea where the reefs are or if they still exist, but we have sea turtles so they must be there somewhere?
LikeLike
Okay, here’s some more information. I was watching a BBC programme called Our Changing Planet and the commentator Steve Backshall was speaking to Marine Biologist Prof. Steve Simpson. I’m not sure if you can find that tv prog. but here is the professor talking on YouTube, it’s sound only. Enjoy!
https://youtu.be/fZIffZ9oRxw
LikeLike
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001l5ms/our-changing-planet-series-2-episode-1
LikeLike
Thank you! I will look for a platform with the Changing Planet. Apparently BBC only plays this link if you are in the UK.
LikeLike
If you manage to find the BBC prog there are other stories there too but the singing fish is early on. Good luck 🤞
LikeLike
Last such museum I went to was the Smithsonian I believe. Now, I was wondering why “sadness”.
I understand. Though mine might have different foundations. I spent my childhood in Africa, west and east. I still have many photos and films… And those do fill me with sadness. I saw huge herds of elephants, rhinos, what have you. Only a handful survive…
Sad indeed.
LikeLike
It must be a very moving experience, going through your photos and films, and it always is, every time I see small snippets on your blog. So much loss. Hopefully, awareness of that helps us do better. I really hope so.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s always interesting, though I know most of the material by heart. I digitalized all my parents pictures a few years back… For the 8mm movies the technical challenge is much stronger. But then the result is worth the work. I’m sure my parents would like it. It also serves to show my daughters and grandchildren part of “their” history…
Take care…
LikeLike
I love what you are doing. In a way, it is both connecting with the past and the future. I agree, it is worth the work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. It is very true. I feel like I’m preserving moments that were… “true” to me, that is I lived them, or my parents did. Now they’re testimonials. I have a Singapore 1957 movie which I will share one of these days. I’ve been to Singapore recently. The contrast is amazing…
Cheers.
LikeLike
Looks like a wonderful museum!
I remember seeing a display at the Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto a few years ago. It was a canoe filled to overflowing with 12,000 plastic water bottles representing the number of bottles used every 4 minutes in Ontario. It was pretty powerful. You can see pictures of it here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ripleys-aquarium-plastic-bottle-pollution-art-1.4877416
LikeLike
Thanks for the link, Michelle. It is very hard to see, which I why I suspect many of us choose not to see and simply occupy ourselves with our immediate okay setting. But this is not sustainable at all! I guess one important role of these museums and exhibits is to remind us of the larger story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such beauty and wonder in these amazing displays.
LikeLike
I just wish they existed not only in these displays, you know? I wish we could have done better and protected them and helped them thrive.
LikeLiked by 1 person