Seeds of Change
Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History,
Washington, DC

This major cultural exhibit celebrates the five hundred years of cultural and biological exchange, since the discovery of the New World. Viewed from a natural history perspective, Seeds of Change occupied the Museum of Natural History’s temporary gallery for two years.

The exhibit is built around “Five Seeds of Change”– Corn, Potato, Horse, Disease, and Sugar. Theatrical displays, dioramas, period vignettes, and a wide variety of artifacts, graphics, and audio/visual components interpret the extensive content.

Paris Design directed production and supervised installation of this multi-million dollar exhibit, providing quality control, as well as serving as liaison between designer, fabricator and the Smithsonian Institute’s COTR. Resulting from our involvement, nearly $50,000 was recognized as savings, on the total
fabrication effort.

Client: Smithsonian, National Museum of Natural History, DC   

Project Direction: Paris Design, MD

Exhibit Design: MFM, Washington DC

Fabrication: Rathe Productions, NY