A new exhibition celebrating the natural and cultural richness of Cuba has opened at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Cuba’s varied landscapes—extensive wetlands, remote forests, deep caves and caverns, and vibrant offshore reefs—support an impressive diversity of plants and animals. Created in partnership with the Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Cuba (Cuban National Museum of Natural History), the exhibition features immersive environments, including a detailed recreation of the Zapata wetlands, home to the endangered Cuban crocodile. Live animals such as lizards, boas and frogs are included, along with a display highlighting the world’s smallest bird.
The exhibition also delves into Cuban culture through music, visual art, spiritual practice, dance, cuisine and agricultural traditions. Visitors can see a replica of a throne used in orisha worship and Santeria rituals, and explore an exhibit that examines the craft of tobacco cultivation in depth. ¡Cuba! is co-curated by Ana Luz Porzecanski, Ph.D., director of the AMNH Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, and Chris Raxworthy, Ph.D., curator-in-charge of the AMNH Department of Herpetology. ¡Cuba! will be on view through August 13, 2017.