online exhibit – Onlineausstellung: „The Academy of Natural Sciences“

The year 2004 marks the bicentennial of Alexander von Humboldt’s first and only visit to Philadelphia and to the United States. The Academy of Natural Sciences takes this opportunity to present the remarkable life of one of the preeminent scientists of his time. This online exhibit on Humboldt features the following:

* Humboldt’s first book, Mineralogische Beobachtungen
* Humboldt as Academy Member
* Botanical Works
* Interest in Indigenous Cultures of the Americas
* Humboldt as a Scientific Mentor
* His 1804 visit to Philadelphia
* Popular Works: Kosmos and Ansichten der Natur
* Humboldt’s systematic Scientific Measurements
* Works in Vulcanology
* Voyage aux régions équinoxiales: Humboldt’s multivolume publication of his exploration of the Americas
* Zoological Works

The Academy archives also has in its possession a letter from Humboldt written to Zaccheus Collins (who later became an Academy member), dated May 20, 1804 from a ship on the Delaware River. In this letter, Humboldt begs Collins to pull whatever strings necessary to get him off the ship, so that he might visit the United States. We know that Collins was successful, for during this period Humboldt visited both Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.