‘Glass Flowers’ gallery to close for renovations

The Harvard Museum of Natural History (HMNH) will be closing its Glass Flowers and Mineral galleries from Dec. 8 through Feb. 7 for a renovation of the Glass Flowers gallery.

The renovation will entail replacing the existing carpeting, window treatments, lighting, and painting. The renovation will also add additional interpretations of the famous collection, officially called the “Ware Collection of Blaschka Glass Models of Plants,” which is undergoing a separate conservation project.

The Mineral Gallery next door to the Glass Flowers Gallery will be closed during the renovation to house the cases holding the glass flowers while work is being performed.

The Glass Flowers exhibit is the museum’s greatest draw and the renovation is aimed at improving a visitor’s experience viewing the collection. Though the collection will remain in its original wooden cases, lighting will be improved to better illuminate the specimens, and interpretive material added so the public can learn more about the collection as they view it.

The Glass Flowers Gallery will be officially re-opened on Feb. 8 at the HMNH’s annual Valentine’s Day gala, this year called “Flower Power!”

– Alvin Powell