Exchanging Cultures: <em>Alexander Von Humboldt: The Discovery of Nature</em>

Eli Whitney Museum

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Alexander Von Humboldt: The Discovery of Nature

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2021 Summer Program

Most explorers sailed to master trade or empire. Alexander Von Humboldt sailed to master knowledge. Born in Prussia in1769, he loved learning but not school. The world would become his classroom. In 1799 - just as Whitney began his work here- Humboldt began an expedition to South America that would make him the most famous geographer in the world. He waded in rivers and climbed mountains always measuring everything, always trusting his senses to focus his understanding.

Construct the 3 masted frigate that carried Humboldt and Aimé Bonpland to New Granata (today's Venezuela). Construct tiny models of the scientific instruments they carried everywhere. Make specimens to match the wondrous plants and animals they collected.

Then explore. Use real scientific instruments to chart our conquest of East Rock – in the scale of our ship, the height of Chimborazo - the Ecuadorian volcano that was the climax of Humboldt's adventure. (Our path will be much safer in his.)

Follow Humboldt's footstep to his most important discovery: that everything in nature is connected to everything else.


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